So many of the things about design can apply to the web. Web design is really important. Think about a website that you think is really poorly done. Do you ever go back? Unless you have to, you probably don't. In one of my blog posts here, I said that I agreed with the book that paper is sexy. I'll go even farther - web design can be just as sexy.
Going back to the beginning of the book, and the basics, chapter one states, "Good graphic design does four things: It captures attention, controls the eye's movement across the page or screen, conveys information and evokes emotion." Web design does all this. If a website doesn't capture attention, you don't go any further. If it doesn't flow well, it's just disorganized. And if you aren't drawn to something about it, are you going to stay there? A website that I check frequently is called The Mighty. It's a website that encourages patients and families with disabilities and disease. I think this website is set up really well. It captured my attention just with the title The Mighty. What a cool title for this website! There's a search function, and a way to look up A-Z conditions. Then there is the menu bar with different types of sorting. The one criticism of the site heading is that I wish the Follow Us tags (Facebook, Twitter and Pintrest) were at the top rather than at the bottom of the page.
Next you see the featured story, and then two columns scrolling down with the other stories on the site - and there are a ton of them. It's easy on the eyes, and what I've found is that I just want to read a couple of stories and then do something else. However, because the titles of the stories and the pictures completely draw me in, next thing I know hours have passed. If anything on that page would have been different, I may not have stayed. But it flows well, gives a lot of info, captures your attention and really, really draws your emotions out.
Surprisingly, one of the worst websites, in my opinion, is CNN. Oh. My. Gosh. I hate how this website is set up. It is SO busy. There is so much information that you are bombarded with. Next time there's a disaster, go to CNN. The front headline will be in about 6 million point font. It looks like it's going to come off the screen and go for your throat. It's terrible. There is just so much info. It's loosely organized, but then you get down the page and they have "Paid Partner Content". Which for years, I never went past. But now there are more stories below it. I'm sorry, it's terrible. I hated even linking you guys to it. I hate this screenshot.
(If you want a really good news site, visit BBC News. It's not the best setup, but it's so much better than CNN.)
One thing I really had a hard time with in this class was the discussion we had about the two spaces after the period in writing. I've done a fair amount of writing. And I just think that things look better with the two spaces. But, thanks to this class, I'm now seeing rivers of white space. Thank you. (If you didn't "hear" the sarcasm, let me assure you it's there.) So, I think there are some changes in the future. I've actually noticed it on my own blog. I have a blog, Sensing an Enemy, where I now see those rivers. I thought about going back and correcting them, but... I'll just start going forward with one space. If I remember.
And a question to follow this up - any suggestions for layout for my blog? I've tried to keep it simple and uncluttered. I think the theme works well. I use Wordpress as the content management system (CMS). The only thing I don't really like about it is the size of the font. I could change it, but I'd have to go into the code, and I hate coding. Well, maybe not "hate", but I severely dislike it.
And finally, if you guys need it, the website I get copyright free photos from is StockSnap. (https://stocksnap.io/)
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