Unit 65 Leeanne Hibbert

Evaluation of my flash website for ‘Australian Backpackers’.

Before in the process of creating my website I did much planning in order to make sure I was completely prepared and ready to create a website from scratch and also to know exactly what I wanted it to look like. I began to do lots of research which was based on what the purpose of my website was for which is for ‘OZ Backpackers’. I spent around three hours of time researching the country Australia itself plus all of the different parts, I then researched hostels specifically for backpackers which were around the cities of Australia.My last part of research was just backpackers in general and seeing what they’re travelling and experiences plus expenses are like.I then went on to create online storyboards of each page of the website showing exactly how I wanted them to look and what type of graphics and information I would have on them. Then just before I began to start creating my website in the programme named ‘Flash’ I gathered folders on my computers of resources I will be using for the website, so all of the images I was going to be using. I gathered these resources before starting my website so that once I needed a particular Image then it was already in my workspace and I could just simply import all of the folders of images to my library in Flash without having to minimise Flash and start looking on the internet for images.

I have tried to make all of my pages to be the exact same as my original intentions and basically all of it I have. All of my pages have the exact same colour scheme as my original storyboards and used three main colours throughout. These three colours were a sandy orange type; dark blue and red, I chose these colours as they are warm colours and remind me of a beach which is perfect for what my topic is. Just as like on the storyboards the navigation bar is the blue colour, the background colour of the pages are the sandy orange colour. Most of the text is in the colour red, although some parts are also in the colour black but very few are.

Considering my website is targeted at OZ backpackers I have provided lots of information on hostels and travelling for them, but not too much as I don’t want people becoming bored of the website and going to another backpackers website as they find mine to boring and plain. I have also added a gallery like I had in my original intentions; these are all images of places around Australia as this is where the backpackers will be. I have added a booking form so people can actually book with my website and they can also choose from hostels as I have a hostels page which provides images of certain hostels plus a brief description of each of them.

My website is very fit for the purpose of it and it is also very easy to navigate, meaning just like my original intentions I have made sure that the navigation bar is accessible to use on every page on the website, therefore if people need to find the homepage as they need to go back then they can simply click ‘Home’ and you will be located to the homepage. Because of the style of my website I do think it looks very professional and styled as a backpacker’s

Unit 65 Leeanne Hibbert

website should be as there is literally everything on this website that backpackers will need to know. Plus I have stuck to my original intentions as everything that I said was on my story boards are actually on the pages of my website so this I am pleased of as I was proud of my storyboards. It did take a few stages before I finally began to create my website but I have really enjoyed it. It has made me feel a lot more confident with the software ‘Flash’ and I have learnt to do new techniques that I could not do before such as being able to add scrollbars to the text on my pages and also being able to enlarge the images once rolled over these have made my website again look more professional as it has certain effects added to it now that other sites have.

When it comes to the font I have followed my original intentions and used the exact same font style throughout the website.I have made sure that all of the text is the exact same font so that it makes my website look professional and there for does not annoy people when they are viewing the website and not seeing all different types of paragraphs in complete different font styles. The font style that I have successfully used throughout is named ‘Century Gothic’. All of the paragraphed text on my website is all the exact same size and so are all of the titles on each page, I have made sure of this as again just like the font style, it looks professional to the audience. No one is going to want to visit a site and the first page is lots of text in different font styles; sizes and colours, it will literally confuse us and possibly hurt are eyes.

When it comes to time management I think I have managed the time really well, I have met the deadline and spent the exact amount of time of each the steps I have had to do whilst in the process of this assignment. It has taken me around seven days to create and finish my website and I did not rush I took my time throughout making sure it was a successful creation. Plus the next day after I had finished it I also used an hour just to edit or do any changes to the website, plus making sure that the navigation was working properly and the effects that I had added were also working correct. I have also kept a diary which I have used each time I have been making my website, this diary just shows each of the steps of what I did on each page and how that I did it. I have really enjoyed creating my own site and am very proud of what that I have produced I think that it is a very professional website and if I was a backpacker wanting to start a journey in Australia then I would defiantly consider using my website.

I also wanted feedback of my flash website from someone in my class who was willing to look at my at the website and give me feedback on what they thought was the strong points of the website and also what was weak and could be improved or added. Below this page I have added a feedback table so the person who has viewed my website can write in there, their personal opinion.

Unit 65 Leeanne Hibbert

What is working on my website? What could be improved?

- The colours work well together, don’t clash and aren’t too bright.

- There is a lot of information for the viewer to read upon and get enough information about the country and what you can do whilst there for the user to get a reasonable overview of what the country offers.

- The way the images enlarge when rolled over is a good component.

- The images contrast with the particular subject being discussed on each page.

- (Book Now) As there isn’t a drop down list for selecting which hostel they want to go to, customers may not memorise the hostel and may find it annoying having to re trace back to the ‘Hostels’ page.

- There’s a limited amount of animation that could keep the viewer interactive with the website.

- On the ‘Hostels’ page you have mentioned about requesting a brochure for further information but there isn’t an option for this on any page.

After being given this feedback I have added changes to my website in order to make it as best as I can.