Furry Fury - writing draft 2

Below you can see the second part of my writing draft for a digital arts end-of-term project. My project name is Furry Furry. The benefits of living with a cat and it is about cats and cat therapy. The article will be constructed in a magazine template in Canva.

Cats are not always silent companions. Some felines have a taste for speaking up about their demands and opinions, and the variety of meows can be charming and comical, especially when they engage in what seems like a conversation with their human. They are champions in the art of napping. Whether they are draped over the furniture or curled up in the most peculiar position. Their commitment to relaxation is amusing.

Scientific studies have shown that cat purring can lower stress levels and reduce anxiety.
The gentle purring of a cat brings calm and relaxation and can change the atmosphere in a household. Petting a cat also comes with health benefits. Studies have proved that it lowers blood pressure, reduces the risk of heart disease, and even boosts the immune system.
Cats are great companions, whether you are working from home on your computer or simply relaxing on the sofa with a book in your hand. The bond with a cat can be comforting and work as a source of emotional support. Their unconditional love can decrease feelings of depression. The presence of a cat can improve overall mood and provide a sense of purpose. They are low-maintenance pets, which makes them suitable companions for individuals with busy lifestyles or limited living space. Cats are known for their independence and being able to adapt to various living situations.

If you are considering training your cat to be able to support therapy, make sure that:

The cat is young enough to learn.
Enjoys being stroked all over, and does not react aggressively.
Do not mind strangers.
Have a good relationship with other cats.

If all of the above has been met, you can start training your cat by:

Beginning with clicker training.
Teach him/her how to react to the name.
Work on the ‘sit’ and the ‘stay’ commands (with the help of favourite treats).
Teach them to walk on a leash.

At this point, you can enrol to a handler program.
Program leaders will help you recognize if the cat has the right personality and temperament. You will learn your cat's communication style and complete the course. Your cat will receive a health check, you will just need to make sure your cat is not on a raw diet.

Cats are natural explorers, and their curiosity can lead to some amusing situations. From jumping on the highest shelves and top of the wardrobes to investigating empty boxes. These pets like to explore their surroundings, creating hilarious moments. Cats have an amazing ability to squeeze into tight spaces. No household item brings as much joy to a cat as a shoebox. Watching a cat fitting its body into a box that seems impossibly small is a guaranteed source of laughter. Some cats have an incredible talent for mischief. They like to knock off the ornaments and play with curtains and hanging items. These playful pranksters find joy in creating a bit of chaos. They are also known for their grace, but not all of them are born acrobats. Slipping off a smooth surface or missing a jump adds a touch of comedy to their personalities.


Therapy cats are more than just furry companions, they are heroes contributing to the well-being of individuals. Their ability to provide emotional support, alleviate stress, and promote social interaction makes them invaluable members of the healthcare and therapy communities. As we continue to recognize and appreciate the healing power of these feline friends, the bond between humans and therapy cats will undoubtedly grow stronger, fostering healthier and happier communities.


I am still unsure about the amount of text I have created, in my next post, you can see the process of creating the article in magazine template in Canva.

Website feedback and UX testing.

To test my website I have created a Google Form with questions regarding my website and how it works. Form has been added to the navigation bar on my website for easy access. Later my website was published and I shared my website address with my group. Everyone could have a look at my website, check if the navigation works, see what I have been writing and test all the buttons. They could also check the mobile view and fill in the questionnaire. The questionnaire included comments. I got 11 responses to my questions. Below you can see the feedback and my response to it.

Respondents thought that my website was excellent or good. I am happy with the way it works and looks, although I might change pictures in the future. 

I was happy with the navigation. I think it is easy to use, very clear and visible. Respondent thought similarly.

My contact page was successful. I like how it looks and how it works. The group also thought it was good (or excellent).

I decided to add one social link - to my blogger. I used a grey logo and this might be the reason why one of the respondents though it was hard to find. 

I have tested my mobile view multiple times, changing elements so they fit nicely. I am quite pleased with the work I have done here. I think the mobile view is very good, and you can see below that my group had similar thoughts. 

My portfolio page works from the navigation side, although the portfolio itself was not updated with my project yet. I do not have any past work to show, my end-of-term project is getting finalized. I did receive some lower scores on it, I will comment on it under the last section of the questionnaire. 

Most people liked my About Page however some did not enjoy it and thought it was ok. I will consider changing my biography a bit. I am not happy with my picture, I think my face looks tired on it. I will try to change the picture to one where I look more radiant and fresh.

I am happy that most of the opinions were positive. I received a few comments. The last comment said that the button in my portfolio was not created correctly, I have fixed it so the letters fit on the button. Now it looks much better. My project is in progress and will be added to the portfolio so everything will be completed on time. 

Change of my About - new photograph. 

Furry Fury - writing draft pt1.

