Blog #1

Matthew Marco came and spoke about web design and more specifically about how to design web navigation. This is an area in which I am very unfamiliar, so this lesson was basically all new information to me. The reading associated with the lesson was a selection including the first chapter of the book Designing Web Navigation by James Kalbach. Included in the first chapter of the book was general information about web navigation and the need for it as well as web design basics as a recap. This set the tone for Mr. Marco’s speech, especially for those new to the subject like me.

The presentation itself displayed personal examples from Matthew Marco with some of the work he has done in the field of web navigation and design on the professional level. He broke down many aspects of web navigation and design that I had not though of before, because much of web design and navigation is perceived on a subconscious level. Mr. Marco showed “heat maps” of where the human eye is drawn to naturally on any given web page and what intrigues the mind on a subconscious level. He ended by showing us an example of his professional work, including the entire website for a cable company that was all encompassing and has a direct map from page to page, laid out horizontally.

Ceci Dadisman, President of Cardinal + Company, spoke with us the class period directly after Matthew Marco. Ms. Dadisman had my attention from the very beginning, as we are both from Pittsburgh and she attended West Virginia University, where many of my friends from back home attend. Her specialty is Digital Marketing, but she was able to speak to the same points as Mr. Marco regarding web navigation and design as it is a major aspect of her responsibilities as well. She also expanded on many points about how people interact with websites including yet another heat map of where the eye is drawn to when a web page opens. I was most surprised to learn that only about 1% of website visitors click on a homepage slider feature. It was very helpful that she showed us many of her points being used in the real world, as she showed the class many actual websites that used her ideas well including the Nashville Zoo, Louisville Ballet and the Montreal Opera.

I found both of these guest speakers very pertinent to the class requirements, as we are all designing our own websites, many of which are the first time ever. The speakers were both personable, interesting to listen to and beneficial to the overall design and navigation of the websites of the entire class.