Osawaru's bLOG wEBSITE
IDC30 Spring 2024
The web designer plays a vital role in the creation of an online business. In fact, I would go as far as to say that they are essential for the growth and success of said online business. I believe in this because they are responsible for creating the storefront that embodies the brand's identity. Beyond looks and aesthetics, they also ensure a seamless user experience, guiding visitors through the site with intuitive navigation and compelling design elements. Web designers should be familiar with creating online businesses because this allows them to align the website's design with business goals and target audience preferences. Furthermore, this allows them to collaborate closely with marketers and researchers to implement elements that drive conversions and set the brand apart. In a world where online stores are becoming more prevalent, web designers play a pivotal role in creating a secure and easy shopping experience for users. Web design is integral to marketing, research, and the success of online businesses, shaping the website/interface in ways that not only engage customers, but promote growth.
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Website vs social media has always been a debatable topic for business owners and executives alike. Which is better for my brand? Well, before picking a side, it is important to assess the benefits that both websites and social media have to offer. In terms of websites, they are good for implementing search engine optimisation as a marketing strategy, offering a controllable digital space, boosting up sales, and establishing credibility. So what about social media; what does it have to offer? Well, some pros of establishing a social presence are that social media directly connects brands with audiences, builds reputation, allows business owners to share their brand efficiently and effectively, and also allows them to reach new audiences. It is clear that social media has certain pros that websites lack and vice versa. But what about the cons? Some disadvantages that come with having a website are costly investments, limited interactivity, and dependence on search engine optimisation. Some disadvantages that are tied with having a strong social media presence are changes in the social media algorithm, limited control, and privacy concerns. For people who wish to create a successful brand, the optimal solution would be to have a strong social media presence accompanied by a website. By doing this, you would reap the benefits of both social media and websites. However, if I were to decide on which is better for promotion purposes, it would have to be social media. Due to the vast amount of people present on social media and how easy it is to promote brand awareness, it would be unreasonable to choose against it in this particular category. However, social media and websites are both absolutely essential for those who wish to build a brand.
Inclusive Design is essentially ensuring that everyone can navigate and interact with a website/interface properly regardless of physical or mental challenges. Out of all 8 steps that were touched upon in the 8 steps to inclusive design, the steps that I personally believe are the most important are: defining accessibility, helping users fix mistakes, and refraining from creating pressure. First of all, I believe that it is very important to define accessibility. By doing this, you are essentially removing obstacles that hinder the user experience on a certain website or interface, which makes it easy for a wide variety of people to effectively use and navigate said website/interface. Secondly, I believe that helping users fix mistakes is just as, if not more crucial. Furthermore, users are bound to make mistakes; this fact is undeniable. Therefore, by ensuring that it is easy for them to understand where they have made an error, their user experience will be positively impacted. Thirdly, I believe that an important aspect of inclusive design is no pressure. Pressure can be created through the means of popups, alerts, or distracting notifications. If constant pressure is applied on certain users, this will basically make the website/interface unusable for them. There are many reasons as to why creating pressure is bad for users, and overall, it would simply be better if there was no pressure at all. So in general, I believe that these are the steps to intuitive design that are the most important.
The greatness of the YouTube website is exemplified through its thoughtful integration of design elements, which enhance user experience and engagement. The website's clean and intuitive interface, characterized by its minimalist design, ensures ease of navigation and accessibility for users of all backgrounds. The use of color, typography, and layout is purposeful and visually appealing, guiding users' attention to key features such as search bars, video thumbnails, and call-to-action buttons. YouTube's incorporation of responsive design principles ensures seamless functionality across desktop and mobile devices, optimizing viewing experiences for users on the go. Moreover, the platform's use of interactive elements, such as like buttons, comment sections, and suggested videos, encourages user engagement and fosters a sense of community among viewers and creators. Overall, YouTube's commitment to user-centric design principles contributes to its greatness by creating an inviting and immersive environment where users can discover, explore, and connect through the power of video content.
