Tag: Web Design

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Uncategorized Web Design

Doing Fine at Web Design!

Struggling with web design? A good way to learn tactics and strategies to help yourself out is to simply google it! There are tons of great websites that can help you get on track to the best web designing of your life!

For example, the website: https://www.creativebloq.com/web-design/training-online-resources-812225 is a great source for finding the best training for web design by giving readers 22 different options to choose from.

Some of my favorite resources from the article are Codeacademy and Udacity.

Codeacademy:

Codeacademy is helpful because it is not only free, but it is a super easy way to teach yourself code. It shows you how to do everything from “building websites, games, and apps in an engaging way.” To try a free trial of code academy use this link to the website: https://www.codecademy.com/pro/membership?msclkid=7dfca0fd67a81d62c879fe7c15eef93b&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=US_Brand_Core_Exact%20(Auto%20Tagging)&utm_term=codecademy&utm_content=US_Brand_Core_Exact%20(Auto%20Tagging)

Codeacademy Homepage

Udacity:

I really liked the clean layout of Udacity because it was very simple and easy to use and navigate. The cool thing about Udacity is that it is led by expert professors from Stanford and the University of Virginia, so you know you’re getting great information.

Udacity Homepage

Switching to Online

As we all transition our classes online due to the corona outbreak and shut down of campuses all across the nation. This made me think about how things would be if this class was taught completely online. While online classes may be convenient during this time, I personally prefer in person lectures for classes like CA 260.

Reasons why this class is better in person:

  • This class is mostly based off of learning the skills of HTML code, and that is best explained with someone right there to answer any questions and to make sure you are doing it correctly.
  • It also helps to have students next to you to bounce ideas off of, and to boost creativity.

I really enjoyed all that I learned while taking my classes in person at South, and I feel like we aren’t getting the same education as we would be getting if we were in class right now.

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Accessibility Blog

Making your Website Rated E for Everyone

Is your web page accessible to all kinds of people? If it isn’t, you might want to take a step back and see what improvements can be made because it is important to include all of your audiences equally. In this blog I will discuss some things I am going to implement in my web page that I think are useful for you all to know, and also go over tips to make your website more accessible. 

Above is a graphic of a computer and the impairments that may surround making a website accessible.

Ways I plan on making my website more accessible:

Typically people think about web users with disabilities when the topic of accessibility comes up. Making sure that everyone can use your website is one of the most important aspects of web design. 

Mobility:

One easy way to increase your accessibility that I plan on using is to make your website navigable by the tab bar. For people that have reduced motor skills this is vital to being able to use a website. An old person with Parkinsons might not be able to properly operate a mouse because of their hand tremors, but if the tab key can be used to navigate the website, this makes it easier for that person to use it.  

Vision:

People with vision disabilities need your website to be accessible and able to cooperate with screen readers and magnifiers so that they can view your page to their best ability. if you were interested in seeing how people with low vision read webpages here is a link to show you what it is like: https://webaim.org/simulations/lowvision

Pictured above is an example of a website magnifier.

Hearing:

if your website contains any video or audio make sure it has some sort of closed captioning or script to be able to show people with hearing disabilities what is being said.

Cognitive:

Cognitive impairments are more difficult to be able to satisfy because there are so many different types. as long as your website is easy to understand and use you should be in the clear! below is a link to it simulator for distractibility so others can see how difficult it is for someone with a cognitive impairment to focus: https://webaim.org/simulations/distractability

We have talked about ways to make your website accessible to everyone, but there are a lot more different types of excess abilities that don’t involve disability such as whether or not your website is compatible with different devices. it is important that your website is able to be viewed on multiple devices and platforms. 

Thank you for reading about making your website more accessible, I hope this helps!

Categories
How to Blog

Tips to Have your Webpage in Tip Top Shape

Now that you have created your own website based off of the steps from last week’s blog, I’m sure you are asking “what is the next step?” Well since you have taken the measures to create a website, now the empty skeleton of your themed site sits awaiting your creative mind to take over. This part of the web design process can be really enjoyable if you let your creative juices flow! I am going to provide you all with the 5 most useful tips when designing your website so it fits the brand you want to portray to the public. 

The first thing your viewers see when they click on your website is your homepage. According to an instructional video on homepage design “the homepage is the window to your brand and to your content so it really needs to pop.” This video: https://youtu.be/t14MwuWH_ts speaks on the first tip we will discuss. 

Tip #1: There’s no place like “Homepage”

Growing up your parents always tell you that the most important thing is to make a good first impression when meeting someone, so why wouldn’t you want your website to make a first impression when meeting your viewers? The homepage might be the single most important part of your website, and if it is hard to navigate most people will simply give up. First and foremost, your homepage should be clear in what your website’s purpose is. The video in the link provided states how the main homepage shouldn’t be too flashy or over the top, it should have key points and an easy way to get to the other pages on your website. 

Tip #2: Extra! Extra! Read all “About Us” 

According to an article written by Jordan Dick on https://venturi-web-design.com/planning-a-website-organizing-your-content-a-short-guide-for-beginners/  the most viewed page other than your home page is the “About” page. This page is so important because viewers come here to learn more about the creator of the site… YOU! This is where you can get really personal with your viewers and tell them your background and why you decided to create the website. On this page you should put pictures of yourself, stories, and personalize it to your heart’s content! 

Tip #3: Call Me Maybe

Another vital page to include during your web design process is a contact page. This page should at least include an email address so your audience can get in touch with you. This is also where you can include links to your social media to build your brand further.

