We were happy with what we achieved but had some extra time so we worked on it a little further to really nail out the fine details and shape our functional site into something with a bit more fun. It was at a state of usability but we wanted to really satisfy the Real Hot Bitches and make it super sweet, so now with a bit of a rework we can say check it out!
www.real-hot-bitches.co.nz
Listen to some 80's tunes and browse a very entertaining gallery!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Big Plans
Even though the Ymedia challenge is over we still continue on working with the Real Hot Bitches within the time frame that we have through Natcoll. Our second deadline is on Thursday 21st August. By then we plan to have developed the website further. We are going to make the width of the site wider so that the grey background doesn't take over the actual body of the site. We also plan to develop the header further to be more eye catching. We are changing the side nav to links to images and videos and moving the nav bar underneath the header.
Thats all for now
-Sam
Thats all for now
-Sam
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Credits
Team three D is
Alex
Kelly
& Sam
We would also like to thank Peter Johnson for his help with high tech web stuff
and the Real Hot Bitches for being awesome and rad and really good to work with.
Alex
Kelly
& Sam
We would also like to thank Peter Johnson for his help with high tech web stuff
and the Real Hot Bitches for being awesome and rad and really good to work with.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Final Summary
Its almost over...
Its been an interesting road, with many challenges overcome and a lot of new skills picked up along the way. The Real Hot Bitches have been great to work with, they have a crazy style and all the Bitches we met were really cool.
From the start we expected the process to be a learning experience, being a team of graphic designers developing a website was always going to be challenging but it was a lot of fun too.
The key to our brief and to the whole yMedia thing was sustainability and accessibility, originally we started off using the silverstripe cms to create a site that had a userfriendly backend and allowed easy content updating and editing. However this was not to be, with silverstripe not working with the setup the RHBs already had we had an emergency switch to another cms, Wordpress.
Wordpress let us port over most of the code and art we had struggled through and was almost exactly the same as silverstripe in terms of backend capabilities.
The other consideration we had was that the RHBs wanted a new look for their site in addition to the usability overhaul, this was more what we are trained in creating and we liaised at length with the Bitches on what they wanted the new site to look like and be able to do.
In the end it came together and we had a great experience.
Its been an interesting road, with many challenges overcome and a lot of new skills picked up along the way. The Real Hot Bitches have been great to work with, they have a crazy style and all the Bitches we met were really cool.
From the start we expected the process to be a learning experience, being a team of graphic designers developing a website was always going to be challenging but it was a lot of fun too.
The key to our brief and to the whole yMedia thing was sustainability and accessibility, originally we started off using the silverstripe cms to create a site that had a userfriendly backend and allowed easy content updating and editing. However this was not to be, with silverstripe not working with the setup the RHBs already had we had an emergency switch to another cms, Wordpress.
Wordpress let us port over most of the code and art we had struggled through and was almost exactly the same as silverstripe in terms of backend capabilities.
The other consideration we had was that the RHBs wanted a new look for their site in addition to the usability overhaul, this was more what we are trained in creating and we liaised at length with the Bitches on what they wanted the new site to look like and be able to do.
In the end it came together and we had a great experience.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
So its all up and going!
So after a long and bumpy road our website is finally uploaded and working with most of the features we set out to achieve. We are happy with the final outcome!
www.real-hot-bitches.co.nz
www.real-hot-bitches.co.nz
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Mixed Results
So SilverStripe is a no go, as well as not being supported by the RHBs webhost (wrong version of php), it was really temperamental and was not going to be able to deliver us a viable website before the deadline.
So we've switched to Wordpress.
A bit last minute but we have ported most of our art to Wordpress and the good news is it is much more supported and has more plugins as well as being a more user friendly.
On top of that Wordpress still meets all of our requirements for content management and ease of use.
On the plus side we have sorted out the web hosting part.
While we are still developing the site the url is:
http://www.real-hot-bitches.co.nz/wordpress
Check it out
-Alex
So we've switched to Wordpress.
A bit last minute but we have ported most of our art to Wordpress and the good news is it is much more supported and has more plugins as well as being a more user friendly.
On top of that Wordpress still meets all of our requirements for content management and ease of use.
On the plus side we have sorted out the web hosting part.
While we are still developing the site the url is:
http://www.real-hot-bitches.co.nz/wordpress
Check it out
-Alex
Grand finale dramas
Wow, silverstripe doesn't work on the existing web host.
Uhhhm this leaves us in quite a ruined state after designing our website in silverstripe. SO... alternate methods are being investigated. Hopefully have a better idea in the morning.
