Interactive Design | Exercises

23 Apr 2024 -  2024 | (Week 1 - Week 8 )
Chan Xiang Lam | 0358400 
Interactive Design | Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media 
Exercises | 

Table Content
    
    1. Lectures
    2. Instructions
    3. Exercises
        - Exercise 1 | Web Analysis
        - Exercise 2 | Replicate a website
        - Exercise 3 | Creating a Recipe Card
        - Exercise 4
        

Lectures

Week 1 | Usability



Week 2 | Anatomy of a Website


Week 3 | Understanding Website Structure 


Week 4 | The Web and Language


Week 5 | The Web and Language


Week 7 CSS Selector


  Instructions



Exercises

Exercise 1 |  Web Analysis
In this exercise, we are required to choose two websites from the provided link and thoroughly review the one we have selected, paying close attention to its design, layout, content, and functionality. We need to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the website and consider how they affect the user experience. Then, we should write a brief report summarising our findings and recommendations.

    Website 1.0 | Tony's Chocolonely [link]

Fig.1.1  "Tony's Chocolonely" Main Page

      1.1 Purpose and Goals Communication:
        The Tony's Chocolonely website is a vital platform for showcasing products, attracting customers, and driving sales. Its primary goals are to effectively communicate product features, increase sales, and enhance brand awareness and trust. Additionally, the website provides essential product information, fosters customer interaction, and ensures a seamless user experience. Through search engine optimization and continuous performance monitoring, the website aims to attract targeted traffic and achieve long-term business objectives.

    1.2 Visual Design and Layout:
       The website's visual design and layout utilize vibrant and colorful hues, establishing a lively and cheerful atmosphere. The bright colors evoke a feeling of energy and vitality, effectively drawing users' attention. Typography is clear and easy to read, with consistent font sizes and styles across the site.

Fig.1.1.1 Visual Design and Layout

        High-quality and attractive imagery are effectively employed to showcase products, bolstering user interest and potentially boosting purchasing desire. 

Fig.1.2.2 Imagery

    1.3 Functionality and Usability:
        Navigation is straightforward, with a fixed header menu providing easy access to different sections of the website. Additionally, a detailed menu is available at the bottom of the page. 

Fig.1.1.3 Menu bar

        The website also includes interactive elements, such as the ability to visually create custom packaging, which adds an engaging touch. 

Fig.1.1.4 interactive elements

        However, there is room for improvement in terms of usability. For example, if the search function is available, it should be prominently displayed to help users quickly find products.

    1.4 Content Quality and Relevance:
        The content is well-organized and easy to navigate, with clear headings and subheadings that help users quickly find the information they are looking for. There is no confusion or ambiguity during browsing. Each piece of content is carefully structured into appropriate sections, making navigation and accessing relevant information straightforward. This organizational structure greatly enhances the user experience by allowing visitors to easily find what they are looking for.

        The product page provides detailed information about the chocolates, enabling customers to better understand their characteristics, taste, and ingredients, thus assisting them in making more accurate choices. By offering sufficient information, the product page can enhance customer trust, elevate brand loyalty, and facilitate the completion of purchase decisions. 

Fig.1.1.5 Product Information

        Additionally, the website can include customer reviews to bolster credibility and aid users in making informed purchasing decisions.

    1.5 Performance:
        The website performs well in terms of load times, responsiveness, and compatibility with different devices and browsers. Pages load quickly, even on slower internet connections, and the site is fully responsive, adapting seamlessly to various screen sizes. Compatibility with different browsers appears to be excellent, with no noticeable issues or errors.


    Website 2.0 | Don't Board Me [link]

Fig.1.2  "Don't Board Me" Main Page

    2.1 Purpose and Goals Communication:
     The "Don't Board Me" website specializes in providing reliable, considerate, and personalized in-home pet care services. They offer a range of services including dog walking, pet visits, and overnight care. Their aim is to establish long-lasting relationships with pet owners, earning their trust and confidence by attending to each dog's individual needs. This focus on building enduring relationships is intended to ensure the happiness and well-being of dogs.   

    2.2 Visual Design and Layout:
        This website utilizes a light color scheme to foster a refreshing and enjoyable ambiance, instilling a sense of ease. Soft hues like subtle pink, blue, or green are carefully chosen, complementing the adorable and gentle image associated with pets. 

