Extensions

In this extension, you’ll create your own logo in Google Drawings and add it to your portfolio site.

A logo is a symbol that represents you and your work.

The logo you create will help people remember and think of you whenever they see it.

To make one, you will create a new Google Drawing, add plain text or WordArt, add a shape to your logo, and save and upload it to your site Your logo should match your portfolio’s purpose.

Since designing a complex logo can take a long time, this video will create a simple logo using initials and a shape.

To begin, open a new tab in your browser, and sign in to your Google account.

Then, go to Google Drive.

Create a new drawing, and give it a descriptive title.

This will help you find it later.

The blank area in the center is where you’ll design your logo.

Click the buttons above the blank drawing area to add lines, shapes, text boxes, and images.

These are the basics of your logo design.

Next, add a shape.

To resize your shape, click and drag the squares on its border.

Move your shape by clicking and dragging it across the screen.

Use the guidelines to place your shape in the right position.

Then, change the fill color for your shape.

You might also want to change the thickness or color of the shape’s border to make it stand out more.

Next, add a text box for your initials.

Click and drag the box to place it in the correct position.

Your initials are the focus of your logo, so pick a font, size, and color that makes them easy to read on your site.

Now that your logo is done, download a copy.

Select the Jay-Peg option for your logo.

Next, add your logo from the header or top of your website.

Your logo is saved on your computer, so select upload.

Finally, choose a background color for your header.

Your choice depends on the color of your site and your logo.

Designing a logo takes time, and even big companies go through several designs before they find one that works.

This lesson is just an introduction.

Take your time, and create a design that’s your own.

Now, it’s your turn.

Open a new Google Drawing, add a shape and your initials inside it, change the shape’s fill and your text color, download it as a J-P-E-G, and upload it to your site.

Your portfolio should be organized, so your audience can find information easily.

Separating your site info into pages is one way to do this.

Adding subpages is another, and it lets you organize your website even further.

For example, instead of placing all your writing samples on one page, you could separate them into subpages for class assignments, projects, or blog posts.

In this extension, you’ll add at least one subpage to your portfolio.

You will add a subpage to your Work page, give it a title, and add work samples or files to it.

To begin, sign in to your Google account, and open your portfolio website.

Then, go to the Pages tab.

This displays all the pages currently on your site and is where you’ll add your subpage.

Next, add a subpage to your Work page.

Feel free to add more than one.

Right now, your subpage is empty, but you can add content to it just like any other page.

Next, add a new work sample, or move one you added during the main project.

If you have more than one subpage, make sure your work is going to the right location.

This keeps your site organized, and helps your audience find the content they’re looking for.

Finally, add a description of your sample.

Include information to help your audience understand your work, such as what it is and when and why you created it.

Your portfolio may include many different types of media.

Adding subpages is one way to keep your work organized, so you and your audience can always find what you’re looking for.

Now, it’s your turn.

Open your portfolio’s list of pages, add a subpage to your Work page, give it a title, and add a work sample and description.

In this extension, you’ll create your own favicon in Google Drawings and add it to your site.

A favicon is a small icon that appears on a browser tab.

This is an image that represents a website, just like a logo represents a person or a company.

A favicon makes your website stand out and helps your audience identify you and your work.

In this video, you will create a new canvas in Google Drawings, add a shape, add text or WordArt, and save and upload your favicon to your site.

The icon in this extension uses shape and initials, but those are just some of the elements you can add.

If you created a logo in another extension, make your favicon match it.

This creates a strong look and identity for your portfolio site and helps your audience connect to you and your work.

If you haven’t, think about the purpose of your portfolio.

You can design your icon around this.

To begin, open a new tab and sign in to your Google account.

Then, go to Google Drive.

Create a new Google Drawing, and give it a descriptive name.

This will help you find it later.

The blank area in the center is where you’ll design your icon.

Click the buttons above the blank drawing area to add lines, shapes, text boxes, and images.

These are the basics of your logo design.

Next, add a shape.

To resize your shape, click and drag the squares on its border.

Since favicons are very small, make your shape fill most, if not all, of the area.

Then, change the fill color for your shape.

You might also want to change the thickness or color of the shape’s border to make it stand out more.

Next, add a text box for your initials.

Click and drag the box to place it in the correct position.

Your initials need to be large in order to be seen, so pick a font, size, and color that makes them easy to read on your site.

Now that your favicon is done, download a copy.

Select the J-P-E-G option.

Next, add your favicon to your site.

Your icon is saved on your computer, so you’ll use upload.

Your favicon will only appear once you publish your site, so if you haven’t published, do that now.

