html vs flash

This is actually my first go at making a site entirely out of Flash, and I found it to be a lot easier than I anticipated. Normally, I would have just added some Flash elements into a HTML/CSS designed site, mostly because that is what I have always done. I had never really liked the idea of making a whole site with Flash, on the off chance that someone was using a browser or a device that could not view Flash. Even today with the technology we have, there are still quite a few devices that are still not compatible. We have a little bit further to go, and once we are there, I will have no problem making sites completely out of Flash, but until there, HTML and CSS it is!

Database Design

We have just finished out MySQL database project and I have learn quite a bit thus far. I am excited to be able to more forward and use it in the real world. I created a database for my friends hair salon business for her to be able to keep track of her product inventory. If I was going to make some additions to it, I would have though to keep track of other things as well as far as income and costs to the business. Overall, it was a great course, as I will be using MySQL regularly once I am out in the work force.

design vs programming

Well, we have finished our first programming course of the program, and it was exactly what i thought it would be. Hard. But I am slowly but surely starting to understand the concepts. I myself, dont find programming natural. Design for me was very much natural for me. I found I spent, and mostly because of my experience with design, triple the amount of time reading and understand how to use visual studios and how to program as opposed to the amount of time I spent with any design program. Hopefully in a couple of years, programming will be as natural to be as design!

My fav portfolio sites

	- very personal with designers face as main focus of page - simplicity - good amount of white space for text and images
	- very personal making me to believe that they stand in front of their work - good separation - good use of social network sites
	- large images used to display designs - simplicity
	- looks more like a poster than a traditional website - no boundaries as to what you can include

What we've cover thus far...

Looking back over the past month and the courses we have taken, I think the one by far that I find to be the most useful is Photoshop. I think the most important thing on a website is to have the layout simple, user friendly and eye catching. With Photoshop, you can take an idea and lay it all out. Create a mock up of exactly what you have visioned and make it happen. Once you have the look and style you want, you can run with it with any other program. Edit, it in Dreamweaver, add some nice Flash animation, edit that in After Effects and you have yourself a nice site! But, in my opinion, Photoshop is the core of it all!

What have you learned from being a client that will make you a better designer/developer?

In class this week, we had to group up with someone and play the role of the designer and the client. It was good for us to be able to look at both side as the client as well as the designer to get a better idea of what is expected from both sides. As the client, as well as the developer I have learned the importance of clear communication. There is nothing worse than a client describing to the designer what the are after and the designer coming back with something that was not at all what they had in mind. As a designer, you dont want to have to do it twice if you dont have to.

One month in ...

So we are a month into the course, and have cleared 2 programs thus far. So far so good. Were starting off nice and easy and I apprieciate that because it has been a while since I have been back to school. The first program was an intro to Photoshop which was great for me to brush up on any new tools that are available in the CS5 series. I came out of it learning a couple of new tips and tricks and that alone is worth it for me. The second course was a new program for me that I haven't used before called After Effects. With only a week intro to it, it definitly has me hooked. We were only able to do the first few chapters of the book, but I plan on finishing it off within the next week and really get to know the program. I think its going to be a great program to use in combinitaion with Adobe Flash and it will help me take things to the next level. I'm really quite excited to move forward with it.

Shawna's Resume

S H A W N A   G I G A C Z

Kitchener, ON

E-Mail: contact@justspiffy.ca

Career Objective

To obtain a creative and challenging position that enables me to gain valuable experience and improve my technical and design skills that I gained as part of my academic projects and work experience.

Technical Skills
Excellent knowledge in computer hardware, software and peripherals such as network systems, printers, cables and modems and routers. Fluent with all Windows environments with intermediate knowledge of Mac OS. Proficient in Microsoft Office, Email clients and Antivirus/Security software. Updated knowledge in current technology related to modern applications, networks and telecommunications and the equipment and software required to maximize system support. Highly experienced in procedures for installing, configuring, upgrading, and troubleshooting applicable software, hardware and peripherals. Excellent communication and problem solving skills.

Programming Skills
XHTML, DHTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP, MySQL, CMS
Graphic design, Photo editing and SEO
Proficient user of Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Corel Draw, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Acrobat. 
Intermediate knowledge of Flash, Virtual Servers

Work Experience

Web developer
London, Ontario

Oct 09 – May 2010

ISP Canada

·         Selecting and organizing information for inclusion and design of the appearance, layout and flow of the web site

·         Create and optimize content for web site using a variety of graphics, database, animation and other software animation

·         Developing web site architecture

·         Preparing mock-ups and storyboards

·         Preparing reports

·         Domain registration

·         Plan and direct advertising and marketing campaigns

·         Plan and prepare material for yearly Home Show

·         Developing promotional material

Technical Support Rep. / Web developer

Stratford, Ontario

Aug 05 – Oct 09

Mornington Communications

·         Web development and maintenance of company website

·         Assist customers with technical related problems with dsl, wireless, dial up internet service and web hosting

·         Domain registration

·         Intermediate knowledge of Plesk Virtual Servers

·         Troubleshooting equipment and service over phone, email and at customer prem.

