PROJECT OVERVIEW

In a design class, we were assigned to design the front page for an informational website within an assigned category (health care, non-profit, political candidate, school or education program, or museum). This high school website connects professional photographers with the school and invites them to capture valuable student memories. The students have more opportunities for professional photographs, thus producing more content for social media. It also serves as an encouragement for students to develop their fashion sense early on and better prepare themselves for the future.

LESSONS

Compared to my first iteration, in my second iteration, I was able to narrow down my target audience, decide on an aesthetic, and also attempt at introducing something uncommon such as the campus snap segment. A lesson I learned is that it is better to tailor a website’s focus to a specific audience and narrow the elements down to function in their favor. Another lesson that I learned is that as technology advances, there is a need for even schools to have a different outlook on websites and other technological aspects in order to keep up with society and provide an optimal study environment.

PERSONA

Michelle Lee (INFJ)
Frustrations: Expensive photography sessions, lack of eventful pictures to post on social media.

Age: 16-18
Job: Part-time, 20hrs a week
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Hobbies: Dancing, fashion
Internet usage: Frequent
Social media: Often, posts maybe once in three months

Kelsey Clark (ENFP)
Frustrations: School websites are dull and her kids are not engaged at their schools.

Age: 24-28
Job: Full-time photographer
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Family: Married, two middle school kids
Internet usage: every day
Social media: Frequent, posts maybe once a month

PROCESS

Research Process

I researched educational websites or common school websites. On those websites, I analyzed whether or not the schools had interacting elements that can engage the user to pay attention or not. One aspect I initially decided on was the lack of school spirit students have. I tied that with the lack of attention to websites, which it is almost always strictly informing and not creative nor playful. Another thing I tried to be careful about is that schools can be different depending on their purpose or targeted student demographics. Public schools focus on the kids in their area while private schools need to recruit students and actively encourage enrollment. Thus public schools were an easier target audience because it will be easier to cut down information and focus on aspects that I would like to see in a school website.

What I did and why

I decided to focus on the relationship that schools have with photography 

• While blank space could create visual breaks, I realized that school websites generally lack good photographs showcasing student experiences

Furthermore, I created a Campus Snap program that connects photographers and students so that students could have their individual photos taken of them, in their own fashion style

• Although schools do provide graduation photo sessions, they are usually done with formal clothes. It lacks a unique fashion style specific to that student. Also by creating this Campus Snap program, students have the incentive to develop their fashion sense before their senior year