Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
revision and possibly redefinition during the conceptualization process. Don't
worry, this is natural. This initial struggle with ideas is important to establishing
solid content and design. Without conceptualization, communication is lost in
the translation from the author to the media. This can be deadly in the case of
the Web portfolio. Because the goal of the Web portfolio is to persuade, it is
vital that all important messages are to the forefront. Without them, it is difficult
to establish a personal credibility, identity, and communication channel with the
user.
Defining the User,
Understanding the Audience
This topic mostly focuses on communication design. Design solves a problem.
You are solving a problem when you create a Web portfolio. The problem is
rooted in persuasive communication. Persuasive communication involves de-
livering a message with the goal of changing someone's perception. You want
your portfolio to change someone's perception favorably. That someone is
known as the user. You want the user to have a positive experience when they
visit your Web portfolio. This means that your Web portfolio is entertaining,
easy to navigate, performs well, and is chock full of vital content. Spending time
on conceptualization will help you provide a great experience for the user. In
addition, spending time on testing and maintenance helps insure the user
remembers you and your site.
The most important rules in designing any interactive project are to design for
the user and design for communication. The Web portfolio design process
should focus on yielding a user-centered design. Providing a user-centered
design means that the needs, expectations, requirements, and navigation
abilities of the user are met indefinitely throughout the Web site experience
(Lynch & Horton, 1999). We want the users' needs to be met, but what are
their needs? Users want to feel in control. They want to have an error free
experience in which they can absorb the content and submerge themselves in
the experience. The content drives the experience and the users' curiosity to
engage the Web portfolio, probing for more evidence and more identity.
Navigation plays a major role in the value of the experience. If the experience
is a negative one, the perceptions of the author will be negative also. This
hypothesis is disturbing because it means that our Web portfolio has an
