web designing

   What is web design?

Design for the Web is the most significant new area of design practice of the last 20 years. Learning to work in a new medium is both exciting and challenging, and forces us to restate what design is. The fluidity this new area of activity presents may allow design to assume a more prominent role in business and society. It is easy to be daunted by the challenge of this new medium. In fact, design for the web shares with other disciplines a view of design as a way of thinking, a service provided to a client for the benefits of others, an understanding of constraints, a serious of problem-solving methods and processes, and an activity whose success is, to some degree, measurable.                              

While web design has much in common with the approach to other areas of design there are also some important differences. Many of the challenges of web design are about creating an effective interface between people and technology.

                                                                         (Macdonald)

Examples of websites:

Red Earth:

An eye catching website, that is aesthetically pleasing to the eyes. With a simple design that tells a lot about the website without spoiling its concept. The design, the colors all unite together to make an outstanding look that catches the viewer's attention. It communicates effectively with the viewers or the visitors of this website. Great options of colors, and font. The simplicity in the design is what makes it unique and outstanding. Red earth has succeeded in creating a magnificent look for its website which reflects feminine beauty. Since the target audiences are women, we can see how the feminine colors serve the website very well. The harmony between the elements is what makes it stand out. Natural colors that are relaxing to the eyes were chosen to reflect the products, which are natural cosmetics.

Whiskas:

 Whiskas, it is a brand of cat food that is marketed throughout the world. A great website that targets all cats' lovers. The design is very simple, unique and persuasive and promotes the product very well. The website meets the clients' expectations and provides them with up to date products and information. Excellent website in terms of construction and use of color.

Meomi:

Meomi is a unique and useful website, of a designer who illustrates characters and writes shorts stories for kids'. Meomi's characters have been featured in several book designs, and their characters have appeared on toys, clothes and in magazines worldwide. Meomi also created art works for clients such as Girls Inc, Cyworld, Electronic Arts and Google. The website is designed in a simple way with colorful and babyish characters. There are varieties of shapes, colors and harmony between the elements. Amazing website in terms of the concept, color, and construction.  

The Golden Compass:

The official website for the movie, The Golden Compass. A search engine friendly website that promotes the movie itself. It targets the movie's fans and provides them with everything that is related to the movie: Such as photos, games and more. The variety of design in this website makes it an artistic piece of design. It is visually appealing to the eyes, eye catching and simply stunning. Smart use of scale and proportion. The principal and elements unite together to make a successful composition that serves the designer's purpose and goals. The design of the website is designed very well to make it easy for the fans of the movie to look up everything they want to know about the website or the movie itself. The simplicity of the design and the contrast between the colors all together combine to make an outstanding look that attracts and catch the viewer attention to the website, and make surfing it easier and fun.

References:

Macdonald, Nico.  What is Web Design.  Switzerland:  RotoVision SA, 2003.

“ Goldan Compass website”. MMVIII New Line Productions. <http://www.goldencompassmovie.com/>.

“Meomi website”. Meomi Design Inc. <http://www.meomi.com/index.html>.

"Summer Splash". Redearth. 2008.

http://www.redearth.com/redearth>.

“Whiskas website”. 2008. Mars, Incorporated. <http://www.whiskas.com/default.aspx?a=y>.

Cultural Diversity in the UAE

Cultural Diversity in the UAE

Regarding the Cultural Diversity course. As an Emirati who studied in private schools most of my life, I have a natural opinion about the Cultural Diversity in our country. Since kinder garden and I am always used to having kids with different nationalities and religions around. I grew up with one main idea in my head, that we are all equal.  Now I didn’t know in which way that would affect my life in the future till I moved to a public school during grade 11. The minute I entered the school I noticed that the school is being Distinction into groups, Emirates girls, Lebanese girls, Egyptian girls, etc. which was a big culture shock for me.

I also noticed that my English language is in a very good level comparing to the rest of the Emirates girls. They used to hate this language and never accepted the point that they are learning it for their own good, which also shocked me. After spending two years in public schools I got the point of all the differences and the levels that is still there in these schools in such a development country like the UAE.

These kinds of differences are not only happening between different nationalities, it’s also happening among us Emirates. And that’s what I discovered later on when I went to a governmental College. The last name still matters no matter how educated or sophisticated you are, a master in science would mean nothing if you come from an ordinary family that not a lot heard of.

I know and do believe that many people in my country didn’t follow the same way their grand partners used to think, and they are more open to and new adjustment as long as it is for their own good. But I’m still wondering about the other half of the glass, which sometimes brings us down and make us feel that no matter how developed this country gets we are still not going anywhere mentally. And from my point view this case will remain unsolved as it is a matter of opinion that can’t be controlled or changed by a rule.