DANIELLE HULIGANGA
A REFLECTION
A space set aside to explain the process of creating my interactive media project.
Revision and Composition Choices
Although my project would have benefitted from it, I was unable to majorly revise my podcast, network visualization map, and first blog post. Time was not my friend; as a result, I am not confident that I did my topic justice.
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Per one of my test user's suggestions, I included links to the home page and previous/next pages at the bottom of every page. I wanted to give my audience the impression that my project functioned cohesively and that the pages were in a sequence. I found that it also made for easier navigation.
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Instead of writing and posting everything to this website, I linked to different platforms (i.e., click the icon to access the podcast, follow the button for the blog posts, etc.). Doing so made the pages less busy and more interactive. It also provided a sense of design continuity.
Strategies Used for an Accessible, Engaging, and Informative Project
I wanted my project to be accessible and engaging to my audience--prospective college students. One strategy I used to achieve this was the use of conversational language. You will notice that I use contractions, address the audience often, and leave personal touches (i.e., "Parting Words" on Next Steps). These choices were made to help my audience feel connected and to encourage participation by the time they reached the page: Next Steps.
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Despite the simplistic design of my website, I kept my audience informed and engaged by strategically linking to different platforms. Every page of the project brings you to a different page on the website; some pages will also link (i.e., click on an icon, a button, or an underlined phrase) to content published on a separate platform. Instead of having everything on one page of the website, the audience consistently interacts with the project's features.
A Quick Word on Website Design
My project was built into my website portfolio. As such, I went with the same design aesthetics applied to my portfolio--zero background noise, minimal layout choices, and very few images and icons.
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I struggled with the text's format on the following pages: Interactive Media Project-Network Visualization Map. The design's built-in text format was center-aligned, which was not pleasing to my eye. I tried to reconfigure the text to right-aligned, but alas, technology got the better of me.