For my end-of-term digital art project I and preparing a content article on the Benefits of living with a cat and therapy with cats. The article is called Furry Fury and will be constructed in a Canva magazine template. Below you can see a part of my writing draft. There are some paragraphs constructed for different parts of the article. It is a little out of context but it will all make sense when put together in a template.

Every day, millions of people struggle with physical and mental health problems. As every patient is different, we react differently to conventional treatment. Medical professionals are constantly progressing in the fight against illness, traumas, mental health problems and physical limitations.
If you have ever spent a relaxing evening with a purring ball of fur on your lap, you will understand their calming effect.
Therapy animals can help relieve stress and anxiety and improve the healing journey. Cats can be beneficial to their owners as emotional support cats or can be trained as therapy cats to visit a public place and help a range of individuals. Although they might not be able to perform rescue missions or serve in the way dogs can, they are excellent calming company.

What Is a Therapy Cat?

Therapy cats are not your typical household pets. A therapy cat must have an appropriate temperament and must be trained to assist someone experiencing physical, mental, or emotional distress, under the guidance of a professional. They can help patients of all ages with a wide range of problems. Individuals are introduced to therapy cats through sessions intended to reduce anxiety and assist the healing process. Therapy cats are not trained to perform specific tasks, but rather to provide comfort and a soothing presence.

Cats might not be thought of as man's best friend, dogs are often called such. Many mistaken beliefs about cats exist that give the impression that they are not perfect candidates for treatment. People wrongly believe that cats have many undesirable qualities.

Training:

Not every cat is suited to being trained in therapy. During the process of training, felines need to be checked if they are comfortable in various environments and can handle different interactions. They are specially trained and certified to offer emotional support and companionship to people in various settings, such as hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and even private residences.

Website changes.

During my digital art classes I changed the background of my website, to do that I chose a photography from the unsplash. I have also removed the background on the other three pages. To the Home page, I have added a citation from Federico Fellini.

'A different language is a different vision of life'

Home page.

About page.

Portfolio page.

Contact page.

Next I have checked the mobile view on my website, made sure that everything is visible and easy to read. Checked the navigation. Fixed the issues with back to top button in my contact page.

I have also changed my introduction to the project.

On 6th December I added my project to the website. To do that, my constructed project from Canva had to be embedded into my website.

I had to click on 'share' in the right top corner to be able to copy HTML code.

Next the HTML code had to be added on to the website. After that I have moved the minature of my project to the right side of the page, changed the description of the project, saved and published the changes. 

Content article - how to write, what to include.

During my home study time I have decided to look in to ways of writing a content article. I looked up a few articles and came up with below plan for my own article. The article will be my major project for Digital Art class. 

Below is the plan of writing:

• Catchy title and a focus keyword.
• Strong hook.
• Read competing articles.
• Research the topic.
• Brainstorm information to include.
• Come up with unique ideas.
• Write an outline.
• Include references from reliable sources.
• Make it an easy read.
• Use the language of my audience.
• End with a strong conclusion.
• Check length of the article.
• Remove non-important and redundant information.
• Edit, do the grammar check.
• Ask someone for feedback.

I will be using MS word for grammar and spelling check, article will be constructed in a flipsnack book. I will be adding pictures from copyright free sources like unsplash. My final work will be added to my website portfolio. 

Photography - Malek Dridi - unsplash

Further research. Stephanie Stevens and Laura Day.

During my further research needed for my content article, I looked up other authors and journalists. 

The first journalist I have decided to get familiar with is Stephanie Stevens.

I came across her articles while researching the information needed for my article, and I found an article written by Stevens about therapy with a cat. Her point of view is really interesting as she writes from her own experience. She also mentioned research done in 2021 by a person called Vargas, that shows a relationship between cats and reduced risk of human brain cancer. 

Stephanie Stevens is a freelance writer and journalist, as well as a content specialist. She has been working in journalism for over 20 years. She's an author of multiple content articles in fields like health, pets, travel, and celebrities. She has written for non-profits and foundations, corporations, and broadcasting networks. She has also created content for government agencies, major content agencies, and consultants. Stevens is a member of the Association of Health Care Journalists (AHCJ), and the producers' group of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (Emmy).

Stephanie's journey into health journalism began when she recognized a gap in coverage related to women's health issues. Despite the prevalence of topics like reproductive health, mental health, and wellness, she noticed that in-depth and nuanced reporting on these subjects was often lacking. Determined to fill this void, Stephanie set out to become a trusted source of information for women seeking to understand and navigate their health journeys. Stevens has her own YouTube channel called 'Mind your Body' where she shares her experiences of health, body, and skin care with women closer to her age, calling them 'women of experience'.

Another content journalist I have decided to write about is Laura Day.