– Kelly
Uhhhm this leaves us in quite a ruined state after designing our website in silverstripe. SO... alternate methods are being investigated. Hopefully have a better idea in the morning.
– Kelly
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Webhosting
Just emailed SilverStripe and Kiwi Web Host, we need to determine if the web host that the Real Hot Bitches use currently (the kiwi web hosting company) is going to be compatible with SilverStripe.
We have a meeting with a friend of mine at 5:30pm today to talk about how the webhosting process goes as none of us have ever done this before.
I will post more updates as events unfold.
-Alex
We have a meeting with a friend of mine at 5:30pm today to talk about how the webhosting process goes as none of us have ever done this before.
I will post more updates as events unfold.
-Alex
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Technical Difficulties Resolved!
Awesome!
So with silverstripe now running on my mac we have been having a good ol' play around and its all coming together now, lets turn those paper concepts into flamboyant web design!
– Kelly
So with silverstripe now running on my mac we have been having a good ol' play around and its all coming together now, lets turn those paper concepts into flamboyant web design!
– Kelly
Check this out
Just found this video, its for the song "Mana's Bounce" by Recloose.
The Real Hot Bitches are in here, they rock up about halfway through for a dance battle.
The Real Hot Bitches are in here, they rock up about halfway through for a dance battle.
Mid-Challenge Review
WOOAAHHH WE'RE HALF WAY THERE! WOOH-OHHH LIVING ON A PRAYER.
Well yeah, thats some Bon Jovi for you, a Real Hot Bitches favorite.
So... if we start on a solemn note we can end with the good stuff. There has been some upsets so far, troubles with getting silverstripe to work on our macs being a huge one. Also large assignments running alongside of this one – fighting for brain power and time. We have discussed with RHB exactly what they want in their website and what we are able to achieve for them and both parties are excited. The hard stuff is yet to come with the actual development of the website itself which was initially planned to be happening somewhat before now, but because of some of the previously mentioned reasons hasn't worked out to plan. So after much struggle with trying to get it to work on the mac's we have it working on Alex's home PC and will now probably be spending a bit of time working on it there. Real Hot Bitches have some pretty crazy ideas for what they would love to see in their site so it should be fun to produce some of these strange concepts.
Here onwards... get the template sorted out so we can start filling in the content. Make some crazy animations (mc hammer dancing etc) and make sure we achieve exactly the look and feel of the website that the RHB's want in our final piece.
-Kelly
Well yeah, thats some Bon Jovi for you, a Real Hot Bitches favorite.
So... if we start on a solemn note we can end with the good stuff. There has been some upsets so far, troubles with getting silverstripe to work on our macs being a huge one. Also large assignments running alongside of this one – fighting for brain power and time. We have discussed with RHB exactly what they want in their website and what we are able to achieve for them and both parties are excited. The hard stuff is yet to come with the actual development of the website itself which was initially planned to be happening somewhat before now, but because of some of the previously mentioned reasons hasn't worked out to plan. So after much struggle with trying to get it to work on the mac's we have it working on Alex's home PC and will now probably be spending a bit of time working on it there. Real Hot Bitches have some pretty crazy ideas for what they would love to see in their site so it should be fun to produce some of these strange concepts.
Here onwards... get the template sorted out so we can start filling in the content. Make some crazy animations (mc hammer dancing etc) and make sure we achieve exactly the look and feel of the website that the RHB's want in our final piece.
-Kelly
Friday, July 25, 2008
So the plan goes like this...
Real Hot Bitches mission/vision is to bring dance to people.
Our identified goals of the Ymedia project are to create something that is more dynamic/interactive/media capability. The current barriers/difficulties in acheiving this goal is a bad backend with small capacity.
Typical client/Target Audience is mainly women aged 25-45 and some men internationally
Some possible digital solutions/options we discussed was a Silverstripe CMS product?? Could they also host?? This will have to be looked into to see if its the best fit for the project. If not wil need to research the alternatives.
Our focus for the Real Hot Bitches is to create a site that will enable more capability for updating info on the site.
Our Design approach is MORE is MORE!!
Some desired elements by the Real Hot Bitches are Videos, pictures, animation(?), improvement of the gallery, data capture, counter calender, blog and music.
The look and feel we are going to go for is 80’s retro (more is more)!!
Scope of work (what work is going to take place including work to be done by both parties) RHB to send PDFs, copy, access and pictures. 3D to research silverstripe / brainstorm / edit / build.
Outside of scope (what is difinately not going to be done by Group or the community group): To be evaluated once CMS product secured.
