This week in class we have started the process of consulting with our client to create a blog page. My client has asked for a blog that is targeted towards the importance of skincare. With this in mind, I’ll be using the graphic design principles we discussed. These principles are hierarchy, negative space, and alignment. After I gathered this information, I created three wireframes and waited for approval. The wireframe that was approved is perfect for my client because it touches on hierarchy by placing higher importance on the content that appears first on their blog. My client wanted the use of negative space and alignment to create a minimalistic look. I find this design choice thoughtful as it adds cohesiveness to the website, evoking thoughts of relaxation as this is a blog about skincare. To fully understand how to incorporate my client’s designs into their blog, I have to further understand how I will use graphic design principles to help enhance the design. To achieve this, I have chosen three webpages from awwwards.com to spark inspiration. These webpages are Kozowood, Concept Capers, and CSDG Development Group. 

The first webpage I encountered was Kozowood. This webpage stands out to me because of its color scheme. The shades of brown they have chosen resemble various types of wood, which aligns perfectly with Kozowood’s focus on sustainable home construction. Despite the neutral palette, the images that they used add a pop of color to the overall design. Moreover, what truly captivated me was the overall design and interactivity of the webpage. As I navigated through the site, I appreciated how everything was neatly organized into sections that clearly stated their intended purpose through the use of headers and captions. I think this webpage is amazing because its minimalistic, yet thoughtful design, succeeds in keeping the user engaged. 

Similarly to Kozowood, Concept Capers is a fun and interactive site. What drew my interest to this webpage was its emphasis on playful and inviting colors. I believe the choice of colors effectively conveys the site’s theme, giving it the appearance of a card game platform. I drew this conclusion thanks to the cartoon images at the top of the site, which resembles a card game like uno. Furthermore, the fonts used are legible and aren’t overwhelming to the user. The organization of Concept Capers is easy to follow, as it uses consistent fonts throughout the site to create a sense of unity. This site uses repetition by using the same characters from the card visuals to further demonstrate unity and reinforce the overall design of the site. Lastly, Concept Capers uses alignment to create a clean and easy-to-follow layout. This is seen throughout the site, but it is especially noticeable in the “Meet the Team” section, where all of the characters are aligned side-by-side. 

Unlike, the last two webpages, CSDG Development Group uses grid boxes to display its information. The boxes are in alignment with each other with some boxes being wider and taller than others. Even though the boxes are not all the same size, they are displayed in a way that creates balance throughout the site. Moreover, the use of typography is very important in this design because of the boxes. CSDG Development Group uses about three different fonts to help create a sense of separation since the boxes are so close together. Using the different font weights also creates a sense of importance, especially when talking about their mission and the statistics of the work they have produced. Lastly, this site uses a navigation bar in the top center of the page, which makes it easy for the user to find information. 

After analyzing the three different web pages, I was inspired to use various design elements from each site to further enhance my client’s blog. I enjoyed Kozowood’s simplistic design choice and how they used their color palette to enhance the purpose of their site. Furthermore, I loved the fun and playful colors that Concept Capers used to emphasize the purpose of their webpage. Since my client is set on a minimalistic layout, I will incorporate the alignment, white space, and unity principles that were used by Concept Capers to make sure my client’s blog has a similar feel that aligns with their blog’s purpose. Lastly, as seen in CSDG Development Group, I will add a navigation bar to make the website more user-friendly as well as a donate and shop button because they are of high importance to my client. I will also incorporate CSDG Development Group’s use of typography to highlight important information on my client’s blog.