Screen-based Design 1 (Module 1)

TASK 1.1 – QUESTION 1: Think about the personal experience as a web user and answer the following questions:

1. If you search for a particular company and you cannot find a website for them, how does this shape your opinion of the company?

Some two-thirds (63%) of consumers go online when looking for local businesses, according to the Local Search Association. If consumers look up your business online before they decide to buy from you, but you don’t have a website, many will suspect you’re not trustworthy. Without a website, your sales will suffer, too.

According to a survey by Weebly, 56% of the consumers surveyed said they don’t trust a business without a website. By not having a website, you will be automatically losing the opportunity to get in touch with your audiences.

A great website solidifies your business, builds trust, and gives your prospects confidence to take the next step with you and make a purchasing decision. Without an online presence, your business simply misses out on a huge opportunity.

Having a good website helps your business stand out from the competition and build a strong online presence. As a result, your business can clearly communicate high-quality information to your target audience, allowing your audience to see the credibility of your business.

2. If the website of a company or business is outdated, will it be a deciding factor of whether you will support the business?

If the website is outdated, it’s hurting business: You’re losing sales. It’s entirely possible for your website to be generating sales and losing sales at the same time.

An outdated website can make you look out of touch, can put your security at risk, lower your Google ranking, and confuse potential customers.

Updating your website is important for a variety of reasons. Not only does updating a website increase website security and prevent hacking, but it can also help your internet marketing strategy and increase traffic to your website.

3. What elements on a website will help you trust a business or company?

Showcasing any testimonials, customer stories, or reviews you might have will make your website credible and trustworthy. Indeed, 88% of consumers trust reviews as much as personal recommendations.

Create an About Us (Me) page. 52% of all website visitors head to a website’s About Us page immediately after visiting the homepage. This is a place where you tell your story, present your values and strengths.

Add clear contact data. Your phone number or email address with social media profiles should be enough. Make sure to verify the emails you collect via the contact form.

4. How do you feel when you come to an error page on a website? How does it influence your opinion of the company or entity to which the website belongs?

It provides a better user experience. It shows that they care about their users

5. If you struggle to find something on a website or don’t understand how to navigate where you want to be, will you try to contact them personally to find what you are looking for? Or will you close the window and browse to their competition?

I’ll probably look up their contact information to find what I need if after I’ve looked elsewhere. But 80% I will ignore it because it takes time, and spend time going to another website to find information.

6. If you cannot find a physical address or contact details on a website, will this influence your overall opinion of the business or company?

This will absolutt influence my overall opinion of the business.

7. How long will you wait for a website to load before you give up and move on to the next one?

A survey by Digital.com found 52% of online shoppers will leave a website if they have to wait more than six seconds for a page to load. People actually expect it to be much faster than that. Apparently, nearly half of us won’t wait even three seconds.

8. If a website has broken image links or buttons that doesn’t work, will this influence the credibility of the company or business?

This will definitely reduce the credibility of the company or business.

9. When browsing the Internet on your mobile phone, how do you feel about a website if the text is too small to read or the buttons are hard to click? Will you try to visit the website from your computer, or will you lose interest?

I will absolutely lose my interest.

10. Name one thing that will make you go back to a website and one thing that will cause you to close a website window?

One of the best ways to get visitors to keep coming back to your website is by regularly publishing amazing content. If people start to like your content, they will come back for more. As a result, you’ll start to increase your returning visitor rate. The most important part to any website is content. Without content, your website is nothing more than an advertisement, which is not an effective online marketing strategy.

Otherwise, a dull website that has no purpose or interactivity will never create a memorable experience for a visitor. Data suggests that 40% of visitors don’t return to a website after having a negative experience. This is why good website design is so important.

QUESTION 2.1: A good website

Grunderloftet, an office community for lease. Here is their business website that make me impressed about the concept design.

• A clear purpose. Well-designed website caters for the needs of users.
• High speedy load time even the website contains many datas of photos and HD video.
• Readable typography, clear hierarchy
• Great visual communication
• Minimatic color design made high-class feeling

QUESTION 2.2: Not really good website

Arngren.net, I honestly still don’t understand what this company specializes in. But it can be understood that they sell electric motorbikes for children, buy old and broken ones. Here is their website that make me really frustrates about these elements:

• Totally have no design elements (concept, layout and composition)
• Too many information at the homepage made the user be quite confused, and uncomfortable feeling.
• No clear business purpose showing
• No navigation information (home, about us, products, contact,…)
• No color concept
• An very out-date web design & technic

TASK 1.2.1 – ENDHOMELESSNESS.ORG – A non-profit organisation (a charity that cares for the homeless)

1. What do you think the main goal of the website is?

The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a nonpartisan organization committed to preventing and ending homelessness in the United States.