Fig.1.2.1 Visual Design and Layout

        Clear navigation menus and intuitive design elements have been strategically incorporated to enhance user experience and facilitate easy access to service information. This ensures that visitors can effortlessly navigate the website and find the information they are seeking. Moreover, the typography is clean and straightforward, guaranteeing readability for users across different devices and screen sizes.

Fig.1.2.2 Menu bar

        Displaying pet photos alongside shared blog content creates a warm and trustworthy atmosphere. These images not only enhance visual appeal but also reinforce the reliability and credibility of the website.
Fig.1.2.3 Imagery

    2.3 Functionality and Usability:
        The website prioritizes functionality and usability to provide a seamless experience for visitors. Navigation menus are logically organized, allowing users to easily explore different sections of the site and access relevant information with minimal effort. 

        Forms for booking pet care services are straightforward and user-friendly, guiding clients through the process step by step. Clear instructions and tooltips help to alleviate any confusion and ensure that users provide all necessary information accurately.

Fig.1.2.4 Service page

        Interactive elements, such as sliders or galleries showcasing available pet care packages, allow users to compare options visually and make informed decisions. These elements enhance user engagement and facilitate the booking process, ultimately leading to increased conversions.

Fig.1.2.5 Information 

    2.4 Content Quality and Relevance:
        The website's content has been meticulously curated to provide valuable information to pet owners while showcasing the professional expertise of pet care providers. Detailed service descriptions, including pricing and availability, help users understand the expected services and make informed choices. 

Fig.1.2.6 Pricing

        Additionally, the rich content of blog articles offers tips and advice on pet care, further enhancing the website's appeal and utility. These blog articles not only demonstrate the website's dedication to pet health and happiness but also prove the professionalism and commitment of the pet care providers. Through this valuable content, the website not only attracts more visitors but also earns the trust and loyalty of pet owners, thereby enhancing the sustainability and success of the business.

Fig.1.2.7 Blog

    2.5 Performance:
        The website performs well in terms of load times, responsiveness, and compatibility with different devices and browsers. Pages load quickly, even on mobile devices, ensuring a smooth user experience. The site is also responsive, adapting seamlessly to different screen sizes and resolutions.

Exercise 2 Replicate a website 
For this task we are to choose two (2) websites from the links given below and take full-page screenshots. Then, analyze the layout, paying attention to dimensions and alignment, and identify fonts and colors used. Gather similar resources such as fonts and images. Recreate the layout in design software, adding placeholder text and images. Finally, apply the identified styles consistently across the design.
I'm replicating the main pages of Morgan Stanley and Ocean Health Index websites. After capturing full-page screenshots, I've opened them in Adobe Illustrator to begin replication. For image replacements, I'm using Pexels, and for consistent typography, I'm downloading similar fonts from Google Fonts.

    Morgan Stanley:

Fig.2.1.1 progress

    Final Outcome:

Fig.2.1.2 Final Outcome


    Ocean Health Index:

Fig.2.2.1 progress

  Final Outcome:

Fig.2.2.2 Final Outcome

Exercise 3 Creating a Recipe Card
In this exercise, you will create a recipe card webpage using HTML and CSS. The task involves designing a simple yet visually appealing webpage that displays a chosen recipe's title, image, ingredients, and step-by-step cooking instructions. 

 First, I visited the website and looked at different baking recipes. I decided on the cranberry cake because it looks delicious.  I wrote down all the ingredients and instructions needed to make the cranberry cake, making sure to include cooking time, baking temperature, and step-by-step directions.

Fig.3.1 Cranberry Cake recipes

Next, I started designing the webpage by creating the basic HTML structure, including sections for the title, ingredients list, and instructions.

Fig.3.2 Ingredient-list

Fig.3.3 Instruction-list

 Then, I added some basic CSS to improve the page's appearance and readability. I kept adjusting the CSS styles, such as fonts, colors, and spacing, to enhance the visual appeal.

Fig.3.4 CSS progress

Later, I added a feedback form to the webpage. This form allows users to share their thoughts and suggestions about the recipe. This addition makes the webpage more interactive and provides an opportunity for continuous improvement based on user feedback.


Outcome:

Fig. 3.5 Outcome before Adding CSS

Fig. 3.6 Outcome after Adding CSS

Final Outcome:

link to Neflify

 
  Fig. 3.7 Final Outcome Webpage





















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