If your site is already published, re-publish it.

Many websites have their own favicons.

This small touch makes your site both more personal and professional by reinforcing the link between you and your website.

Now, it’s your turn.

Open a new drawing, add a shape and your initials inside it, change the shape’s fill color and your text color, download it as a J-P-E-G, and upload your favicon to your site.

There are many ways to express your personality through your portfolio.

Adding quotes and images that inspire you can help your audience understand more about who you are and what you care about.

In this extension, you’ll add an inspirational quote to your portfolio.

You can also add a matching image, if you like.

To do this, you will use Google Search to find images and quotes, add them to your portfolio, and cite your sources.

Before you start, think of people, places, and things that inspire you.

Using this information, you’ll search for a quote that inspires you or that relates to your portfolio.

Quotes won’t be appropriate for every type of portfolio, so consider your portfolio’s purpose first.

To begin, open a new tab, and sign in to your Google account.

Next, find a quote.

Use search terms based on what inspires you or that express your portfolio’s purpose.

Then, add your quote to your site.

Be sure to cite the source of your quote.

This ensures that your quote is properly credited.

In this example, copy it directly from the website.

Next, add a new text box, and paste your citation.

If it’s appropriate for your portfolio, add an image and caption it with your quote.

Find a new image, or use the one you added in the main lesson.

To do this, go to image search, search for the image, and make sure you have the right to use the image.

Next, download the image to your computer.

Then, go back to your homepage and upload the image.

Finally, add the quote as a caption.

Adding a quote and an inspirational image is an effective way to give your portfolio some personality.

Now, it’s your turn.

Search the internet for an inspirational quote, cite the source of the quote, use Google image search to find and download an inspirational image, upload the image to your site, and caption your image with the quote.

In this extension, you’ll experiment with the design options in Google Sites.

The theme you chose for your portfolio gives your entire website a uniform design.

However, you can also adjust the design of individual sections of your site.

This lets you call out important items or announcements for your audience.

To do this, you will change your theme font and accent color, change section colors, and add an image background.

To begin, open a new tab, and sign in to your Google account.

Then, open your site.

The theme you selected in the main lesson is already applied.

Your theme controls how your text, called the font, looks, as well as any accent colors.

You can change these to give your site a different look.

Next, change your font.

Each theme provides different fonts to choose from to make your portfolio look more professional, modern, or fun.

Then, change your accent color.

Use the preset options, or choose your own color.

Your accent color controls the color of your headings and extra features like the underline.

These changes can make a noticeable difference to the look of your site.

If you don’t want to make a portfolio-wide change, adjust a single section instead.

This directs your audience’s attention to a specific point.

Choose a section, and change its background.

This adds visual appeal to your portfolio.

By changing fonts and accent colors, you change the look and feel of your portfolio.

By changing section and background colors, you guide your audience to what you want them to focus on.

These changes provide your audience with a better experience while viewing your portfolio, which makes it more likely they’ll remember you and your work.

Now, it’s your turn.

Change your site’s font and accent color, apply an emphasis color to a section, and add an image background to a separate section.

Your portfolio is a living document.

As you grow and learn new skills, it should reflect them.

Since you’re already learning new skills and creating projects in school, this is the ideal place to share them! In this extension, you’ll add, link, or embed other work you’ve created to your portfolio.

These should be the pieces of work you are most proud of and that show off your talents, skills, and growth.

You’ll add navigation links, upload your projects, and embed your files This gives you a chance to explain what you’ve learned and show your audience how your skills are growing.

To begin, open a new tab.

Then, open your site.

Next, add a link to the navigation bar at the top of your website.

Your audience will see from every page on your site, so it is a good place for important information, like a resume.

You can choose to have your work open in a new tab or in the same window as your site.

Then, insert a text box and describe your work piece.

Include the name of the project as a heading, then add what you learned in regular text.

This helps organize your information, so it’s easier for your audience to understand.

Next, embed your project.

Embed is mainly for internet-based projects like websites.

It lets you link to the web page directly, so your audience doesn’t have to leave your site.

Use upload to add images from your computer or from Drive.

Then, upload files from your Drive, so your audience can view them on your site.

Add a label for each item you add.

This tells your audience what the file is.

Finally, change the section color.

If you’re adding multiple pieces of work, this lets your audience know they’re viewing a new piece.

Each addition builds a stronger portfolio that can help impress college admissions personnel or even future employers.

Now, it’s your turn.

Link a project to your navigation bar, insert a text box to describe your work, embed or upload your work materials, label each item, and change the section color for each piece.