Personal Favorites

I am so excited about this post, because . . . it's all about me!  My favorite aspects of websites, my favorite designs, even my favorite colors - all are important features of any website of mine.

I checked out wix.com and felt like I was planning a party!  So of course, what is the first step to planning a party?  The guest list!

There are tons of important decisions to make when it comes to designing a website.  Who is my audience?  Who am I catering it to?  Why?  And most importantly, what decisions do I need to make in order to cater to my intended audience?

In my case, my intended audience is targeted to interest graduate school committees, future or potential employers, and internship opportunities.  So, my website needs to be polished and professional, to attract such an established audience.

The next step is to figure out the party (read: website) objective.  Simply put, my objective is to impress each of the above audiences.

So what's the strategy?  What is my party's entertainment going to be?  How can I establish and successfully complete my objective?

There are a lot of contributing elements to interesting these audiences.  First, I think a strong resume is essential.  It builds the argument for my experience (another very important element.)  I also think it would be really helpful to have my work, writing, etc. easily available for review on the website.  That way, with the click of a mouse, my audience can see the pieces that I want them to look at.

However, I don't think it's all about content (though I definitely think content is THE most important element!  It gives the audience the most to work with). I think the site needs to be easy to navigate, clean, clear, attractive, and organized.  I think it needs to have tabs to allow the audience to find the information they want to - maybe separate tabs for my experience, resume, example pieces, links to my videos, my contact information, links to my social media, etc.  I want my website to put everything out there - to show my audience my very best, and even more.

One element that I didn't think about until Professor Price mentioned it is "applicable life experience."  What a great idea to put on my website!  For example, I am hoping to attend a 3 week long Study Away in New Zealand this May.  The trip is all about media and culture in New Zealand - so my experience on the trip would likely apply to my future career.  That is definitely something that I want to be able to bring to the table on my website, so a tab for "applicable life experience" is a fantastic contribution to the site.

For my website design inspirations, I had so much fun checking out websites that I thought communicated effectively.  Here are some of my favorite elements!

I really appreciate how clean and simple the tabs are - really articulate.

I love the little blurbs about each person, and how readily available the contact information is!  Both of the above examples come from Melbourne Promotions - the site is available at this link!

In this example, I really appreciate that the title is BOLD and stands out, and I love the organization of the tabs across the top line.  Very accessible and organized!  Click to view the full blog 

I love the tabs, and the picture is beautiful and striking.  It definitely makes the website standout.  I also like the links to social media that this provides!  Check out the entire site here!

All of this "party planning" also caused me to become obsessed with logos . . . Here are some of my favorites!

I found all these logos through webdesignledger.com.  Check out more through this link!

So. Much. Fun!  This definitely made me want to design a logo for myself - kind of to brand myself!  I will have to get going!

What are your suggestions for branding yourself?  For attracting these types of audiences?  What else should I aim to add to my website?

A Review of The Huffington Post Website

The Huffington Post is one of my favorite sources for clear, concise, and informative news.  Today in my Digital Communication class, I conducted an evaluation of The Huffington Post's website with two classmates.  Take a look!

What is your first impression of the site? 

Our first impression of The Huffington Post website is that it is very overwhelming.  Even the tabs at the top are over stimulating, and there are too many pictures.

How does this site establish credibility? How does it establish trust? Or does it?  Authentic voice?  Genuine?  Transparency?

By looking at the website, it doesn’t immediately establish credibility because the more serious stories are mixed in with completely irrelevant “fluff”.  However, the articles themselves are generally credible, with appropriate quotes, interviews, and links to other articles.  There is a mix of unbiased, transparent articles as well as editorials and blog posts.

What is the general writing style? Biased?  Objective?

Generally the articles are written from an objective point of view; the blog posts and editorials are understandably biased.

Does the writer IDENTIFY with his or her readers, or not? How (or why not)?

The actual articles are more information based and focused on telling the facts, so these authors do not really identify with their readers within the article.  However, beneath some articles are picture slideshows with very persuasive and powerful images that do sway the readers.  The editorials and blog post authors do identify with their readers, because their writing is more passionate and opinionated, and seeks to persuade readers to their points of view.

Does the writing style get to the point?

The writing is very clear and concise, giving information but not unnecessary details, so it gets to the point very quickly.

How is it arranged? Is it arranged in reverse pyramid style?

Yes, the articles are arranged in reverse pyramid style, with the most important facts and information at the beginning of the article.

Is content shaped for scanning? How is the content layered?

Yes.  The content is layered with large images and smaller sections of text, so it is easy to scan.

Is the tone or rhythm of the site consistent throughout?

On the home page, the tone is not consistent because there are heavier articles placed below or right next to “fluff” articles.  However, within the articles themselves, the tone remains consistent.

How does the site use headlines?

The main article that the site is trying to promote has a massive headline.  Other articles with pictures have smaller headlines.  The wording of the headlines draws readers in.

How does it use links? Effectively or not?

The Huffington Post uses links extremely effectively.  Every article (except the “Most Popular” articles) offers the option to select “quick read” with a one or two sentence abstract that gives the general information relayed in the story. 

How is multimedia used? Is it distracting? How is it displayed on the site? Does the multimedia tell the same story as the text, or a different side of the story?

Some multimedia, like the pictures used on the homepage, are overwhelming and distracting.  The pictures are displayed too often and too heavily.  However, the slideshows at the end of some articles and the videos used are very effective, and often tell a different story than the articles,  in the sense of offering more persuasive perspectives.  For example, an unbiased article about war had a slideshow at the conclusion with extremely powerful images that relayed information more intensely and persuasively than the text.

How does the site “package” stories?

