The Nightmare of Dreamweaver

Dreamweaver is a nightmare.

Dreamweaver is a nightmare.

Dreamweaver is a nightmare.

Ok so maybe Dreamweaver isn't a nightmare. As I learn about all the facets of doctoral work, I realize how much more I want to learn, how much there is to learn and the constraints of time. I know that it would be helpful to watch the twenty-four Dreamweaver tutorial videos (http://www.adobe.com/devnet/dreamweaver/?view=gettingstarted) on the overview page as I start my project, but somehow just jumping in and exploring the program and exploring the language of the tools seems like the way to go. Okay...Maybe I will just watch the first three tutorials...

After successfully uploading an MP3 audio test file and website html links to the server space, I am ready to start creating my podcast and web page that will serve as my doctoral program e-portfolio. This includes a bit of researching CSS, RSS feeds, HTML while exploring website design through Dreamweaver.

As I have been exploring, I haven't seen any information or references to aesthetics in website design. As I research and explore other websites, I find myself looking at them in a new way, exploring how each page shows (or doesn't show) the elements of art (i.e. line, color, shape, form, texture, space, value, etc.) and the principles of design (i.e. balance, unity, variety, rhythym, contrast, proportion/scale, emphasis). Some websites could seem more "artful" which aesthetically speaking is very important because it affects our quality of browsing life. It makes me think about walking through benign, industrial-looking schools or hospitals devoid of any art or aesthetics with occasional cliche' bulletin boards with inauthentic cookie cutter projects and clip art sprinkled randomly around the school.

A couple years ago I presented at the "Aesthetic Education: Expanding Notions of Excellence in K-18 Learning Communities" conference at New York City PS/IS 499 school (http://qcpages.qc.cuny.edu/Education/AE%20Conference%20Proceedings/). I couldn't help but notice a school that was incredibly rich aesthetically. The school had been incorporating the Aesthetic Education model from Lincoln Center Institute so PS/IS 499 richly embedded all the student's learning experiences in and out of the classroom. There were documented around the school including murals and window etchings carefully planned and designed with thoughtful consideration of the placement of those artifacts. In those artifacts and the school's aesthetics as a whole, I felt a richness in experiences as past and present stories emanated from within myself about all those voices represented throughout the artfulness that surrounded me.

Funny how website design could be like those visually engaging schools in engaging my emotions in such a way that I was transformed and transported through time. Isn't that education? How could aesthetically engaging websites contribute to this type of "education?"

This leads me to asking more questions which I will have to think about another day:

• How do aesthetics and the arts play a role in the development of websites?
• Are artists and designers at the center of developing websites?
• How does considering aesthetics impact educational outcomes and the presentation of website information for teaching and learning?
• What is meant when someone says a website is designed well?
• Do websites that are designed well include professional artists?
• For that matter, what is a professional artist?
• How do things like color and texture (as well as other elements of art) and balance (as well as other principles of design) affect us psychologically as we experience websites?
• What is the aesthetic response we have as we experience websites?
• What is an artful website?
• Are artful websites (that consider elements of art and principles of design) more effective in educating us on a kinesthetic level?
• How do they engage our emotions and trigger are recollection of experiences?