Blog Topic #13: What's in the CGI-Bin?

What is the Common Gateway Interface (CGI)? What's a CGI script? What are some of the programming languages that create CGI scripts? What can you do with CGI scripts? Give some examples of how CGI is commonly used in web design.

A couple resources:

• http://www.w3.org/CGI
• http://cgi.resourceindex.com
• Can you find other resources?

Potential Points: 20 points

Blog Topic #12: Project Research

When beginning a web design project, it's a good idea to research other sites that have similar goals and objectives as the site that you plan to build. In other words, you need to check out your competitors (direct or indirect) to find both good and bad ideas, and to find ways to differentiate yourself. You may also choose to do inspirational research, finding sites (or other media) that have effective color palettes, navigational schemes, grid structures, etc.

Find and analyze one or two sites that are similar in nature to your final project site. For example, if doing a website for a cafe, find other cafe/restaurant sites to analyze.

Analyze your chosen site(s). What are the site's communication objectives? How is information structured on the site(s)? What content is emphasized? Is there a theme? How do the design elements function to reveal the theme(s) and objective(s)? Review the analysis questions in Blog Topic #9 for fuel in your analysis here. Describe what you've learned about designing your project site based on this competitor/idea research.

Possible Points: 20 points

Blog Topic #11: iPoint Critique

Review all of the iPoint Advisors sites that your fellow students designed and produced. Find two or three ideas and/or design elements that you think are particularly effective. Explain why you think these ideas/designs work and/or are effective. Conversely, find two or three elements that you don't think work as well or that could be improved. Again, provide the rationale for your thinking and perhaps some ideas for improving the design(s). Make sure you include links to the sites you are discussing. If you were the managing partner at iPoint Advisors, which of the site's would you choose to use and why?

Lastly, critique your own work. If you were to redo your site, what would you do differently?

Possible Points: 20 points