In terms of the tabs at the top of the Web page, the site attempts to package stories based on their topics.  However, on the home page, major and minor stories are placed next to each other.  In some cases, “fluff” is placed above major stories.  This is not an effective way to package stories.  Additionally, each paragraph is relatively short.  The photos are clear and show almost solely human faces.  The font used is also Georgia, which is very readable.

How are graphics used? Too cluttered?  Are the graphics consistent through out the site, and consistent to the brand? Do they encourage or discourage use, and how?

The graphics are too cluttered on the home page.  However, in the articles themselves, the graphics contribute to the article.

Can each page stand on its own?

Yes, each page and each article can definitely stand on its own.

How is the navigation? Do you get lost? Do you always know where you are? How (or why not)?

The site is fairly easy to navigate.  There is a prominently displayed search bar and tabs at the top of the page that separate stories into topics.  There is also a scrolling ticker at the top below the tabs that displays breaking news headlines.

How does the site incorporate/interact with its audience? How does it embody the social aspect of the internet (or does it)?

The site effectively interacts with its audience by allowing them the opportunity to respond to articles by using a comment section.  The site also allows the audience the share articles on social media, and lists articles according to popularity.

Overall, I would recommend The Huffington Post.  It is user friendly, and presents unbiased articles solely based on facts and personal interviews.  I will certainly continue to utilize it as a news resource.  What about you?  What do you like and dislike about The Huffington Post?

Digital Media vs. Analog Media

The parallels and perpendiculars of digital and analog media are more numerous than I thought possible.  After reading Chapters 2 and 3 of Writing for Digital Media by Brian Carroll, I am intrigued by the major differences between these two forms of media, which are so often lumped together as one – they are both major forms of media, after all.

My perspective of the chapters is that although both digital media and analog media strive to inform readers, they are vastly different.  Digital media is much more instantaneous.  Credibility must be established with a virtual audience – one that can easily respond either positively or negatively in a comment section; one with the ability to conduct instantaneous Internet research to confirm the facts while simultaneously reading an article.  There is major competition for credibility on the Internet because as Carroll states, it is constantly changing.  Hearsay and rumors are written about, proven false, and deleted from the Internet in a matter of minutes – but that doesn’t stop an audience from already having read it.  As a result, there is also more “accident forgiveness” available for digital communication - because information emerges so rapidly, audiences understand that mistakes are made.

 

 Analog media has much more riding on it.  It dates back for centuries.  It is established.  It is printed out and publicly distributed.  For all of these reasons, it has much more of a reputation to protect and uphold.  In major newspapers and magazines, credibility already been established with audiences, and as a result, readers are much less forgiving and much more disappointed when mistakes are made.

Additionally, the format and layout of both forms of media differ significantly.  Web design is centered on drawing the eye in with a strong headline in the upper left corner, on striking images with concise captions underneath, with important information hyperlinked to make it easily accessible for readers.  Every article and page on a Web site is what Carroll calls an “island” – it should be able to stand on its own.  Conversely, the layout and design of analog media is traditional.  There are major headlines and multiple stories per page and a fixed paper structure.

The ideals of good journalism remains celebrated in both digital and analog media, however.  Clarity, simplicity, and credibility are sought earnestly by journalists despite the medium, which is the most important aspects of journalism.  Good journalism is out there – it is just now up to the reader to determine which medium he or she wishes to read.

Thoughts for discussion:
Is it the audience that demands changes from analog media to digital media?  Maybe the audience's progression with technology is part of the reason why there are so many differences.
Because digital media is so rapidly emerging with changes, will analog media begin making changes to keep up with this progression?

A Response to Carr's "Is Google Making us Stupid?" and Ulmer's "Introduction: Electracy"

Nicholas Carr’s article “Is Google Making us Stupid” illustrates a somewhat skeptical view of progressing technology.  As a student who never experienced a time of encyclopedias or library card catalogs, the article resonated of particular interest for me.  When I was five, my family purchased a computer – I played games on it, typed stories, used Paint.  As time and technology progressed, so did my expertise – I graduated into a world of laptop computers, followed by cell phone which are essentially miniature computers and can even make phone calls.

Yet the article presented several points that are essentially, undeniable – at least for me.  Cage’s description of Bruce Friedman, who now has trouble reading long passages such as War and Peace, is a perfectly logical exhibition of my own experiences.  Even as I was reading this article, I was tempted to skim the “less important” parts in order to absorb the information more quickly.  What does that say about me?  Does this mean then, that I am the perfect example, product, and affected candidate Cage is describing?

I also appreciated the section of the article that correlated changing technology to the way we describe our minds’ processes, particularly the example of how previously we described our minds as “working like clockwork,” whereas now we describe our minds as “working like computers” (Cage 2008).  This is another direct example of how deeply changing technology has affected society – it has even changed the way we describe our minds.

In Ulmer’s “Introduction: Electracy,” there were two aspects that stood out significantly to me.  The first was an aspect of the plain and simple definition of electracy – that it is partly technological but also partly institutional.  I have always thought of the changes in technology to be solely technological, but this definition alone made clear to me that of course, the reason behind changes in technology lies in the desire of the public; the public’s desire to adopt changes and progression.

I also appreciated a question within the article, which asked, “What is the skill set that someday may be assumed of electrate people native to an Internet institution?”  I would like to further that question by making it personal – what changes will be expected of me in the later years of my lifetime?  I think of my parents, who have deemed themselves “hopelessly technologically challenged.”  It is strange to think that more than likely, I will one day become the older person who lectures the younger generation about the “good old days” when I had to use the Internet to do research.  But where will the progression go?  Is too much progression a negative thing?  Could all of this progression, which is happening so quickly, be causing laziness among us?  Could it be taking away our desire to research, to seek and to learn?