Laura Day is a writer, editor, and bird lover. She puts her interest in nature and conservation, women's health, chronic conditions, and health inequity. She has graduated from Liverpool John Moores University and recently completed a Wildlife and Ecology Conservation course at the University of Leeds. 

Laura's journey into journalism began with a deep-seated curiosity about the world around her. She started her career by covering local events and writing human-interest stories for a community newspaper. Her ability to connect with people from all walks of life and tell their stories with empathy and authenticity quickly set her apart. But her biggest (to me) quality is her love of birds. Her love for wildlife and conservation led her to combine her journalistic skills with her commitment to environmental advocacy, creating a unique and impactful storytelling approach. Through her work, Laura Day has become a trusted voice in the bird journalism community. Her articles not only entertain and educate but also serve as a testament to the profound impact that birds have on our well-being.

References:

https://laurafday.com/

Stephanie Stevens

baby boomer pets health benefits of cats fur reaching

Mind your Body TV

Website evaluation.

 Planning stage:

What were your initial ideas for creating a website? style / name / template.

My initial idea was to create a website that is simple in style, with my name clearly visible. I was looking for a clear, simple template, that helps navigate easily via website. I chose a view of an typical English terraced houses to match with my progression route and my interests, which is English language. 

Do you have a tagline on your website?

I do not have a tagline. My website is not a marketing site. 

Research:

Which designers / artists (relevant to your continuation route) websites did you look for inspiration?

I looked at two websites of journalists. First was Simon Calder, he is a British travel journalist and broadcaster. Second website I looked at was Donald Bostorm, he is a Swedish journalist, photographer and graphic designer. I looked for an inspiration on both websites, learned how the website should navigate and what to avoid. 

How many pages did you want to make on your website and why? Did that change as you progressed onto the research / designing stage?

I wanted to make four or five pages. I think this number is optimal for a clear website. I have four pages on my website, which are Home, About, Portfolio, Contact. Under my Portfolio pages, there is a sub-page, where I am going to add my first project. 

Content:

What is the purpose of your website?

My website's purpose is to show my writing projects and to express myself a little bit more in the future. Possibly to advertise my work in the future, when I'm skilled to do translation work. 

Who are your potential website users?

My potential website users are Millennials, as I am in the same group and find it easier to create for people of similar age and view. I think it will be more interesting to women, than men at this point. In the future it might be aiming to broader audience, when I'll start advertising my work and looking to sell or provide translation service. 

Why do you think it is important to have a digital portfolio website?

It is important to have a website in today's reality as many journalists, writers and artist have their websites as their portfolio. Digital portfolio is a part of a resume, and might be very important while looking for an employment or trying to sell your work. It is also very important the portfolio website works well on mobile phone. 

Design:

Which design elements / tools did you use? (e.g.: infographics, fixed header, static background image, navigation menu design, text boxes, image galleries, social media feed) and why?

I have used Wix to create the website. I chose ready template with made header and footer. I have chosen the image to fill each page background. Footer and header are static and are visible on each page. I have changed the font of the navigation menu to Arial. I have added a social media button in the header, I only added a blogger as I did not need t share my personal profiles on other social media. I also added a copyright information in the footer. Next I have added a buttons for easy navigation between my portfolio and my project page. I added a contact page with contact form so the users can contact me whenever they want, I decided to ad a picture to that page as well. 

Navigation:

Does your website have working social media icon links?

Yes, my website has one working social media icon link - blogger.

Are your pages connected / interlinked?

Yes, my pages are connected. Portfolio is interlinked with my planned project page. 

Is it easy to navigate?

Yes, it is easy to navigate but I will also check it in week nine to make sure everything works perfect.

Does the “Contact” page / email link work?

Yes, contact page link works perfectly.

Creating website. Portfolio page.

 To edit my portfolio page I have added the same background as on other pages to the portfolio template. I have named it at the top, changed font to Arial 30 pts and font color to orange.

Later I have removed all of the elements from the portfolio template and written Portfolio on the white background. It's written in black, Arial, 30 pts. 

Then I have added a picture as my project indicator. 

I have added my project website as sub site under the portfolio section. To do that I used left hand site menu, picked 'create new site' , moved it around to place in right location, named it with my project title.

Next step was to add the button and name it with my project title. To be able to add the button I used left hand side menu. Then the button was linked to project sub-website. To do that I used 'link' button which appears after clicking left button of the mouse on the button.

When button got linked I went to the 'preview' and checked if it works.

Then I have added a button under my project website to be able to go back to the portfolio. It was the same way as the first button, and checked in 'preview' mode if everything works. 

In this space I will add my flipsnack project, which is going to be a magazine content article. 

Then I have checked both sites mobile view, made elements fit the screen and checked if everything works properly.

In a meantime I have also changed some elements of my website to make it look better and more modern, so I liked it more. 

Next I have added a text as an introduction to my article. 

