Qianqian Li Design: 2011

Thursday, 15 December 2011

Elements of a good website

Following are the key elements of a good website:
Content
The most important element in any website is good content. Your content is the reason users visit your site. If it is superficial or badly written, you can be sure that they will leave fast and won’t come back again. The copy for your website should be well framed and helpful Truthful information about your company, products, services, etc is a must. Information one must not forget to include is an ‘about’ page as well as contact information. The important aspect to keep in mind here is to provide information that is going to be useful to your user. Also, ensure that the content on your website is updated and does not contain any grammatical or spelling mistakes, for it is a direct reflection on your company’s image.

Visual Appeal
We all know what they say about first impressions, and this school of though extends to websites too. The decision to go through the content of a website is likely to be based on how a visitor responds to its appearance. Your website design should be clean and simple, but all the same – eye-catching. A tasteful website isn’t flashy. Blinking letters and flashing pictures are disturbing, and will turn away most readers instead of attracting them. They also make it a lot harder to read the information provided, which can be quite irritating for the user.
User Interface
A good user interface is another key element of a good website. The user interface should be the kind an average user will find easy to use, and enable him or her to find whatever they want with ease. Part of this includes well-planned major (top level) categories, navigation that is easy to spot and consistent throughout the website. One way to achieve this is to have links to the key areas of your site in the top half of your website. This layout should remain consistent throughout the various pages. A good user interface will offer the same options in the footer, or even a few extra links. Larger websites with lots of pages should have a site map.
Content Layout
A big mistake is to place text over backgrounds, for it makes reading difficult. Dark background colors do not make reading any easier. Studies have shown that black text on a white background is the best combination for reading and remembering. Large blocks of text should be split up into paragraphs containing 4-5 sentences. Ensure that your page contains sufficient white space, for clarity and neatness. Every page should have the same margins. There should be consistency throughout the website, so only one set of fonts, colors and layout should be used on all pages. On element that annoys most users is multiple scroll bars. Keep them at a minimum and try to avoid the side-to-side scroll bars.
Search Tool
Good websites containing many pages have a search field to assist their readers. This feature is very helpful, and enables potential customers to find whatever they want with ease. One can make use of use a Google Search on their site, or WordPress (or another blogging platform or CMS / Content Management System). It will be a little more challenging with a static html site, but there are services available that will let one incorporate a functional search box onto their site.
Separate Design from Content
The best developed sites on the Internet combine the use of XHTML and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), which create a separation of design vs content. Among its many advantages are that one has to update just one CSS file to see the change implemented site-wide. Also this separation of content from design will result in quick loading (search engines will no longer have to go through excess code to find out if the content is relevant).
On the same note, minimize your utilization of flash animations, music, or video or anything that is going to make your site take a long time to load. Web surfers have very little patience and a short attention span.
Cross Browser Compatibility
Another key element of a good website is that it displays well in as many of the mainstream web browsers as possible and is also compatible across platforms. Although most Internet users utilize Firefox, you don’t want to leave out those using Internet Explorer and the other few browsers. Also, the success of your website can be hinged on how well it is optimized for search engines.
Web Optimized Images
Good picture quality on a website instantly leaves a user impressed. Most people save all their images in a compressed format. So be careful while doing this as your images will appear pixelated when you upload them on your site.
These are just a few of the key elements of a good website. With constant innovations in technology, there are always new ways to improve your website. So keep your knowledge and website, updated!

http://www.jbwebdev.com/key-elements-of-a-good-website/

Artist information show on home page

Joanna Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Joanna-Wang/104029742968209

The Latest Message from Joanna:

Joanna Wang：

I'm back! Although back to a huge lulzy clusterfack apparently, all I can say is, people sure can get really mad at something they've actually never heard me say. And the media sure likes to twist words until it's another "truth", and what is truth but a common consensus? And to you A. Wipes out there who think that I post these news clippings myself, I don't, the admins do it. Today is yet another day where I'm proven the fact that people are willing to eat up any old thing you give them.

http://tieba.baidu.com/p/1299813361

Joanna's iTunes Music:

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/the-adventures-bernie-schoolboy/id474349165

