Designing this website has been a great learning experience for me. I started by watching the video from Professor Nesi, which helped me create a solid foundation for my website. From there, I’ve looked at some of my friends’ websites who have already taken this class and have jobs. Taking inspiration from their websites is beneficial because I can see what has worked for them, as well as what a well-designed website looks like. I’ve also looked up other videos on YouTube that offer guidance and tips on creating a great website that effectively showcases your brand.
How to build an effective website
My website must be simple and easy to navigate, as no one wants to get lost while searching for something. That’s why having tabs like “Portfolio” and “Contact” as well as “About” is essential — when clicking on these tabs, you know exactly what you’re about to read and see. As mentioned before, potential employers don’t have the time to search through my entire website just to find how to contact me, so I have to make it as simple as possible. Choosing the colors, font, and imagery is also important because you don’t want to overwhelm your viewers with too much going on. A simple, easy-to-read font and a light color, such as green or blue, is easy on the eyes. You also want to ensure that your images aren’t too large and don’t occupy too much space. I’m happy that I bought the domain for my website, so the URL is simply matthewmangam.com now instead of matthewmangam.wordpress.com, which is more clunky and harder to find.
Design choices alinging with my purpose of the site
These design choices reflect my personal brand because, by looking at my site, it’s clear that I’m an aspiring sports journalist. I need to add my articles to my portfolio and add some pictures of me while on the beat to help build my brand. However, so far, my website is sleek, simple, and easy to navigate — a good start to having a successful and well-structured personal website.
Some challenges I’ve faced thus far
The biggest challenge I’ve faced in creating my website thus far is figuring out what to include in my writing portfolio and about section. I feel like I have a good amount of experience, but I don’t want to include too much information so that it becomes cluttered and crowded on my website. The solution to that is asking myself, “What do I want my visitors to learn and take from when they come to my website?” There isn’t a simple answer to that question, but it requires some analysis and thinking.
Overall, creating a website is both a technical and creative journey. Every decision—from layout to content strategy — tells a story about who you are and what you stand for. By approaching design with intention and authenticity, anyone can build a site that not only looks good but also feels true to its purpose.
