Overall this project was incredibly fulfilling. I felt like was able tap into a rather unutilized skill. The process had its’ ups and downs, but in its’ totality I am more than satisfied.
The evolution of this PEAK project within our group was also very interesting. Originally under the contract Elliot was to focus on the digitization and Jake and I were to focus on the website and social media areas. However, the way things unfolded were Jake and I focusing on digitization and recording of metadata, and Elliot focusing on the website. Elliot and I also ended up focusing more on the website. Personally, I ended up being able to to some stuff for our instagram page, shameless plug @concorphans on instagram.
The goal of the project was to create a digital archive of the orphan photographs found at the Concordia College campus, and to provide a platform for members of the Concordia, Moorhead, Fargo, and regional community to possibly reclaim their photos and memories. I believe that we have achieved this goal with, it being a group success, and the website is a testament to that, presenting the hard work required from each of us.
The website itself is simple and straightforward, yet visually appealing and easy to navigate. We chose a minimalist design that emphasizes the photos themselves, and pulls users to discover what each photo has to offer, coordinating to the metadata. The homepage features a selection of some of our favorite photos, which I think is a great way to draw people in and give them an idea of what the site contains.
One thing I wish we had more time to do was to expand on the social media, outreach, and the research parts of the project. I think if we had more time we could have uncovered more about the provenance of the photos.
Overall, I think that the Concorphan Project serves as both a useful historical archive and a great potential space for discovery, and I am proud to have been a part of it.
