Updated Logo List

I've added some new draft logos and removed some others.
The larger versions can be seen here: http://www.lineswritten.co.uk/Recipes/

Crit Session - Web Designs

These are what I presented in the crit session today. Analysis will follow.

Higher resolution images are located here: http://www.lineswritten.co.uk/Recipes/site.php

Although all of the designs were generally well received, the group highlighted certain aspects of each design wHich were the most successful.

They stated that the 'classic' theme (3rd down) was not completely relevant to the target audience because it was slightly too mature and would be suited for an older audience or different project.

The 'wooden' theme was said to look like a 'pizza menu...which isn't necessarily a bad thing'. They concluded that it was slightly too 'classy' for the topic at hand and again perhaps suited more to an older audience.

The most successful/appropriate design was said to be the 2nd one down. This was because its alternative (the 1st design) was too 'rounded' but this one had a contrast between the curves and straight edges. They also stated that the varied colour scheme on this design was a success.

Another favoured design was the 'conceptual' theme (4th down). This was again because of the colour schemes used and even more so because of the rounded corner contrast against the solid, straight edges. They stated that as a result it was 'less childish'.

Crit Session - Logo Designs

These are the logo designs that I presented today at the crit session. Feedback will follow. There are higher resolution images located here: http://www.lineswritten.co.uk/Recipes/

The logos set with a black background were collectively said to be inappropriate for the nature of the site. The group felt that the two with angular cuts in the letters were too 'grungy' and didn't lend themselves to a recipe website. They also said that rather than 'bites' being taken out of letters, it looks more like grass.

The focus group concluded that the logo that I have been using for the mock-up web designs (5th down) was not entirely suitable for the target audience. They felt that it was more suited to a younger audience and said that the logo 3rd down was most appropriate.

There was a general consensus which said that the logos which were not set in a script typeface were too formal and rigid for the purpose of the site.

They also suggested that I look into designing an icon to go alongside the type.

Website Designs

These again are not finished and are work-in-progress. The website design will ultimately be determined by what the logo looks like so until a logo has been finalised, the website will not be properly designed.

Logo Designs

Having not properly settled on a name yet, my logo designs represent different ones. These are all first drafts so are not as polished as the finished article would be. They are more quick ideas that I've had.

Report Branding

Having now finished the report, I set about branding it and making it have a personality. Here are a few screenshots of what it looks like.

Gantt Chart Update

Risk Assessment Update

Content Strategy Update

Budget 1st Draft

Report Risk Assessment

Risk assessment 1st draft (table form)

Report Aims and Objectives

Here is an attempt to put the aims and objectives into words. It was a quite difficult to word the aim and this will need clarification with my supervisor to see if it is clear enough.

Aims

·      Provide an online, student generated, recipe portal

Objectives

Offer a simple, intuitive interface, which allows the user to:

·      Register/Log in

·      Upload, edit and delete their own recipes with pictures and step by step method

·      Browse previously uploaded recipes according to category or through search filtering

·      Rate previously uploaded recipes

·      Flagging for spam/bad content

Technically:

·      Email confirmation for registration process

Report Introduction

Here's my first attempt at the introduction for my report.

In the ‘information age’ that we live in, where students are more likely to use their mobile phones or laptops to talk to each other and access information, the art and appeal of recipe books is becoming lost in the myriad of ‘quick fixes’ available. As students constantly seek out the fastest way to access what they need, the perceived labour-intensive, time-consuming practice of cooking your own meals is becoming less and less a task that students are willing to complete.

This project aims to produce a recipes website targeted at students in which (although there will be preloaded recipes by myself) all of the recipes will be generated by the student population themselves. As a result, the complexity and skill level of recipes will vary greatly according to previous knowledge of cooking practices, it will also encourage students to be proactive when it comes to cooking their own meals as they will have first hand proof that people in similar situations are able to prepare their own flavoursome, home-cooked meals.

Food society

I was talking to one of my colleagues in the enterprise society yesterday and he mentioned that he is part of the Leeds University food society. I mentioned my project and he said that this would be something that the society would be interested in. He mentioned how at the moment, they are just using facebook to talk about recipes with each other. Having a site in which they could actually upload their own recipes is surely something that would be ideal for them! As a result, I will aim to utilize these keen 'foodies' as potential consumers of the site.

Research Changes

After my alternative supervision meeting with Chris, we established that perhaps there were some different avenues that I should be pursuing with my research. The following is the conclusions:

I think you have a good idea and should concentrate on getting people into the kitchen and cooking and eating better food. You are right to discount the nutritional information angle.

In your research I should try and find out:

-What student cooking habits are (how often they cook, how long they spend cooking, types of meals – possibly classify?)
-Barriers to cooking (cost, time, effort, knowledge, ingredients, equipment, etc)
-Useful resources they would like (easy recipes, ingredient suggestions, quick recipes, etc)

How to get your product into use:
-How to reach students
-How to get their interest, how to tailor the site to them (interface, media, mobile) – could look at services in other sectors for examples (i.e. other services targeted at students for example clothes stores, gyms, motor services)

The research could be done using a variety of methods e.g. focus groups (most likely for user/interface testing) or questionnaires and also online and literature research into strategies of other companies. 

Content - What will be put on the site and where will it come from? If users are adding content, how can I make sure it is successful?



As a result of this, I am going to pursue the avenue of questionnaires for the initial consumer research and look at the following: Current student habits, barrier (if any) to cooking, any useful resources that the consumer feels would aid them. I will now formulate a sample questionnaire which will be marketed online, send this onto Helen for a secon opinion/refinement of questions and then roll it out.

Content Strategy 1st Draft

The fourth sheet that must go into the appendices is the 'Content Strategy' in tabled form.

Here is my attempt at the first draft:

Budget Framework

After viewing the template provided by atsf, I have modified it to suit my project. This involved taking out any elements/tasks that weren't relevant to me such as video production.

Here it is (unpopulated):