Okay, this is finally it. In a couple of minutes the Edge Element alpha version will go offline for… well, permanently, actually. For the next few hours you’ll get one of a variety of ‘site offline’ messages. Don’t panic, though – I’m just deleting the old site and adding the new one, so the beta version will be available soon!

I’ll post messages here as well as on Twitter and Facebook when I’m done.

After… however long it is – somewhere close to an academic year… of hard work, the beta release of The Edge Element is finally almost ready! If all goes to plan I’ll be uploading it tomorrow and then putting the site straight into use. Or the more likely scenario – once the site goes live I’ll spend the next week or so on tweaks and bug fixes. Either way I’m looking forward to it.

The Edge Element beta release poster

All TDA readers are invited to become members of The Edge Element! It’s free and you’ll get access to heaps of cool pictures!

There’s going to be other stuff as well in the future – web themes, WordPress themes and more!

‘The Edge Element’ is a self-directed project that forms the major assessment for my current course. Because I’m essentially working for myself I’m constantly looking for ways to get feedback and advice from as many other people as possible. Posting designs and links to test sites on ‘The Daily ALIEN’ is an important part of this process.

I’ve just uploaded the site prototype (‘Alpha’ version) to http://ee.siasan.com/ and I’d like as many people as possible to be involved in the release.

I invite all TDA readers to participate in testing or just go and take a look around the site. My only request is that you keep your comments polite – as usual, all comments with offensive content will be deleted. You can provide your feedback in three different ways:

1. Use the ‘comments’ form at the bottom of the page
2. Use the contact form on this site or the contact form on The Edge Element
3. Email me directly: my address is emma AT siasan.com.
4. Help me with formal testing

There are more instructions/advice for people who are involved in formal testing on the test site.

Go to the testing advice on The Edge Element

For people who just want to take a quick look at the design, here’s an image preview:

Edge Element site interface

I’ll post more images from the gallery here in the next couple of days.