Joanna's latest MV The Bug:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH5yysCvETI

Wednesday, 14 December 2011

paper texture

I went online to look for some background images for my website. I was quite expressed by some paper texture background images showing below. They are very simple but with an elegant style.I'd like to choose some of them when I create my web pages.

http://www.youthedesigner.com/2010/09/02/40-plus-various-high-quality-free-paper-patterns-and-textures/

Musical Albums of Joanna Wang

Start from here

The voice of Joanna Wang arrives to warm up the spirits of music lovers in the winter season. Wang has been gifted with unique jazz vocals that have earned her applause since her early teens. Now 18 years of age, she enters the music scene with her first full-length English album. Start From Here features 12 tracks including renditions of classics like Spandau Ballet's TRUE and Billy Joel's New York State of Mind. Also included on this release is I Love You, Joanna's take on David Tao's popular ballad "Love is Simple".

This edition comes with a second CD of Chinese songs.

Disc 1 English

01. Let's start from here

02. Lost in Paradise

03. As Love Begins to Mend

04. Bada Bada

05. Lost Taipei

06. The Best Mistake I've Ever Made

07. I Love You (OT: Love is Simple, 爱很简单)

08. For No Reason

09. Stages of Flying

10. Now

11. TRUE

12. New York State of Mind

Disc 2 Chinese

01. Maze, 迷宫(OT: Let's Start from Here)

02. The Happiness with You, 有你的快乐(OT: Lost in Paradise)

03. Now (OT: Now)

04. Because You Loved Me, 因为你爱我(OT: As Love Begins to Mend)

05. For No Reason(OT: For No Reason)

http://www.lifeofguangzhou.com/node_10/node_35/node_112/node_115/2008/04/09/120770974136819.shtml

Joanna & Ruolin Wang

Joanna & Ruolin Wang is the second album by Joanna Wang. It comprises two parts: the first, also titled 'Joanna & 王若琳', is referred to exclusively in this article; the second is The Adult Storybook.

The album's title includes Wang's English and Chinese names, thereby reflecting the duality of the singer and the songwriter.^[1] The first disc displays the performer and includes covers of works by other artists. Conversely, the second disc emphasizes the creative Wang, as every song on it was written by her. Although her father,producer Ji-ping "Bing" Wang (王治平), was involved in the album's production, Wang was given more freedom, enabling her to fully express herself through her music.

The Adult Story Book

The Adult Story Book, released under the epithet New Tokyo Terror, is one part of Joanna Wang’s second album, the whole being titled Joanna & Ruolin Wang, published by Sony Music Taiwan. The album’s name, Joanna & Ruolin Wang, refers to two Joanna Wang’s, hence the two discs. One displays the creative Joanna Wang who writes her own songs. On the other hand there is the performer Joanna Wang who performs or covers works of other artists. Art graphic by Joanna Wang & S.M. Cumberworth. Set in IM Fell English.

http://iginomarini.com/fell/inuse/new-tokyo-terror-cd-cover/

The Adventures of Bernie the Schoolboy

Joanna Wang returns after two and a half years with glee to present her original album "The Adventures of Bernie the Schoolboy" which took one year to finish. During her two and a half years of studying in the U.S., Joanna accumulated a lot of creative inspiration. The new album, which contains black comedy in its storyline recreates the sound of electronic music in the late 60s to 70s, which combines analogue synthesizers and Baroque counterpoint arrangements. The illustration of the album cover of "The Adventures of Bernie the Schoolboy" is drawn by the well-known British fantasy illustrator known for his "etched gothic style." Ian Miller is one of the most prolific illustrators in the 20th century; he even participates in pre production work on films including "Shrek."

http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=8625972

About Joanna Wang (The artist I have chosen for this project)

The artist I have chosen for this project is Joanna Wang, who is a famous Taiwanese singer. I was really inspired by her voice and her every song and that is why I wanna make a website to introduce her music.

This info was taken from her wikipedia, which according to her youtube account was edited by her so it should be accurate. In her words, she said "ps, i edited my own wiki, i'm a badass."