Who knew that three horizontally stacked lines could be so iconic, yet so controversial. Ever since the hamburger menu became popularised by its frequent use on smartphone interfaces, it has always remained in a state of controversy. Simply put, is it bad or is it good. There is no right or wrong answer to such a subjective question, but if I were to offer my two cents, I would say that the hamburger menu is very effective. Furthermore, is a great tool for optimising user interface layouts, particularly in digital environments with limited screen space. This design element masks secondary menu options, and in doing do, declutters the overall web page. This feature is particularly beneficial for mobile devices, where screen space is severely limited. By condensing menu items behind this universally recognisable icon, designers can maintain a clean and organised interface without having to compromise navigational accessibility. In general, the hamburger menu's widespread adoption emphasises its utility in enhancing user experience through intuitive design principles.
I always knew that if I were to create a brand, it would revolve around hiking/camping wear. So, when this task was assigned, it was quite exciting because I knew that I could bring these ideas to fruition. Here, I present my brand—Endurance. Running shoes, hiking boots, sweaters—you name it! Endurance has them all. For my logo, I decided to use different hues of brown to represent this brand. I believe that this is very fitting, as brown is a colour that is often associated with nature. Furthermore, since brown is present on rocks, soil, mud, and wood, this offers somewhat of an 'outdoorsy' vibe to my brand (which is what I was going for). In terms of font selection, I decided to use a font which is very bold and appealing. This selection is metaphorical since the font stands out to viewers, just as nature stands out to everyone; it is all around us. As for the pictures on my logo, I placed an abstract depiction of a mountain in the background of my logo because this encapsulates the feeling of adventure, perseverance, and of course, endurance. This visual, along with the image of a foot imprint in the middle of my logo, attribute to what my brand is truly about while providing a visually appealing sight. Overall, I believe that I was able to represent my brand in an informative, yet appealing way.
A brand is simply a feature that distinguishes a seller’s products and services from that of others. Branding is very important for entrepreneurs who are looking to start a business, and a successful one at that. Branding is important because it not only gives a business an identity, but it convinces consumers to choose your business over other similar businesses in the field. Without branding, a business could never build up enough recognition to find economic success in the society. This is why an individual simply cannot just sell a product. A brand essentially sets a foundation for a company; the impact that the company will have on the consumers. Therefore, it is crucial for web designers to know the brand details prior to working on a website for the business. If the brand appeals to a certain demographic, the website must also follow suit. This will truly sell over the customers, and increase sales. In general, branding is quite literally ‘everything’ for a business. Not only does it captivate customers and convince them to choose your business over other competitors, but it also sets the framework for web designers to effectively and efficiently carry out their jobs.
Have you ever stopped to think about what the world would be like without social media? Nowadays, social media is integrated into our societies to the extent that millions of people worldwide are using these platforms at this very moment. Unfortunately, many problems stem from this fact, and one of the most prevalent issues among them is that some individuals on social media platforms simply do not portray a positive image of themselves. This is where digital citizenship comes into play. ‘Digital citizenship’ is a term used to describe the responsible, safe, and reputable use of technology to engage with society. The importance of digital citizenship lies in the fact that it promotes safety and respect, protects your personal information, and preserves your reputation. This is extremely important, especially today when the world is becoming ever so reliant on digital interfaces and technology. The most common malpractices associated with digital citizenship are tied to what we post on social media. Our content can potentially attract negative feedback and tarnish our reputation if we are not mindful of our digital footprint. This is not to say that posting is bad though; in fact, it can be very beneficial. Engaging with the media through social media posts could promote confidence, a sense of community, and even assist in brand promotion as well. However, before clicking on the post button, it is important to consider what the post is about, why you are posting it, and the reception that it will receive from the public. It is important to note that being a good citizen does not only favour the public; it favours you as well.
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