2. What elements in the design are helping the users meet the website’s goals?

• Donation Button on the top
• Clearly information about their mission (who we are) and show the important newletters at the homepage for call-to-action.
• Clearly navigaiton: Have Social Media Links, Newsletter Sign-Up, Photos and Blog about the homeless live and situations.
• Blue color set for the primary website color inspire ideas of loyalty, confidence, security, and reliable authority.
• Have Z-pattern layout. Getting them to focus on exactly what they want the viewers to focus on the most (from the brand name -> donation button -> menus -> the new letters,…).

3. Who is the main target audience? Name at least five characteristics that define this group of people.

• Employees – Donors – Volunteers – Beneficiaries – Funders/Authorizers – Partners – Members

4. How was the design used to attract this group of people? Discuss things like colour, font choices, photography or images, style and layout.

• The primary & secondary colors (blue & white) are used to emphasize titles and calls to action. Blues can inspire sadness, while bright colors can motivate donors to take action. The accent colour (orange) is used to head the viewers focus on the information/newsletter that push them click for reading.
• They use clearly hierarchical headings to lead visitors around the pages and through the site.
• The font style and the text size is large enough, very neat and readable for the viewers.
• The images / photos reflected the true situations of the homeless.
• The Z-pattern style layout easily leads the viewer’s eyes from left to right and top to bottom. Modern design style makes the viewers feel confident in the organization.

5. How did you perceive this brand and its overall brand image? Was it serious and conservative or light-hearted and vibrant? Use your experience on the website plus any previous interactions you’ve had with the brand to motivate your answer.

This is a non-profit website that gives a sense of trust to the viewers through the transmission of clear, grounded content.

TASK 1.2.2 – LINDEX AS – A retailer, clothes shop

1. What do you think the main goal of the website is?

Lindex offers inspiring and affordable in women’s fashion, children’s fashion, underwear and cosmetics.

2. What elements in the design are helping the users meet the website’s goals? (Look at the calls-to-action, navigation, and other design elements.)

Use the principle of Z-pattern to direct viewers to information from left to right, from top to bottom. Clearly hierarchical layout.

3. Who is the main target audience? Name at least five characteristics that define this group of people.

Women of all shapes and sizes, the design is defined by modern femininity, simplicity and elegance. Children from new-born to teenagers

4. How was the design used to attract this group of people? Discuss things like colour, font choices, photography or images, style and layout.

They have primary (red), secondary (white – background) and accent colors (black – text), these colors attention-demanding color that spurs people into action. The design is simple, but modern and neat. Product images are not too many on the homepage, reflecting the professionalism of a sales / business website.

5. How did you perceive this brand and its overall brand image? Was it serious and conservative or light-hearted and vibrant? Use your experience on the website plus any previous interactions you’ve had with the brand to motivate your answer.

Lindex is a long-established clothing brand from Swedish that serious cares about the feelings and interests of women and children. All designs and materials are always aimed at comfort, convenience, and environmental friendliness.

TASK 1.3 – CREATE A WEBSITE BRIEF FOR A FICTITIOUS NEW RESTAURANT – Syam Kraw (Thai Kitchen)

1. What kind of visitors are you expecting on your website? Consider their income, interests, gender and age.
2. Who are your competitors and how do you differ from them? What can we learn from their websites?
3. What is your deadline for completing the site? How big is the budget? Talk about realistic expectations and options.
4. What actions do you want visitors to take on the site? Think about the functionality you want on the website.
5. What features should be used on your website? This includes contact forms, pictures, videos, etc. Some clients may know exactly what features they would like, while others might have no clue. Guide them by asking questions and showing them examples of other websites.
6. List the names of three websites you like and explain what you like about them. Next, ask the client for their thoughts; ask them to point out their likes, dislikes and expectations on the website examples. This step can save you valuable time and money.
7. Do you have a brand manual or brand guidelines? Make sure to obtain any vector or high-resolution logos, stock photographs and brand elements available.
8. Do you have any colour preferences? What should the look and feel of the website be? Since colour is subjective, a client may not have the same colour preferences as you do. It is a good idea to put together colour palette options and present them to the client at the start of the process. This will guide them visually and help you understand their preferences.
   What do you NOT want on your site in terms of text, content, and graphic elements? Sometimes it is as important to know what your client doesn’t like as it is to understand what they do like. This can help you get a complete picture of what the client has in mind for the site.
9. Who will be the contact person for this project? Ask the client for one contact person to deal with if you have questions or need feedback.
10. Who will be responsible for maintaining the website? Will the person have the time and skills to do so? Discuss possible training of responsible individuals within the client’s company, or draw up agreements if you or your team will provide maintenance as part of an ongoing service.