Week One Entry

The “directories” topic covered in week one reading will be extremely beneficial to me. Until now I haven’t really used directories, however, after reading about them and working through the short exercise in the book I realize how useful directories can be. I searched the web using Google during some of my previous classes looking for tutorials on various topics such as programming and data structures. I eventually was able to find such information, but, I could have decreased my search time had I used directories.


Graphic design is everywhere we look in both the web and print. The success of the design depends greatly on contrast, proximity, repetition and alignment. A good design will keep the viewer’s attention long enough to get the intended message across to the reader. I also believe “designs” influence a persons overall opinion about the company for which it is for. This makes it ever more important to have a design that expresses a clear message and is professionally done. .


Web design provides the opportunity to give huge amounts of information to masses of people at the fraction of the cost of print. I work for a powder coating company and in the past we have spent $20K - $30K annually on printing product literature so we could send hard copy brochures to our customer base. Over the past several years we have developed a website that contains all of our product literature and technical documents so customers can visit our site and get the information they need without the use of hard copy brochures. I do not think the web will ever completely replace print; however, it certainly makes it easy and cost effective for the transfer of certain types of information. We have saved thousands of dollars over the years because we have reduced the number of color cards we needed to print. In addition, the actual designing of web information is very flexible and can easily be changed and updated. This is very beneficial when it comes to things such as overall new designs, price changes, introduction of new products, and change in hours, etc. When using the web approach customer feedback is very easy to capture and can be accomplished by using a feedback form or email. A common way with print would be to send a post card and wait for the customer to complete and return. This approach is not only very slow but time consuming and expensive as well.


One of the things that surprised me the most was learning about the overuse of the “centering” alignment. After seeing the several before and after pictures of alignment in the book, I agree that it is a much cleaner approach with everything being left aligned. At work I have been guilty of over using the “centered” alignment and I am looking forward to learning how to break that habit and creating a visually appealing design.