After we collected our data and started to begin the design of the page, we had different views about how to design the site. So we conducted a survey amongst the students at the Urban Scholars Program to find out what computer systems the students used so we could be sure to design a site that our web audience could easily access. The survey data indicated that many students used old systems and browsers, so we realized that we needed a site that was easy on old systems and easy and fast to download for the older browsers.

In mid-July we were granted permission to use the Media Development Lab at U/Mass Boston to develop our homepage and template. Prior to this, the team had developed many sketches of the site. In fact, there were some arguments about the design, but then we resolved our problems by just combining each idea into one. After we got an initial design, which was done on Adobe Photoshop, it was ported over to Macromedia Fireworks to be spliced and optimized. Other images, such as buttons, were later implemented into the design.

With the design template completed it was ported over for programming and coding. The pages were tested for errors through a system of trial and error. It was kind of frustrating to find out that one error in a page affected all the other pages. Each page would then have to be corrected. Also the images had to be linked a certain way so that we would be able take advantage of the browser's cache ability to make things load up faster, hence our page designs stay consistent for faster loading.

Ironically the splash page was one of the things designed last. Then we had to upload all of our content to the individual pages. Since the templates had already been created, a simple procedure of copy and paste was all that was needed. Finally after all of the pages were up (a week long process), the final phase had to be done.

We each had to make sure that there were no broken links. To accomplish this task we needed to go through every single page to make sure everything worked. We also had to test it out on several browsers and computers for compatibility.

We forgot to mention that besides the hard effort to put the site together, we also had many delays. Since each member of the team belonged to the Urban Scholars Program, we had a summer class and homework to do. In addition, we also had workshops and seminars to attend. We didn't let this discourage us; we figured it just added to the challenge.

The 2 High-Tech team wanted to successfully create a site that was able to compete with others around the world...