Self-Evaluation

Throughout the first half of the semester, my presence online has grown. What presence I did have before this class has improved (my website looks better), and I've begun documenting and posting my studio onto Instagram through a "professional" account to develop how I am seen as an artist. I've also learned what I like in a website builder (and what I don't) as well as what is, in my opinion, the best free website builder. I have also revamped my technical info/ceramic blog to keep a uniform design between all of my sites (of which, most of what I'm created this semester will be deleted). I'd rather not have my name connected to a site that I do not plan to maintain, often because I will not reach my desired audience That said, I've been shown multiple sites I plan to utilize in the near future/continue to utilize. That has been the most helpful part of this course - the showing of multiple online resources.

However, that said the requirement to sign up for many of the resources is a negative of the course. I want one artist website, one artist blog, accounts to the popular social sites, all cohesive design wise. I also want to spend time on creating an effective business card and the many ways of printing them. I'd also like to spend time focusing on one website and what it takes to make it as perfect as possible. That time could be taken from the production of a personal icon as for many artists, simply having an effective type face spelling your name (and possibly a sub title/header) is more than sufficient. As I'm not trying to make a brand it the same idea of a store or restaurant, I don't need a "logo"/"icon". 

Class Positives:

• information on an artist's online presence
• exposure to online resources/sites
• education on typefaces

Class Negatives:

• unneeded sign-up to redundant sites
• required icon (however, I understand the concept of this)

Personal Achievements:

• Improved website
• knowledge of typefaces
• knowledge of online resources
• increased sense of online design

Personal Short-Falls:

• lack of portfolio images
• uninterested in redundant web hosting services
• name connections to "dead-end" sites