Tear Sheet - Web Design

A few examples of website styles, built in Flash. Here are the links:
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Ideally what I am looking for is a mixture of the three for the main page. A tree graphic that rotates and the different "leaves" are hyperlinks to the different sections of the website.

Focus Group

I have created a focus group on Facebook in the form of an event that lasts for a month. I invited students and colleagues, and asked specifically how the website can be made more attractive for continuous use. This is what I posted:

My thesis is called "DIY: What Can I Do?". Basically instead of creating one film about the environment, I want to teach and encourage hundreds of other filmmakers to post videos, photography, poetry, all with an environmental theme.

But I need a group of motivated, fun and brilliant students to help. (that's you guys)

I would like to invite all of you to participate in a focus group where all of you post ideas, comments and suggestions on how to make this website something you would be interested in contributing to on a consistent basis. I will be sending the invitation shortly.

To tell you more about the website, again it is called "DIY: What Can I Do?"

It is a main website linked to a number of other websites (facebook, youtube, 12 seconds, etc.) that host video content. On "DIY: WCID" I will post how-to videos on how to create and edit environmental films and count on the users to make their own videos about the environment.

These can be your own films, or I can create video challenges like "what else can we use a plastic bottle for" where you would create a video response.

Again, what I am looking for is how to make this site exciting, and something that you would visit on a continuous basis to create fun videos that will help the environment.

Addendum to Purpose Statement

The website "DIY: What Can I Do" does not involve a single thesis film, but serves as a vehicle for numerous short films to be created as content for the website.

I encourage any environmental filmmaker to respond to challenges, create how-to videos, and share any content with environmental significance.

I also invite any poet, musician, blogger or photographer to participate.

The most important part is to show everyone how easy it is to create a simple video, share it and make a difference.

Technical Updates

Made updates on the beta site, the site now lists on each page what the goals are for each section:

1. Attempted to link YouTube tags to my new Twitter account "DIYEcology". The test tag did not link up but as I make updates directly through Twitter they are posted to the DIY website.

2. Google Maps is the most fully functional section, I have an embedded map with two points and as I make new points they update on an RSS feed at the bottom.

The end goal is to have a live feed on the DIY website coming from each video sharing site. (YouTube, 12 Seconds, Vimeo) Please send suggestions or insights to alex@famfilmandphoto.com.

Welcome!

Hi everyone! Welcome to the new media content sharing website "DIY: What Can I Do?"

Just to give you a not so brief synopsis on the project goals:

On the "DIY" website, users will be able to connect, share environmental "how-to's", and respond to video challenges posted monthly on environmental issues.

Much like a tree, each leaf and branch work together to support the whole and reach into unfamiliar territory with a common purpose, promoting the ability of the ordinary person to learn to do more than he or she thought was possible.

With the advent of social networking sites, blogs, video sharing, viral video and how-to sites, any individual that owns a camera and has a particular purpose can help others and in turn help the world.

In my thesis, titled “DIY – What Can I Do?” I focus on environmentalists, specifically those that create their own media content, and how the creation of media in any form can connect us and help to solve specific environmentally issues around the world.

Think of it as a tree, where the root is a website and each individual branch is a website that sponsors media content and each leaf is a posted video that focuses on an environmental “how-to” video or problem that can be solved in a specific area.

The user has numerous avenues to participate, and on a monthly basis are encouraged to create content on an environmental issues. The participating organizations are:

1. YouTube: A channel is in place where the initial challenge is made then users are encouraged to create video responses.

2. 12 Seconds: A room is available for users to post 12 second long videos either explaining an environmental concept, showing the audience how to solve a problem or exhibiting an issue that effects their home.

3. Facebook: A group is created that brings all of the users together to post and have a forum to connect and share ideas.

4. Blogger: Written posts are encouraged, sharing a thought or any creative outlet that audiences can read about and respond to.

5. Google Maps: All of the content will be embedded into a map where activists can see exactly where the issue originates and work from there to solve the problem.

The difference between the DIY website and other websites is a live, updating feed of media content that the users can access and learn new ways of sharing media on the Internet. As the “tree” continues to grow, users are encouraged to add not only content but add more “branches to the tree”, by contacting the administrator and sharing their thoughts.

The website will also serve as a model for other interested parties to emulate and create their own networking and social media sites.

Here is a screen shot of the beta version of "DIY". Please visit the site at http://famfilmandphoto.com/DIY_BETA/Main.html.



Thank you! More to come!