Joanna Wang (Chinese: 王若琳, pinyin: Wáng Ruòlín) is a Taiwanese singer-songwriter, daughter of famous music producer Ji-ping "Bing" Wang (王治平). Born in Taipei but raised in Los Angeles, Wang dropped out from Gabrielino High School when she was 16. Her debut album, Start From Here, was released in January 2008 as a double-disc set, one in English and the other in Chinese. The album reached #1 in Taiwan and has been popular throughout the Southeast Asian region. In June 2008, it was released in Japan. Her second album, Joanna&王若琳, which includes her all-original endeavor, The Adult Storybook, was released in January 2009. She has stated on her youtube description and in other interviews that she dislikes the debut and rejects it as her own work.

Career:

As she was partially raised in the United States, she was exposed to many classic pop music acts, including but not limited to: The Beatles, Queen, and Oingo Boingo. Among her major influences are Danny Elfman, Yoeko Kurahashi (倉橋ヨエコ), Paul McCartney, and video game soundtracks, most notably those from the Castlevania, Zelda, and Mario series.

She is also a left-handed guitarist.

She has performed some of her own work and has covered various popular songs in English and in Chinese on Taiwanese television programs.

Awards:

* 2008: Singapore Hit Awards 2008 - Outstanding Newcomer

* 2008: 9th CCTV-MTV Music Awards - Most Popular New Female Artist of the Year in Hong Kong and Taiwan

* 2008: Metro Hits Music Awards - Metroshowbiz Hits Mandarin Songwriter Singer Big Award

* 2008: Metro Hits Music Awards - Metro Radio Hits Most Voted Newcomer Award

* 2008: China Mobile Wireless Music Awards - Most Potential New Female Singer

* 2008: 2008 Beijing Chinese Pop Music Awards - Best Composer-Singer Newcomer

Chinese name	王若琳 (Traditional)
Pinyin	Wáng Ruòlín (Mandarin)
Birth name	Wang Ruolin
Born	August 1, 1988 (age 23) Taipei, Republic of China (Taiwan)
Other name(s)	Joanna
Occupation	Singer-songwriter
Genre(s)	Folk
Instrument(s)	Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Kazoo
Label(s)	Sony BMG (Taiwan)
Years active	2008 - Present
Parents	Wang Chi-ping
Influences	Queen, Paul McCartney, Oingo Boingo, Yoeko Kurahashi

http://cfensi.dramaddicts.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=49

Sunday, 11 December 2011

Let's start from here- The first song I have chosen

Among all tracks by Joanna Wong,"Let's start from here" is one of my favourite.I was totally touched by her beautiful smooth voice,which magically makes me relax and satisfied.The lyrics are discribing a leisurely and carefree lifestyle,showing an attitude of "happy-go-lucky as ever",which is very inspiring to me.

Lyrics:

giving up

why should i

have come too far to forget

beautiful

just got lost

somewhere along the way

so much was missing when you went away

let's start from here

lose the past

change our minds

we don't need a finish line

let's take this chance

don't think to deep

all those promises we couldn't seem to keep

I don't care where we go

let's start from here

standing here

face to face

a finger on your lips

don't say a word

don't make a sound

silence around us now

even when you were gone I felt you everywhere

let's start from here

lose the past

change our minds

we don't need a finish line

let's take this chance don't think to deep

all those promises we couldn't seem to keep

I don't care where we go

let's start from here

I've never been the one to open up

but you've always been the voice within

the only one for my cold heart

let's start from here

lose the past

change our minds

we don't need a finish line

let's take this chance

don't think to deep

and all those promises

let's start from here

lose the past

change our minds

we don't need a finish line

let's take this chance don't think to deep

all those promises we couldn't seem to keep

I don't care where we go

let's start from here

This is the first song I have chosen from the music of Joanna Wang. I felt in love with this song immediately when the first time I heard it. Wang's vocal and the beautiful melody are the soul of the music, relaxing, sensuous beat, heaven sent, dreamy and delightful......This is a very, very romantic tune to me, it reminds me of the happy time and indelible moments I spent with my boy friend. This song offers a very romantic view on the excited feelings of unrequited love with the well written lyrics which I think is very inspiring.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CifG3bxUXMQ&feature=player_embedded