Week One
Assignment #1: Dissect a Single Web Page.
Assignment #1 requires students to gather in groups to break down the anatomy of a web page. Based on the discussion and lecture notes, the purpose is to highlight the anatomy and indicate what makes it successful. In Miro, my group and I were tasked with finding an unsuccessful website and mobile site and labeling both the unsuccessful site and the successful example. For this assignment, we were tasked with dissecting hoodamath.com (the bad example) and MCA's website (good example). We highlighted the anatomy and presented our findings during the class discussion. This exercise was informative as it allowed us to think about a website from a constructive point of view. Another interesting takeaway was that the bad example included ads that linked to different math websites, directing users away from the website and linking to its competitors. Professor Kahlili informed us that this practice would be discussed in detail during a later lecture. Overall, it was a great and informative start to learning the basics of web design.
Assignment #2: Information Architecture.
The objective of Assignment #2 was to consider a website as a dynamic entity that can evolve. For this assignment, my group was tasked with analyzing the information architecture of the RIGGS Partners website by creating a site map. The goal was to assess whether users can easily find essential information and perform key tasks when navigating the website. This exercise allowed us to delve into the fundamental structure of a website and consider the user experience. While exploring the RIGGS website, I noticed that it effectively guided users deeper into the site. However, numerous external links redirected users to other websites. While this isn't necessarily a negative aspect, the primary goal should be to keep users engaged within the website. Having too many external links may divert them away. Overall, this exercise was valuable in helping me comprehend the process of mapping out a website and understanding the user experience.
Assignment #3: Single Page Scrolling Site
Assignment #3 helped improve my understanding of using Figma and navigating the software to create UI designs, wireframes, and prototypes. This assignment was considered a design sprint by the professor, and it aimed to display three works by a randomly assigned designer. The designer I got was Eddie Opara, who is known for his activism and branding work. The single-scroll site exercise was an introduction to a part of Project #1, where we had to create a single-scroll website for a luxury airline sub-brand under Delta Airlines. This exercise familiarized me with Figma's workspace and the prototyping feature, which was unique and fun. Although the exercise was challenging due to images and text constantly moving in and out of the wireframe, it was informative overall. It helped me get more familiar with Figma and its features. Regarding feedback, Professor Khalili said that the overall design looked great. The font size must be 15-18px for the body copy, which was successfully addressed. My headers, subheaders, body copy, and captions are clearly defined. However, there was an issue with the menu, as it was triggered by the entire navigation bar when it should only be triggered by the three lines (hamburger menu) at the top left, which needs to be fixed. It was also noted that the designer's name was spelled incorrectly, but after a Google search, I learned that Eddie Opara is the correct spelling, not Opera. Professor Khalili also mentioned that the negative space in the design makes it inviting and fun and seems like a product I'd like to use to learn about Eddie.
