We Can Haz Stuff!

There are actually a few articles up on www.Re-evolve.ning.com now!  We took some of the templates filled out by our Prince's Trust people to get an idea of how the site will look once we have more information on there.

It isn't perfect yet however.  I feel that the articles still look a little bland because they are just plain text in black and white.  Ideally I would like to work out a way to include colours and pictures, but that will involve some research to decide what will look right.

The other major problem with uploading templates is that you cannot simply copy and paste from Word.  All of the formating and spacing for the text has to be added in HTML and that takes extra time.  Colours and photos may also need to be added in this way.

I've also realised that I need to establish a set way for tagging pages.  At the moment I have some criteria, but it would be a good idea to set them down for other people to use.  Consistency is a good thing.  I also need to check that my guide to the basic HTML involved in this process makes sense to other people.  Coding is a little tricky and it's worth making sure everyone can do it.

These are not the codes I have in mind kitteh...

More graphics

We've started going in a slightly different direction graphics wise.  A simpler aesthetic is developing using bold shapes and colours.  Not much more to say this week, we just working on making some good images.

The focus is going to be on images relating to different jobs.  So far the fire hose has turned out the best because it ended up looking like a snail.  Very cute.

Graphics for the web

Graphics are hard to get right, and unfortunately that's what I'm trying to do for Re-Evolve's Ning website.  At the moment we're trying to create a good look which is both sophisticated and youthful.  Youthful I'm okay at.  Sophisticated is the issue.

Hopefully I'll work out a good solution.  At the moment I'm working on toning down my natural colour inclinations.  I tend to wok very bright.

Here's a kaleidoscope to demonstrate just how my taste works:

Where is it!?

Today I learnt about hidden pages on websites.  Jen told me about them really and they're so useful.  Essentially all they are are web pages which aren't connected to the Re-Evolve.Ning website menu but can still be accessed through links and searches.  They're going to be perfect for article pages!

I also made some nifty graphics to represent the career sectors Re-Evolve is focusing on.  They were all made in Photoshop by my using original line art.

I found the Construction sector the hardest image to compose.  It was the area I'm least familiar with so designing it was a bit of a challenge.

These are actually slightly out of date, even now, the day after I posted them!  We're thinking of adding a Sport section to appeal to the interests of many of the young people we met as part of the Princes Trust.  Logically Sport needs to have a blue theme to match the rest of the site, but we'll probably try to find some photos to match the youth orientated nature of the site.

Re-Evolve Website!

This week we finally succeeded in getting a website started for Re-Evolve!

It's based at Ning.com, which is a free website which offers loads of lovely features for us to use.  We can have a site blog for communications, a forum to talk to the young people who will hopefully use the site and facilities for photo and video hosting.  This is all very good and exciting, it's quite a work in progress at the moment.

I've spent most of the day working on branding it towards Re-Evolve by changing the colours around to match our logo and putting up a header.  It actually looks quite good already and after only a day's work.  Once it has more information and photos on it I'm sure it will look great!

10 Ways to Conquer Writer's Block

I have writer's block.  This is of course a bad think when trying to blog.  And totally unusual for me because I simply do not get writer's block.

However there are always a few ways to get around writer's block, mainly by working around the problem.  Here's a list of tips on how to deal with this dreaded plague of literary ambition. 

1)  Go read the news, under the condition that it isn't just an excuse for procrastinating.  It won't take long to find an article that's relevant to what you're writing about or can at the very least find an opinion.  Talk about that and what it means to you.  If you're lucky it may even lead to blog type number 2...

2)  Rant.  You can go on for paragraphs if you find a topic that really ticks you off.  If you're controversial it might even increase you're readership!

3)  Talk about celebrity gossip.  This really is a stretch, but it's popular and there's always going to be something to talk about.  The downside is that none of it will be relevant to anything.

4)  Hobbies and pets.  They're kind of the same since no one will care all that much but they're interesting and you'll find something to write about.  This works best if your blog can be about anything.

5)  Write an article on a topic related to what you do.  For example for Re-Evolve I could write something about job fairs or what to put in a CV.  The downside to this is that it takes actual time and effort.

6)  Write fan-fiction.  Hang on, I take that one back.  No matter how desperate you might be fan-fiction probably isn't going to help anyone.

7)  Write an ode to spring (or another seasonal event).  It's relevant and interesting(ish).  Alternatively combine it with option two and create a rant about the weather.

8)  Post photos of your weekend.  Or other similar events.  Or doodles.  Pictures are ultra spiffy to have on your blog anyway, and you can justify it as a way of introducing your readers to the real you.

9)  Talk about other people's blogs.  They did the hard work of creating a topic.  You can reap some of that glory by writing a response and linking to theirs!  You might even be able to attract some of their readers!

10)  Write about your writer's block.  That'll teach it to show its face!

Re-Evolve Marketing Event

Re-Evolve is holding a marketing event in London on the 25th March.  We'll be heading off into Westminster in the morning to interview young people about what they would want from a careers resource.  In the afternoon we will retire to the Greenside Community Centre to discuss what we have discovered from the survey.  Hopefully the result will help us work out exactly what we need for our website!

If you are age 16-25 and interested in coming to the event as a volunteer please contact Re-Evolve@cwh.org.uk

Tel Mon, Tues, Fri – 0207245 2267

Tel Wed, Thurs – o2o8 9620 721

Everyone is welcome and it's a great opportunity to find out about the practical side of marketing and business!