Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 2.2. Sample content outline
ABOUT
curriculum vitae
contact
P ORTFOLIO
p rint and Web
m otion graphics
d igital art
DESIGN LAB
book projects
student gallery
links
Make sure that you descriptively name and number each item. Categorization,
grouping, and listing are important here. When you complete the content
outline, you have a nice checklist for you to keep track of your content items.
Keep the content outline handy so that you can refer to it when you are creating
your Web portfolio site. Many times I have seen students get confused and
literally lost while creating a Web portfolio without using their content outline.
What typically happens is they eventually get so frustrated that they must get
back to basics and prepare the content outline again. After that, they usually
listen to my recommendations to use content outlines liberally. You can never
have too many organizational tools when you are creating a Web portfolio.
I provided samples and thorough description of how to develop, on paper, a
list of content items which will be used in the Web portfolio. Now you should
go through the process of creating a content outline. Refer back to the entries
you wrote in on the content list you created earlier. Put the items in a simple
order as shown earlier. You may want use a pencil if you are going to use a low-
tech method such as paper. You want to make changes easily — and there will
be changes. This is a difficult process because you need to get your thoughts
together and then simplify them so that they are clear. With a content outline you
want to develop a roadmap for guidance as you begin hunting and gathering all
of the assets that will be part of the Web portfolio. The ordered list you create
will help in the development of a flowchart. With the flowchart, you will execute
the critical step of information design. The design of information is what gives
the Web portfolio its technical structure and narrative impact. If the information
is presented in such a way that it does not provide a basic narrative about the
author, the connection with the user will not be as strong and ultimately
appearance, persuasion, and effectiveness will suffer.
