I am putting the finishing touches on the website, as per my client’s request, as well as putting the finishing touches on the written portion of my thesis project. She requested that I use a different design for the border of the slideshows, because the “antique book” border was not working for her; add links to the menu page; and add different photos to other sections of the site. I took it upon myself to add a slideshow to the picture gallery, as a placeholder for any new photos she plans on sending me. I also changed the display font to Georgia, and tested a plugin called participants database, where visitors can give us their contact information. I am not sure I’m keeping the plugin but I’d like to test it out a bit more.
I think I got a lot out of this project: I’m confident that with a little more training I could probably design a workable website, definitely while using WordPress, as long as the project isn’t too complicated, and doesn’t require fine tuning. Had the client wanted to use the site with PayPal, I would have used a shopping cart plugin’s shortcodes, and activated a few more pages to create the environment needed for a visitor to order online. It is possible that in the future, the client will want to do this, since she plans to expand her business by renting a space with a bigger kitchen, and space for parties and special events.
This is what the home page looked like back in July:
And this is what the home page looks like today…I have a slideshow which runs automatically, but pauses when the cursor is placed on it.
It was a pleasure working with my client, and I’m STILL enjoying my early Christmas gift from her–a 3 lb tin of Trinidadian black cake! I have to thank my advisor, Prof Schneider, for his input and guidance during the life of the project, and Dr. Stam for her Research Methods course which helped me put the written portion of my project together. I also have to give thanks to the other professors I had during my two years in the Information Design and Technology program at SUNYIT, because each had a hand in my success, through their instruction.
After my project is done, I will need to defend my thesis, which may happen in early January 2014.
Christina Ruiz 