Like most graphic designers, I am a complete snob when it comes to UI on the web. Coming from a generation where the web and technology has evolved momentously, do you really blame me? Since I can remember, the computer has always been an active instrument in my life. I was that geeky girl who understood search engine algorithms and needed her daily dose of Oregon Trail. Today, web users like me have become more sophisticated, more discerning , and the novelty of simply having an online presence has worn off . We are moving towards personalization of the internet.
My laptop and I share a very special intimacy - I’ve customized every inch of the computer from its design to its system. A dual-core CPU, my laptop features the latest AMD and Intel CPU, high performance RAM , and over -clocked video cards. Yes, it’s the size of my torso, five years old , and heavy as hell. Despite having dropped it a few times and never turning it off to rest, it surprisingly has never suffered a motherboard meltdown (god bless its soul).
I am the absolute ruler over this three-dimensional subterranean labyrinth. I’ve compiled my own complex database, organizing it with an ingenious filing system and it would take an architect of labyrinths to navigate through every one of its intertwined passages. The depth of commitment to this machine that I’ve displayed rivals that of even the most devoted of marriages. Without my laptop, my world is meaningless.
I have high expectations when I step into the cyber world ; websites today must have an engaging experience that delivers a feeling of community and offers dynamic challenges during the “user experience.” In the morning, when I read the news and find something interesting I’d like to share, I’ll look for the share link at the bottom of the article and post it on my Myspace and Facebook. Or as I’m listening to my iTunes and my Last.fm window suggests other artists that I might like, I’ll listen to a few new tracks. If I like what I hear, I’ll search for a free download then update my Myspace player with my favorite song.
All websites must also have an intuitive interface. Interactivity and quick connectivity have become assumed features of a websites experience. I am constantly logged on to my personalized iGoogle which sends live feeds to my email, my calendar and every other niche I’m connected to. At work, when I’m building an eblast and I’m having programming issues, I’ll “instant message” a support agent. As I’m waiting for a response on the chat window, I’ll Google search the problem in hopes to find a quick solution on a blog floating around somewhere. The evolution of the web has lead to this demand of higher productivity and connectivity that is creating a new breed of web designers.
When I go shopping online, it’s not just about finding the best deals. They must also have the most captivating delivery method. I’ve signed up to several websites that send me email reminders and keep me updated on the latest designs and sample sales. I expect these retailers and service providers to fight for my attention with captivating images, high definition videos and Flash animations. Otherwise, not only will these retailers lose out on my business, they probably will not gain the attention of other web users.
The role of the web designer is no longer to be an artist merely doing graphic designs. As a web designer I’ve had to evolve to become more of a full-service, one-stop shop, to my clients. Firstly, I consult on their current website and take an extensive identity audit; the information from which I build a proposal to use in collaborating on a design. Secondly, I manage the whole project from design development, collecting content, editing copy, programming and bug testing before the final design is hosted. Afterwards, there is the commitment to managing the website and analyzing the statistics for marketing purposes. Not only do web designers today have to be creative, they also need to be business savvy, multidisciplinary and technologically proficient experts in graphic arts, animation, programming languages, systems administration and psychology. Web design is no longer a skill: it’s a science.
I consider myself creative technically and artistically. Although I’ve learned a great deal about online marketing by working at a brand consulting and advertisement agency, my technical skills haven’t developed very much since I graduated. Honestly, I still use Adobe’s first release of Creative Suite and Dreamweaver MX to make graphics and build websites. Obviously, I’m out of date and I have no clue to where to begin to learn on my own.
As an internet user with such high expectations, I need to bring my skills up to that level for myself as well as my audience. Going into the Art Multimedia program, I want the program to teach me and challenge me on how to create a more immersive online environment by bringing sound and interactivity to my sites and focusing on human-computer interaction. I want to learn the latest technology and participate in a dialogue on the evolution of art multimedia design in an academic atmosphere.
Being in the program will also drive me to do my own personal projects outside of my clientele work. I can explore my creativity once again in the realms of multimedia. I want to take the time to film myself complete a painting, mixing audio and then editing it until it is “artistically worthy” to show to the world. Inspired by Kentridge films, I want to create my own body of work that involves drawing, film, music and most importantly, convey a significant and personal message.
I want to be the best multimedia designer I can be.
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