While creating my website, I found that I became my harshest critic. Throughout the process, I would consistently add & delete as I worked, whether it was content or layout. I found that I was never fully satisfied with my work. This is my first attempt at developing a website, and I found it quite difficult from the designer’s point of view. Most of all, I wanted to create a website that others would find interesting, while it also was something that I felt strongly about. This is why I came up with the idea of creating a website about options to pursue after graduation. I feel that most students my age would be concerned about the same thing.

My first huge crisis was choosing a layout that really presented my information well. It was hard for me to do this because all my attempts at CSS never delivered what I wanted. At first, I worked by building a table into my html document and by handwriting my CSS. This initial layout looked like something a scammer would build. It was basic and didn’t really stand out as anything special. In order to learn as a designer, I needed to find a few resources to help me, and I needed to “write and preview” as I drafted my website. After playing around with CSS (and resorting to tutorials online and a book from Barnes & Noble), I was able to create a new layout by building my tables in my CSS instead of my html file. I found that this created a much cleaner and more professional look. Also, from a designer’s point of view, CSS is altogether an easier way to build the website. Although, I found that one aspect of my new layout didn’t work as well as my initial layout. I found it hard to expand my new layout to cover the entire screen, and I still haven’t been able to fix this glitch.

Content development was fairly easy for me because I care a lot about the subject matter. I chose four options that I have been considering post-graduation. I gathered my information and I simplified it so that the major benefits of each option were emphasized. In looking at my website, I feel that the supplemental links that I provided on each webpage are strong additions to my website. From a designer’s point of view, I feel that these links augment my website by allowing users to easily obtain more information without having to open a new window or tab. I feel that the entire process of writing CSS and HTML by hand is the best way to learn as a designer. I know that while writing code I failed more times than I succeeded, but it was the only way to learn. Once I got the basics down, I was forced to find resources to guide me through the process in order to build a more professional and pleasing website. While taking the class on the web, I have learned that designing and writing for the web isn’t as simple as it seems. I never knew what went into designing a website. I definitely have more appreciation for writers and designers of the web because even the simplest websites take a lot of effort to create.