Target Audience
The main target audience for this website is for students who attend NWTC or even students who attend other schools but are in the same fields that are presented in the showcase. Even if someone who is not in school but are into digital arts, this website is perfect for their interest in the subjects and can draw inspiration for them. This website is for all people with technical interest. This design I have presented supports this audience by appealing to the theme, such as my background with the computer with a paint bruch representing digital arts. The website offers a look into students in the current programs, Design and Graphic Technology, Digital Media Technology, Photography and Web Development. Each giving a description of the program and information on what occurs in the program.
Message
With my design, I wanted to make it look somewhat artsy, but not too much where it becomes too much of an eye sore for the user. Therefore, I want my design to engage the user in the digital arts showcase as they are presented with a visual appealing layout that allows them to read the given descriptions with out any complications. My messages is that I want my users to receive is how fun and cool this field can be with the creativity of each individual who enjoys art and technology.
Goal
This design supports the goal by showcasing 4 digital art programs here at NWTC, which are Design and Graphic Technology, Digital Media Technology, Photography, and Web Development. Each page presents and supports the given program, describing the purpose, presenting images of past students, listing potential careers and skills that individuals will progress on. Archives section for past semester projects from different students (if we were to continue this project) and a contact section for users to get directions on how to get here.
Calls to Action (CTAs)
For my "Read More" button on the cards for the homepage, I want to make sure that the user is aware of the hyperlink by adding the arrow SVG, in a blue round button that hovers gold when you place the cursor over it so that the user can click and access the related web page. On the contacts page, we have CTA's that prompt the user to enter there address and then will provide directions on google map as well as a form to contact the school. Also in one of my grid sections, if students do not want to email the school then I had provided the schools tool and local number. Advising to user to Call or Text. Providing the business hours so the appropriate time to call.
Discussion of Design
Layout
First, my designs layout is divided into individual sections to represent each program on the homepage, giving a brief description of the course at hand. For smaller sections regarding date and location and skills to improve on, I had my grid section stretch across the screen so that it catches the users attention so that they will for sure see it. Considering this is an event, the date and location is a message you don't want your users to miss.
Color
For the colors, I know we did not have to use blue NWTC colors but I just felt like it was right to use blue as my theme to represent our technical college. My website mainly consists of 3 blue variations. One being the dark blue as my body color, a lighter blue for my navigation so that it stands out from the darker blue background, then last is a blue that is met in the middle. Not too dark and not too bright. This is used for my header fonts and outlines on my cards. Along with the wrappers border color. For my card background, I did a light grey so that it stands out from my wrappers white background. I choose to make the wrappers background white because with all the blue, I feel that more color would be visually uncomfortable for many users, such as my self.
Typography
For my Typography, I made sure that my font is an appropriate size for a desktop and mobile so that it is visually appealing. Each sentence having line spacing for better reading flow and paragraphs evenly centered in each card to make the description more clear for the user. For my header texts, I used blue, merriweather-black-italic from google fonts for my users to know what it is about the section they are about to read or for eye catching important information such as contact, date and location.