The sort of programmes we are going to use are flash for some aspects, photoshop, illustrator, dreamweaver.
Timeline:
Mon 28 8AM GO!!!! Meet with Silverstripe
Tues 29 Meeting to discuss look and feel tues or wed
Wed 30
Thu 31
Fri 1 Meeting to finalise draft of site
Sat 2
Sun 3
Mon 4 8AM Deadline for template / graphics
Tues 5
Wed 6
Thu 7
Fri 8 Final Sign off
Sat 9
Sun 10
Mon 11 8AM Deadline for PROJECT
-Sam
Our identified goals of the Ymedia project are to create something that is more dynamic/interactive/media capability. The current barriers/difficulties in acheiving this goal is a bad backend with small capacity.
Typical client/Target Audience is mainly women aged 25-45 and some men internationally
Some possible digital solutions/options we discussed was a Silverstripe CMS product?? Could they also host?? This will have to be looked into to see if its the best fit for the project. If not wil need to research the alternatives.
Our focus for the Real Hot Bitches is to create a site that will enable more capability for updating info on the site.
Our Design approach is MORE is MORE!!
Some desired elements by the Real Hot Bitches are Videos, pictures, animation(?), improvement of the gallery, data capture, counter calender, blog and music.
The look and feel we are going to go for is 80’s retro (more is more)!!
Scope of work (what work is going to take place including work to be done by both parties) RHB to send PDFs, copy, access and pictures. 3D to research silverstripe / brainstorm / edit / build.
Outside of scope (what is difinately not going to be done by Group or the community group): To be evaluated once CMS product secured.
The sort of programmes we are going to use are flash for some aspects, photoshop, illustrator, dreamweaver.
Timeline:
Mon 28 8AM GO!!!! Meet with Silverstripe
Tues 29 Meeting to discuss look and feel tues or wed
Wed 30
Thu 31
Fri 1 Meeting to finalise draft of site
Sat 2
Sun 3
Mon 4 8AM Deadline for template / graphics
Tues 5
Wed 6
Thu 7
Fri 8 Final Sign off
Sat 9
Sun 10
Mon 11 8AM Deadline for PROJECT
-Sam
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Bitchin'
Had our 1st meeting with The Real Hot Bitches today, in the form of Angela Meyer aka the Bitch Mistress.So, the Real Hot Bitches.
They started just under 3 years ago when Angela (the Bitch Mistress) and Rosie (the Dance Bitch) were working together on Young and Hungry (a series of plays performed by young people), one thing led to another and they ended up, late at night, making up dance routines to cheesy 80s music.
After that fateful night they decided that other like-minded individuals could be keen on this sort of thing too and so they organized a meeting/dance get together. Sure enough the day rolled around and 60! people turned up. Overwhelmed by the turnout, the Real Hot Bitches (as they had now decided to call themselves) started getting together weekly to have a laugh and celebrate their love of dancing, and thus the Bitches were born.
Every Saturday afternoon there is "Club Bitching", where anyone is welcome to come along and join in to the dance routine of the week and people of all ages and genders turn up. In addition to the Club Bitching there is the "UberTroupe", the core group of about 35 Bitches (and Gentlemen Bitches) who go out and do shows and are more of the public face of the Bitches.
The Real Hot Bitches are all about having a great time and not taking life too seriously, everything they do should be taken with a (generous) pinch of salt and a good laugh. The Bitches are the true embodiment of a community group, they do it purely for the love of it, they don't care about the money and its all in good fun.
Moving into the future the Bitches are looking forward to getting out there and bringing their energy and passion to the masses as well as fostering new chapters of Hot Bitches in New Zealand, Australia and abroad.
The Real Hot bitches have no formal dance training and go by the motto of "What we lack in technique, we make up for in passion". For more information, check out their (soon to be badass) website here
-Alex
Friday, July 18, 2008
Its up!
1st entry here goes.
We're working with the Real Hot Bitches on this, haven't met any of them yet but looking forward to it.
Saw them at the Cuba Carnival a while back when they set the record for biggest choreographed dance routine (it did get the record didn't it?) and everyone was having a great time.
Here's a vid
Should be good fun.
Watch out for more changes to the blog as time goes on, it'll undoubtedly get shined up as we go.
-Alex
We're working with the Real Hot Bitches on this, haven't met any of them yet but looking forward to it.
Saw them at the Cuba Carnival a while back when they set the record for biggest choreographed dance routine (it did get the record didn't it?) and everyone was having a great time.
Here's a vid
Should be good fun.
Watch out for more changes to the blog as time goes on, it'll undoubtedly get shined up as we go.
-Alex
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