Here is an example of a good contact page: 

Contact page from Atlassian that provides contact information to different sections of the company such as: Technical support, Pricing, Billing, and Licensing, and Product Advice

Atlassian does a great job of presenting their contacts so that customers know exactly who they are getting in touch with. 

Tip #4: Land(ing) Ho! 

Now let’s talk about landing pages. Sometimes your audience will be directed to a certain page of your website based off of what they type into the search engine. For example if I type in “Womens Clothes Nordstrom” into Google I am immediately directed to this page:

The Women’s Clothing landing page on Nordstrom’s website

Because Nordstroms has multiple landing pages based off of their merchandise that they are selling, it makes their website easier to navigate, and overall more efficient for the customer. This also increases your chances of your website being viewed because more landing pages translates into the more entry points you have to your website.

Tip #5: The Customer Knows Best

The last tip before designing your page, is to consider who you’re designing it for. The theme and feel of your website should be based on who is viewing it and using it on a daily basis. By taking into account who your audience is, you are able to better cater to their needs. Where you guide your viewers, and how you meet all of their needs is going to be the main reason your website is successful or unsuccessful. 

I hope these tips help and I cannot wait to see what you create. 

Happy designing!

Works cited:

Ling, Amy, et al. “Organizing Website Content – A Step By Step Guide For Beginners.” Venturi Web Design, venturi-web-design.com/planning-a-website-organizing-your-content-a-short-guide-for-beginners/.

Categories
Uncategorized

Working Weebly Websites

Have you ever thought about making your own website? I personally have always wanted to, but thought I would never have enough knowledge of technology to. In my digital writing class this week we used a website called Weebly to create our own website. 

Not going to lie I was definitely intimidated at first, but www.weebly.com made it so easy and simple to go through the process. The website takes you step by step and holds your hand through creating a page, and adding your own personal flare. The only thing you have to do is create an account and you’re on the road to ruling the internet.

Below is a screenshot of what the website looks like when you first type it into the browser. After clicking “Create your website” it will take you through the steps below. 

Pictured above is a screenshot of the Weebly homepage
  1. After creating an account it asks you to pick a theme for your website. Weebly provides you with a variety of themes to choose one, so you can pick something that matches with your personal preferences. I picked one with a lot of images because I wanted my website to have pictures of athletes on it and a white background. I will most likely keep the lineup of the theme the same because I like how crisp and organized it looks. However, I will obviously change the pictures, font, and content to fit what I have in mind for my page.
Pictured above is the page where you pick the theme for your webpage
  1. Next, the website will lead you to pick a domain name such as www.webkinz.com. You can come up with your own web address so when people look up your website it is easy to find. My web address is my name, www.hannahmaddux.weebly.com. Although you may have to play with a few combinations initially, once you find one that isn’t taken you select it and move on to the next step. 
  2. Now there is only one thing to do and that is to make your new page YOURS! You can decorate and edit your page to set up your website to make it exactly how you want. By changing fonts, color schemes, and inserting images, slideshows and videos you can make your page appealing to viewers. 

Weebly makes it easy for new web designers by laying out what to do step by step, and clearly labeling what to do. The set up of Weebly  is extremely straightforward and simple to figure out even for someone who has no prior knowledge of how to create a website. 
For more information on how to work Weebly and to build and grow your website, I would suggest watching this informational video as it has a lot of useful tips. https://youtu.be/VlURuZWSoXw

Categories
Introduction Blog

On Your Marks, Get Set, BLOG!

Hello everyone! Welcome to my first BLOG! My name is Hannah Maddux, I am a freshman at The University of South Alabama. My passion has always been watching and playing sports. I am a student athlete on the volleyball team here at USA, and I hope to obtain a degree in Communications and Media Broadcasting and continue my involvement in sports by being a sports reporter.

My volleyball picture. 2019 Volleyball Studio Shoot. (Scott Donaldson | USA Athletics Photographer)

Many people in the field of my desired profession have blogs so that they can keep readers updated on current stories and occurrences in the sporting world. A blog is the perfect tool for reporters to post their opinions on events happening such as players being traded, injured, or any information that could be important to readers who are also interested in this topic. I read several sports blogs such as https://bleacherreport.com/, and https://thelandryhat.com/ to stay updated on everything that is going on. Bleacher Report specifically does a great job on providing its readers with a vast variety of information on practically every sport both professional and collegiate. They also have an advanced social media team that markets their blog well and gains readers by posting graphics and videos such as memes or highlight reels on Instagram and Twitter to get people to check out their website.

A creative graphic from a Bleacher Report post on top players in the NBA

I personally enjoy The Landry Hat because being from Texas I am a devoted Dallas Cowboys fan, and this blog successfully puts out every bit of information possible about the Dallas cowboys to keep Dallas fans in the know. Especially after the recent replacement of the Cowboy’s Head Coach Jason Garrett, this blog has been on top of updating every time new information was shared with the public up until the empty head coaching spot was filled by Mike McCarthy. I believe the purpose of a blog is to share things you are passionate about and put your own opinions or personal flare on the information you are posting online. Whereas news articles tend to be professional, blogs are more personalized, and a great way for the writer to engage readers on a topic they care about. So, thank you for tuning in to my first blog post and I am looking forward to future blogging! 🙂

Citations:

“Themes.” Support, 21 Jan. 2020, en.support.wordpress.com/themes/#what-is-a-theme.

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