So what is it actually?
The Web Studio is an actual physical location you can visit at the Aalto Media Factory, run by two helpful guys, Jon Fabritius and Oliver Manner. We've worked and taught at the School of Art and Design, and at our own businesses since the days NCSA Mosaic. We have open doors, free coffee, selected learning materials and a bunch of contemporary devices for testing your web projects on. We provide assistance and organize events to help you learn more.
Who is it for?
Anyone at Aalto University doing something on the web, regardless of experience. Students, researchers and staff are all welcome to get feedback and ideas for their projects. Students wanting to learn more about web design and development can freely hang around as much as they want, especially as we have books that are considered essentials available for reading on-site.
Why?
We're in awe of the great studios at the School of Art and Design. The wood, metal, plastic, textile, glass, ceramic, film, TV, sound, theatre and other studios have excelled in combining great personal tutoring with great resources, to teach people about materials.
Today, software is the central raw material of everyday products, and we often see people come up with cool ideas and concepts, but then stall when things get more technical, or challenging to design. To overcome that, we want to provide a warm, cozy context to help push web projects forward, by doing what we can, and then connecting you to people wiser than us. At the same time, we get to learn and stay up-to-date ourselves, in a rapidly evolving world.
Resources
We have five things going on at the moment:
Free Consultation
You're welcome to pop in, grab coffee* and hang out on our sofa. Sound off your ideas, questions, worries and needs- we're happy to help you out with what we know, and to connect you to greater minds for what we don't.
Contact us to set up a meeting, or drop in if you're in the neighborhood. Mondays, wednesdays and fridays are your best bet.
Monday Sessions
Events open to all Aalto people, mondays at 17.00. We typically cover some topic on web development and design, and sometimes even do a coherent string of related sessions. Check the schedule for more details on upcoming events. And if you'd like to show something yourself, or have someone awesome in mind, we're absolutely open to ideas.
Right now we're planning the next set of events. We'll announce them on our Facebook page, so keep an eye on that.
Great Books and a Reading Spot
We have a bookshelf full of books on user experience, interaction design, information design, web development and related things. They never leave the Media Factory, so they're always there for you- we've set up a nice, hidden reading spot for your reading pleasure and you're invited.
Designing Web Interfaces: Principles and Patterns for Rich Interactions
by Bill Scott and Theresa Neil
On the shopping list
Feel free to recommend additions
Test Devices
Even the simplest designs are hard to get right on all platforms. Does your site work great on an Android tablet? What about the old computer at the library running Windows XP and IE 6? Ubuntu? Can Windows Phone users use your new shiny web thingy?
If you don't know, you test. And that's why we have a selection of these platforms at hand. Phones, tablets and different vintages of desktop operating systems in convenient spot. Book a time, bring your (small) team and hunker down for a few hours to test and tweak.
We keep a keen eye on new gadgets, but usually go for devices which have proven themselves in the marketplace to some extent. And we are about to refresh our aging selection with a few new models, so feel free to suggest an addition.
On the shopping list
Feel free to recommend additions
A Bit of Development
From time to time, we do a bit of in-house development for people in need. We're kinda picky, and can't pull off too many of these simultaneously, but please ask.
We're also looking at employing a few interns to work on some selected cases, so let us know if you'd be interested in some learning-by-doing in a relaxed and low-salaried atmosphere.
Right now we're working on a product called Aalto People, which is just about to launch. We mine the various Aalto databases, bring to light the information there and let people selectively display what they wish to share on the site, and through an API on any Aalto sites. It integrates our popular Unofficial Aalto University Search which is open to all.
You may also have heard rumors of an awesome, fast, friendly Aalto wide discussion forum unlike any other. Stay tuned.
Contact us
We are located at the Arabia Campus, within Media Factory, at the southernmost tip of The School of Art and Design.
The street address is Hämeentie 135 A, 00560 Helsinki (Google Places). Tram lines 6 and 8, buses 52, 68, 71, 74 and 506 all stop close to our door.
You can mail us at aaltowebstudiopotofhoney@gmailio.poo.com, tweet us @aaltowebstudio or talk to us at our Facebook page. Like us there to receive information on events and other new stuff.