Aja, I completely understand the struggle of designing a website. I was also very excited for Intro to Web Design, but I have since realized that the class didn't even begin to scratch the surface.
My biggest frustration with web design is how quickly things change. It seems like one minute, everyone has to have a photo carousel on their home page, then the fad evolves to parallax scrolling. I am always questioning what is next, and how to create a design that will be timeless (or at least, longer lasting). With web design, I think that is virtually impossible, and it seems like things become outdated impossibly fast.
Still, since it is a necessary evil, I have to start somewhere. When designing a site, I first think about the key elements that have to be on the site, and the main audiences. For the most part, I try to simplify as much as possible. I also consider the skill-level and availability of the main content creator for the site. For instance, if I am designing for a Mom-and-Pop shop, I don't want to design a site that requires frequent posting or updating.
Once I have some ideas on content, I take a look at other sites for inspiration. Web Design Ledger has a great e-newsletter that shares all kinds of things, from examples of great trending websites to tips on how to do responsive design, etc. Their website is also full of a lot of great content. Other times I will browse on Pinterest and search online for more specific examples.
As someone who really struggles with responsive design, parallax sites and dynamic features, I tend to stay very cautious and simple in my design. I'd love to learn how to get past this and better understand the newer trends in web design. For Project 1, I have been working on my first App design, which has been a huge challenge, but it actually helped me a lot in understanding mobile and responsive design. From now on, as I brainstorm for new website design, I will also be looking a lot at app and mobile design examples. I think that will be really helpful in branching out.
One last thing - in my Information Architecture class, I learned a lot about the importance of user testing and accessibility. It is always good to get a lot of feedback on your new design, having friends or potential consumers navigate through your version of the website and provide feedback. Think about users who have disabilities and economic constraints as well (they may have a screen reader, an older computer with lower resolution, or they may only be able to view on their phone). Because a great design can be completely wasted if it is impractical for your audience.
No comments:
Post a Comment