·         Computer repair

·         Setup, configuration, and maintenance of office computers and software

·         Home/business installation and configuration of customers equipment/networks

·         Promoting sales to new and existing clients.

·         Solely responsible for maintenance and training of Sitebuilder software

·         Training of new staff

·         Created and maintain Wikipedia for companies technical support representatives

·         Created tutorials for clients for setup and configuration of small networks, and software

·         Assisted with developing and implementing advertising campaigns

·         Maintained accurate daily inventory

Technical Support Rep
London, Ontario.

Sep 2004 - Dec 2004

Teletech

·          Assist customers with technical related problems with there internet account

·          Troubleshooting equipment and service

·          Dealing with irate customers

Developmental/Behavioural Social Worker
Hamilton, OntarioDec 4 2003 - July 2004

The Bridge Program

·          Assist with daily needs of Brain Injured/Behavioural Youth/Adult

·          Assist with daily medication

·          Prepared meals / Cleaning house

·         Taking clients out for extra curricular activities

Education
Web Design & Development
2011 - 2012
Conestoga College - Kitchener, Ontario

·           HTML/DHTML

·           CSS

·           XML

·           Javascript

·           PHP/MySQL

·           Apache Server

·           Microsoft Internet Server IIS 7.0

·           Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 C#.Net

·           Microsoft SQL2008

·           Microsoft Access

·           Microsoft ASP.Net

·           Microsoft Ajax

·           Microsoft Silverlight

·           Java SDK

·           Adobe Photoshop

·           Adobe Premier

·           Adobe Dreamweaver

·           Adobe Flash/ActionScript 3.0

·           Adobe After Effects

Upgrade Courses2005 - 2008
Conestoga College / Lambton College - Kitchener, Ontario / Online

·           Dreamweaver Level I & II

·           Flash Level I & II

·           Problem Solving And Programming Concepts

·           PHP 4

·           Design Concepts

·           Flash And Web Interactivitive

Webmaster Diploma
1999 - 2001
Mohawk College - Hamilton, Ontario

·           HTML (Frontpage)

·           Javascript

·           Corel Draw

·           ASP

·           Flash 5

IT Projects:

• www.isp.ca – New Website - Redeveloped and maintain 100+ page website. Developed using Dreamweaver, PHP,  Flash and Javascript
• www.mornington.ca  -  New Website  -  Redeveloped and maintain 400+ page website. Developed using Dreamweaver, PHP, MySQL,  Flash and Javascript.
• www.azimuthapproach.com   -  New Website  - Responsible for the design and development of the website. Developed using Dreamweaver, Flash  and Javascript.
• www.tranquiltiling.com  -  New Website  -  Created and maintaining website. Developed with Dreamweaver, PHP,  Flash and Javascript.
• www.stratfordoptimist.com   -  New Website  -  Created new site design for Optimist Club.  Developed with Dreamweaver, PHP and Javascript.
• www.justspiffy.ca  -  Designed own website. In the middle of re vamping. Developed in Flash, with PHP and Javascript.
• www.dianasweets.ca   -  New Website  - Responsible for the design and development of the website. Developed using Dreamweaver and Javascript.
• www.yourlac.ca  -  New Website – Created a simple template for easy self updating. Developed using  Dreamweaver and Javascript.
  
  References
  Available upon request

What lead you to enroll in the Web Design program?

This question has been posed to me quite a few times in the last couple of months and there is a really easy answer for that. I have been doing web design for over 8 years now and even have a Webmaster certificate under my belt from 2001. I have also taken quite a few upgrade courses over the past few years, but the truth is technology changes so fast that if you blink you will miss something. I also feel that my programming skill are .. to be desired to say the least, so I decided it was time to go back to school. I must have looked into every school from here to New Brunswick and concluded that Conestoga College had the best and most competitive Web Development program around, so I decided to enrol. I believe that once I finish this course I will have the skill set that I need to be very competitive in this industry, and with my past experiences I believe that I will have no problem acquiring a full time position. Let's just hope I don't pull all of my hair out by the end of C#!