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Project Overview
In today's digital world, a personal website is essential for showcasing your design work and attracting job opportunities. This project challenges you to create a website that embodies core web design principles while addressing real industry needs, preparing you for a successful career in digital design.
Project Sections
Understanding Web Design Principles
Dive into the foundational principles of web design, including layout, color theory, and typography. This section sets the stage for your website by emphasizing user-centered design and visual aesthetics. You'll learn how to create a cohesive design that resonates with your audience, making your website not just functional but also visually appealing.
Tasks:
- ▸Research key web design principles and summarize your findings in a document.
- ▸Create a mood board using design inspiration that reflects your style and the message you want to convey.
- ▸Draft wireframes for your website layout, focusing on user experience and navigation.
- ▸Choose a color palette and typography that aligns with your design vision and target audience.
- ▸Prepare a design brief outlining your website's purpose, target audience, and key features.
- ▸Gather feedback on your wireframes and design brief from peers or mentors.
- ▸Revise your wireframes based on feedback to improve usability and aesthetics.
Resources:
- 📚"Don't Make Me Think" by Steve Krug (book)
- 📚A List Apart (website for web design articles)
- 📚Canva (tool for mood board creation)
- 📚Adobe Color Wheel (for color palette creation)
- 📚Google Fonts (for typography selection)
Reflection
Reflect on how the design principles you learned can enhance user experience on your website. What challenges did you face in aligning your vision with these principles?
Checkpoint
Submit your design brief and wireframes for review.
HTML & CSS Fundamentals
In this section, you'll dive into the core coding languages of the web: HTML and CSS. Understanding these languages is crucial for building your website from the ground up. You'll learn how to structure content using HTML and style it with CSS, ensuring your site is both functional and visually appealing.
Tasks:
- ▸Complete an online HTML/CSS tutorial to familiarize yourself with basic syntax and structure.
- ▸Create a simple HTML page that includes headings, paragraphs, and images relevant to your design work.
- ▸Style your HTML page using CSS, experimenting with colors, fonts, and layouts.
- ▸Implement responsive design techniques to ensure your website looks great on all devices.
- ▸Practice debugging your code by identifying and fixing common HTML/CSS errors.
- ▸Explore CSS frameworks (like Bootstrap) to enhance your design capabilities.
- ▸Share your HTML/CSS page with peers for constructive feedback.
Resources:
- 📚W3Schools HTML/CSS Tutorials (website)
- 📚MDN Web Docs (comprehensive coding documentation)
- 📚Codecademy (interactive coding platform)
- 📚CSS Tricks (website for CSS tips and tricks)
- 📚Bootstrap (CSS framework documentation)
Reflection
Consider how your understanding of HTML and CSS has evolved. What aspects of coding do you find most challenging or exciting?
Checkpoint
Demonstrate a functional HTML/CSS page that incorporates your design elements.
User Experience Design
This section focuses on user experience (UX) principles that are vital for creating a website that meets user needs and expectations. You'll learn how to conduct user research, create user personas, and apply UX design techniques to enhance the usability of your site.
Tasks:
- ▸Conduct a brief user survey to gather insights about your target audience's preferences.
- ▸Develop user personas based on your research to guide your design decisions.
- ▸Create user journey maps to visualize how users will interact with your website.
- ▸Implement usability testing on your wireframes or prototypes to gather feedback.
- ▸Revise your designs based on testing results to improve user experience.
- ▸Explore accessibility standards to ensure your website is usable for all audiences.
- ▸Document your UX design process and decisions for future reference.
Resources:
- 📚Nielsen Norman Group (UX research articles)
- 📚UserTesting.com (platform for usability testing)
- 📚A Comprehensive Guide to UX Design (online course)
- 📚Accessibility Guidelines (W3C resources)
- 📚UX Design Process (online articles)
Reflection
Reflect on how user research has influenced your design choices. What insights did you gain about your audience?
Checkpoint
Submit user personas and journey maps for evaluation.
