Opinion

I stuck to conventional website formats[1] to maintain usability. I used familiar tools such as navigation bars to ensure that users were not overwhelmed with unfamiliar content. I made sure my external content (e.g. my CV, PDFs) is accessible using simple buttons. The PDFs are downloadable so anyone can access them. The buttons change colour when you hover over them so users can see what they are clicking to show that their interaction with the website is current. Videos on my website have a play arrow(▷) consistent with other playable media formats so that visitors to the site know that the video is interactive.  

To ensure that my website is accessible I used a colour blind-friendly colour scheme. Keeping the saturation difference between each colour used for text and the background means everyone can use the website regardless of colour blindness. I chose green for the background because it tied nicely with my other photos. I kept fonts consistent; every page has a clear title and the text included in these pages is legible and of a standard size.  

I ensured my images were large enough to be appreciated without ruining the flow of the website. To improve accessibility the images can be clicked to be enlarged. My images were chosen to fit their respective briefs, I did however choose their order to fit the website, for example, my identification project shows a horizontal shot of the campus along the top of the page as an intro to the topic. This would not have worked as a cover photo since my cover photos are square so for the purpose of the website, I used a more fitting photo of the Egyptian goose. I chose my home page format because it gave me the chance to show off my photography straight away. This website gives people an overview of the work I can do, so having clear square photos as covers for each page grabs the viewer's attention. I modified the formatting on different pages to suit the project, but to keep the core design cohesive I used the same fonts, backgrounds, and colour schemes throughout the website.  

I wanted to keep the navigation of my website simple, therefore I included a sidebar with all pages linked to the left-hand side of the screen. By doing this the website becomes much easier to use as there is no need to return to the home page to select the next page you wish to view. I also made sure to include a “back to top,” button at the bottom of each page so that the user can return to the top of the page when they are done reading. 

I took inspiration from a range of sources. I liked the navigation and clear square images of Kasey Golden’s website[2]. I also liked the boldness of the images on Tate Modern’s website[3]. I liked how the text and images complimented each other, which is something I tried to replicate.