A Blog for a Blog

This was a midterm project. The assignment was to create a website landing page for any topic of my choice. It had to include the following elements: a header, navigation buttons, three different stories with photos, a footer, social media icons, and a logo.

I chose to create a website for a hypothetical wellness blog that is written by medical professionals. I wanted the website to have a relaxed and inviting feel, so I chose to use different shades of green and to make the photos of the three stories round with soft edges. I still wanted the website to feel professional as well, so I chose a font that looks professional but does not feel too stuffy. That is why I chose a sans serif font.

I chose to make the logo in a handwritten font to add more to the inviting, relaxed feeling I wanted the website to have. I wanted it to feel this way because medical topics can be very daunting and turn people away. The point of this website is to be a place that people want to go for medical advice and research rather than where they have to go. I felt that a blog would contribute to that as well- it feels more personal.

I thought the landing page should include a description of the purpose of the blog. That is why I chose to include the box on the left that describes the blog and introduces the creator. I think the large “Welcome!” pulls the reader into this box first, creating a focal point, and once again adds to the inviting feel I was going for.

In deciding the layout of this page, I made multiple sketches before creating it in InDesign. The original sketch only included the three stories and photographs. After reflection I decided that only having the three stories did not create the sense that this was to be a home page, it felt more like one of the pages that is included in the navigation bar. I also needed a focal point that draws the eye into the page, and as stated above, the white “Welcome!” box did just that.

The titles of the three stories are white and bold, compared to the black text that gives a blurb of the story. This, the size of the logo, and the size of the “Welcome!” help to create visual hierarchy. With these elements, the reader can scan the page and quickly read the most important information.