Website Design

The digital world is only as good or bad as we make it. Josh Ochs writes, "online social norms are still being decided by you, and people like you." Och explains that this gives us much more control than we might think.

I have created the following info graphic to display his 10 rules that conscientious internet users can ask themselves when evaluating their posts:

Educators, students, and parents are learning about responsible internet use. Critically, this requires contentious digital citizens to develop reliable information about someone before doing business with them.

"The true real identity movement will occur when we begin to see the aggregation of information from all of the sites that you use come together to create not only a verified identity, but a robust, data-based, reputation."

With Peer-to-Peer transactions on the rise, the impact of the internet on real life will continue to increase. The internet will act as a powerful deterrent to bad behavior, with the potential to encourage people to treat one another better, online and off, because their online reputations will matter so much.

Most importantly, the author reminds readers to embrace the changing environment of the internet by being a conscious creator of content. He closes on a positive note, writing "your online reputation will increasingly affect your life. Don't just avoid having a bad one, but actively building a good one."



Now that we know which types of content to post, where do we start?!

In class, my partner Alissa and I had the opportunity to use and critique an individual's personal website and its design. Our notes are as follows:

Using and understanding this website served as a good starting point for me in my own website design process. The following articles have further helped me start getting it together.

The basics

This article suggests that website designers may want to focus on mobile-first design since many people use the internet from smartphones or tablets. Additionally, when somebody visits your website, they should encounter a seamless experience incorporating multiple platforms. The article states that “forty-seven percent of users expect a website to load no longer than two seconds”. People leave a website that is too frustrating to use. People scan websites rapidly in order to decide whether or not to stay. Readability is critical. To take advantage of this, make sure your content is easy to perceive. Color scheme, font type, and size – all this will contribute to the website’s readability. The website itself should be easy to use and navigate.

Logistics

This article provides insight on choosing the right format for your personal website. It suggests looking around the sample websites that each host provides and see which one feels right for your personality and skill level. Customized domain names can look more professional, but if you are not sure whether you are ready for that commitment, this can be upgraded later. Professional profiles will likely benefit from having an “About” or “Home” page along with a page for your C.V., and pages for your other work. The author states that “in my experience, the biggest commitment in building a website is not the initial process of building it, but rather that of maintaining it.”

Source

Design tips

This article suggests that when designing a website, you use a clear and descriptive headline to let visitors know what you have to offer. Including media can help emphasize your point. People like relating to other people, so long as the images are not stock. This actually causes visitors to lose interest. The article cites Hick’s Law, which states that the more choices an individual has, the longer they will take to make a decision. In essence, information overload on a website is likely to overwhelm the visitor. Good web design guides users and puts emphasis on elements the designer wants them to notice. Interestingly, users like scrolling a lot more than they like clicking. The article suggests using the power of persuasion to boost action. If you can show that others have a positive opinion of your site, content, product or service, new visitors are more likely to do the same. This can be achieved by showing counts of social shares, media mentions and/or testimonials.