Visual Design Tools
Familiarize yourself with industry-standard design tools such as Adobe XD and Figma. These tools will help you create high-fidelity prototypes of your website, allowing you to visualize your design before coding begins. You'll learn about interface design and collaboration techniques.
Tasks:
- ▸Set up an account with Adobe XD or Figma and explore their features through tutorials.
- ▸Create a high-fidelity prototype of your website using your wireframes as a guide.
- ▸Incorporate branding elements like logos and images into your design.
- ▸Collaborate with a peer to gather feedback on your prototype and suggest improvements.
- ▸Conduct a design critique session to refine your prototype based on peer input.
- ▸Export your design assets for use in your HTML/CSS project.
- ▸Document your design process and any challenges faced while using the tools.
Resources:
- 📚Adobe XD Tutorials (official website)
- 📚Figma Community (design templates and resources)
- 📚YouTube tutorials on Adobe XD and Figma
- 📚Design Systems (resources on consistent design)
- 📚Dribbble (for design inspiration)
Reflection
How did using design tools change your approach to creating your website? What features did you find most helpful?
Checkpoint
Present your high-fidelity prototype for feedback.
Website Development
Now it's time to bring your designs to life by developing your website. You'll apply your HTML, CSS, and UX knowledge to build a fully functional site. This phase emphasizes practical application and problem-solving as you encounter real-world challenges.
Tasks:
- ▸Set up a local development environment using tools like Visual Studio Code or Sublime Text.
- ▸Translate your high-fidelity prototype into code by creating HTML and CSS files.
- ▸Implement responsive design techniques to ensure your site works on various screen sizes.
- ▸Integrate any additional features, such as forms or interactive elements, using JavaScript if comfortable.
- ▸Conduct thorough testing to identify and fix any bugs or issues before launch.
- ▸Optimize your website for performance and SEO basics to enhance visibility.
- ▸Prepare a launch plan, including strategies for promoting your website.
Resources:
- 📚Visual Studio Code (code editor)
- 📚Google Lighthouse (for performance testing)
- 📚MDN Web Docs (JavaScript basics)
- 📚SEO Starter Guide by Google (for SEO basics)
- 📚Web.dev (for web performance resources)
Reflection
What challenges did you face during development? How did you overcome them, and what did you learn from the process?
Checkpoint
Submit your fully functional website for review.
Website Launch & Promotion
Congratulations! You're nearing the finish line. In this final section, you'll focus on launching your website and promoting it effectively. You'll learn about hosting options, domain registration, and marketing strategies to attract visitors to your site.
Tasks:
- ▸Choose a domain name that reflects your brand and register it through a domain provider.
- ▸Select a hosting service and deploy your website online, ensuring it's accessible to users.
- ▸Create a social media strategy to promote your website and engage with your audience.
- ▸Develop a content plan for your website, including blog posts or portfolio updates.
- ▸Network with peers and professionals to share your website and gather feedback.
- ▸Monitor website analytics to understand visitor behavior and improve your site.
- ▸Reflect on your journey and document lessons learned throughout the project.
Resources:
- 📚GoDaddy (domain registration)
- 📚Bluehost (hosting services)
- 📚Google Analytics (for website analytics)
- 📚Hootsuite (for social media management)
- 📚Content Marketing Institute (for content strategies)
Reflection
Reflect on the entire project experience. What skills have you developed, and how do you feel about launching your website?
Checkpoint
Present your live website and promotion strategy.
Timeline
8-12 weeks, with flexibility for iterative feedback and adjustments at each phase.
Final Deliverable
A fully functional personal website that showcases your design work, incorporating user experience principles, HTML/CSS skills, and a unique visual style. This project serves as a key piece in your digital portfolio, demonstrating your readiness for professional opportunities.
Evaluation Criteria
- ✓Demonstration of web design principles in the final product.
- ✓Effective use of HTML/CSS in website development.
- ✓Incorporation of user experience principles throughout the project.
- ✓Quality and creativity of visual design elements.
- ✓Successful launch and promotion of the website.
Community Engagement
Engage with peers through online forums or social media groups to share progress, gather feedback, and collaborate on design ideas. Consider hosting a virtual launch event to showcase your work.