Self Reflection

One of the critical factors I learned from this assignment is that thoroughness pays off at the beginning of a website's creation. Investing a significant amount of time and effort means that future maintenance will be far less than it would cost if the website were poorly made. I also learned that a middle ground needs to be found to create a quality website within a specific timeframe and budget. However, three key factors are mandatory for any website. First, the website must function as expected. Then, the site must cater to those with disabilities, so accessibility is crucial. Thirdly, the website must be responsive so that all devices can access the website's contents. Then, if a sufficient budget remains, the website's aesthetic should be addressed.

Overall, this website works. For example, all of the links in the navigation bar are active. However, I learned that this site has some significant underlying issues. The search bar malfunctions horribly, which is unacceptable considering how many users use them to traverse websites. The lack of breadcrumbs and/or the navigation bar does not indicate where the user is on the website. While these issues must undoubtedly be fixed, my overall problem with this website is its need for more aesthetics and layout.

This assignment taught me the importance of getting different perspectives when testing and designing a website. Incorporating user feedback can help us create a well-rounded website and have unique ideas and opinions on what makes good websites good. For example, I would have never known about this website's search issues had I not done the usability test with user #2 or that there were two places to find all of the quadball teams for this season, thanks to user #3. Teamwork really does make the dream work.

This course has shifted my perspective from that of a web designer to that of a user. Previously, my approach to website design was introspective, crafting sites that resonated with my logic and style. However, this course allowed me to see the importance of adopting a user-centric viewpoint. Before, I always focused on creating websites that made sense solely to myself, but I had not thought to evaluate my website as if I were a new user. While it can be challenging to see a website I have spent hundreds of hours on through fresh eyes, the struggle will be well worth it, as I will no doubt discover new ways to better the overall user experience. It is undoubtedly challenging, but its value is immeasurable, promising revelations and opportunities to enhance the user experience significantly. Lastly, from Krug, I learned the essentialness of straightforward, minimalistic design and the elimination of any unnecessary elements or content that could confuse or frustrate users. And Nielson taught me how crucial it is to have guidelines while creating, testing, and managing a website. It can be easy to get ahead of ourselves, but we must take the design process slow and remember that our number one focus is to make the user's experience on a website as seamless as possible.