This will be updated next week. 

Ideal customer. Furry Fury article.

In this post I've shown my ideal client for Furry Fury. I wanted to build someone who is busy in professional life and looking for opportunities to slow down and relax. As a result, I developed the persona of my ideal client below.  You should be able to see the published version on Venngage after clicking the link. 

Ideal Customer / Furry Fury

Website research - Simon Calder & Donald Bostrom.

 As I am creating my own website presenting my work in my progression route, which is English language, I have started researching journalist websites. Two journalist websites I have found very interesting, are Simon Calder and Donald Bostrom. They are both traveling journalists. This website research will assist me in understanding how to create my own website so I will consider the overall design, colours, and typography, navigation, usability/user-friendliness, links and mobile view. 

I will begin with Simon Calder Website. His homepage states that he is a travel journalist and broadcaster. Navigation is very easy, takes me straight to the biography of an author, which is easy to read, contains couple of photographs. Another site takes us to Simon's podcasts and connects to Spotify, Apple podcasts, and Google podcasts. It also connects to Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast. His Writing website connects to articles written for Independent, The Standard, Conde Nast Traveler, High Life magazine, and Group Leisure and Travel. Link to Waitrose Weekend doesn't work. On screen website links to you tube channel and to the film 'From Alligators to Astronauts: go one step beyond Orlando.' Speaking website tells us about the events and conferences he was taking a part in. Family Travel website shows us a story of Simon's family holidays, long list of places he has visited with his family, as well as some family photographs. Travel advice site gives us some tips if something goes wrong on holiday. I do find this very useful and might save it for the future. At the end there is a contact details site.

On the right side menu there is a list of his social media contacts, all work fine and are easy to navigate. 

At the bottom of the site there are pictures from travel that can be enlarged, and direct links to videos from the travels.

At the top of the website, just under the navigation menu there is an easy, quick navigation, that takes us straight to different materials from the journalist.

Overall experience is good, although I think design looks little bit old dated, I do not like the choice of colours. I checked mobile view of the website. Navigation and all sites were working correctly. I think the website looks better and navigates easier on mobile view. 

Second journalist website I have researched is Donald Bostrom website.

His homepage states he is a journalist, photographer and a graphic designer. Navigation bar takes us to his projects. Some of them are written in English, some in Swedish, which I found disappointing as I thought they could be interesting to read. 

Next site is Bostorm's photography, which I think is very touching and beautiful. Then we can go to a site with all of his books, then texts. Unfortunately for me part of the texts are written in Swedish. Last button takes us to authors blog, it's followed by magnifying glass (which I did not noticed at first), it helps us to find anything we might be looking for at the website. 

At the bottom of the website we can find a travel map, which I find really interesting. I think it's a nice addition to the overall. 

Another navigation bar at the bottom of the site helps us move around and look for anything we can be interested in. 

Overall experience is very good, I think design looks clear and nice, I like the choice of colours. I checked mobile view of the website. Navigation and all sites were working correctly. I think the website looks good on mobile view as well. 

Comparing both websites, first was a little bit disappointing, although both websites had interesting elements. I might be using the first one for my personal benefit, like family travel advise. I prefer second's website design, although not everything was written in English, so I couldn't understand it fully. Second website was more interesting due to the journalist content and photography, and due to more modern website looks.

This was a good experience, I have re analysed my own website design and decided to change couple details, to make it look more modern, and to be more inviting.

Software practice, creating a magazine template.

 Today I have started preparing a magazine template practice form my major project. 

To create an article I will need to be able to build a magazine style presentation on visme. 

I have opened visme and looked for magazine template by searching in a search tool. 

I decided to choose below template and then started changing information and pictures.

Then I have started modifying the writing by clicking on each section, changing the text and it's style. Later I have changed the cover photograph by choosing a cat picture from unsplash website, downloading it to my computer and then uploading to visme. Next the picture had to be resized. This can be done by clicking on a picture and dragging a window to desired area of the photograph. 

This is my cover page.

 

Next i went to the second page of my magazine. To do this I had to choose desired page in right hand menu. I have started modifying text spaces, moving them around, adding text areas with options found on left side menu. Background photograph was found on unsplash website, downloaded to my computer and uploaded to visme. 

In order to add more pages in to the magazine we have to click the button in right hand menu. Pages then can be modified the same way as first two pages. Photographs can be added from visme base or from any other website. i continued using unsplash, as it is copyright free base of photographs.

The same process was used to create page 3, 4 and page 5. 

Next I have started adding a text in to created boxes. Making sure that text and boxes are visible and readable. Text can be added in left hand menu as full paragraphs. Can be edited the way the author wants, font and size can be changed to any desired style. In below screenshots you can see that the text is from the template or does not make sense. This was only for practice so I did not use my actual article. 

Page 2, 3, 4 and 5.