Journal #5

Last week's Studio was very helpful in the development of my project.  The design conversations confirmed that I am on the right track and at the same time provided some helpful advice on revisions I should make.  The biggest problem that I have right now is the large amount of white space on my home page.  One solution is to eliminate the menu bar and add large picture buttons instead.  Another solution is to keep the menu bar and include an introduction to explain the Digital Dogs initiative.  I really like both ideas, so the plan is to combine them in an effective way that gets my message across to my audience while maintaining an appearance that is aesthetically pleasing.  Since I struggle with design, I decided to look back in the Krause book and review The Three C's of Design.

When it comes to composition, I know that I do not want my design to be unclear, confusing, or overwhelming.  So that it isn't, I need to focus on grouping and visual flow.  Krause states, "Visual grouping aids discovery by helping the viewer make useful connections between elements."  Krause also notes that "effective grouping streamlines the viewer's search for meaning and information".  This is extremely important with my project because when teachers visit my site they need to easily access the information they are seeking.  I also find it interesting that Krause mentions that attention spans are short in cyberspace.  I most definitely agree! If I can't find what I'm looking for on a particular website or if the content is overwhelming, I move on!  I don't want my audience to do this.  I also know that most teachers are going to access my website during school hours.  Since we are always running to meetings and conferences during our planning time, teachers won't have time to sit and decipher the content of my website.

Pertaining to flow, Krause states "a layout either has it or it doesn't".  The idea of circulating flow keeps there viewer engaged, whereas the linear arrangement does not.  This is something I must keep in mind when designing my homepage.  When thinking about text on a page, Krause suggests justified text if combined with an image.  Since I am considering a combination of text and images, I need to remember that text alignment is as equally important as the position of images.

As I continue designing my website, I will be keeping my Krause book nearby to serve as a quick reference should I need help.     

 
Krause, J. (2004). Design basics index: A designer's guide to designing effective compositions, selecting dynamic components and developing creative concepts. Cincinnati, OH: How Design Books.