Semester Wrap-Up: Integration of Advanced Web Technologies and Design
Throughout the semester in ARTS 600: Web & New Media, I embarked on an ambitious journey to explore and integrate cutting-edge web technologies and design principles into practical web development projects. The course was structured into two main phases: Tutorials and Milestones, each designed to enhance my technical skills and creative execution.
Tutorials Phase:
- Tutorial 01: Focused on understanding and utilizing AI, specifically ChatGPT, to automate content creation, culminating in the development of a custom GPT for church blogs.
- Tutorial 02: Explored advanced branding tools and micro interactions within the Cornerstone builder by Themeco, enhancing user engagement through subtle design elements.
- Tutorial 03: Mastered the use of Loopers in Themeco, which allowed for efficient content replication across web pages, significantly streamlining the web design process.
- Tutorial 04: Delved into Dynamic Content and CSS techniques for creating visually engaging web experiences with automated content management and animated mesh gradients.
Milestones Phase:
- Milestone 01: Developed “Unheaded,” a minimalist text-only blog platform that prioritizes content readability and simplicity, using Loopers and Dynamic Content for dynamic post display.
- Milestone 02: Created “Lone Suns,” a one-page portfolio website that showcased my design projects effectively while implementing advanced CSS animations and precise navigation.
- Milestone 03: Enhanced site customization using ACF Pro with the Cornerstone builder, applying these skills in practical scenarios to improve content management and site aesthetics.
- Milestone 04: Launched “Biblonauts,” a scalable Bible study website that organizes content into manageable posts rather than pages, facilitating easier updates and scalability.
Final Presentation: In Week 15, I presented my projects and the progress made throughout the semester. The presentation was not only a reflection of the technical skills acquired but also an opportunity to demonstrate how these tools can be applied to create meaningful and impactful web designs.
This semester was a transformative period of learning, application, and growth. I successfully integrated various web technologies and design strategies to produce work that is not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing and user-focused. The projects developed have not only broadened my technical capabilities but also deepened my understanding of effective web design principles.