Web Design Research
Why is CSS So Weird?
This video by Mozilla Developer has expanded my understanding in a variety of aspects. The main thing that stood out to me was learning more about the principles of the web (which we have learned in the beginning of the quarter) and how that applies to CSS as a language and how it functions for web design. Knowing that a primary focus on CSS was for the sake of adaptability and working with a variety of screens and devices does help me understanding its intent further.
Additionally, now knowing that CSS is designed to "not cause harm" and show everything by default is something that I haven't really thought about when it came to working with overflow and content bleeding over the borders. It is useful having that visual as opposed to having it hidden from me, especially during the design process.
Ambient Animations In Web Design: Principles And Implementation
This Smashing Magazine article by Andy Clarke had me initially interested because of the fact that it implements both my biggest passions as a creative: animation and web design. Getting a proper understanding of how to implement the two while being user-friendly is something I want to do when it comes to working with my own web designs.
After reading the article, a lot of what I learned are just design principles being applied to moving elements. For example, hierarchy and showing emphasis on specific elements are basic elements of design as a whole, which also reflect on what we have learned in web design. The animation-specific principles were good to keep in mind, such as making the movements slow and subtle while looping seamlessly. While animations add more life to a website and brand's design, it is important to not have the user disoriented.
