One of the first websites I designed for a garden center.
For the most part, women account for as much as 80% of the decision on the purchase of products and services.
Looking online though, this representation isn’t always taken into account. If you look at the messaging and delivery of the message on numerous websites, they are missing the mark.
But we will save this topic as to the “why” for a different discussion.
Did you know that women web designers bring an elegance, beauty and tone, understanding of emotional connection and perspective to design and technology that is necessary?
Interesting, that according to Zeldman (a web design guru type) who took a survey for “An Event Apart” said this “The under representation of women and minorities in the information technology workforce is like the weather: everybody talks about it, but nobody does anything“.
OK, so now we know. Enough said. How did I get into all of this? Why web design?
A long time ago, or so it seems, I was an Associate Art Director with a large publishing firm in SO. California. Fresh out of college with a BFA in design I landed the ‘dream job’ and went on to design multiple covers and editorial pieces. For 10 years I “learned the ropes” climbed up the ranks, and then went on to work for a variety of agencies in the day when the Mac was the only tool that ‘real designers‘ used.
Once thing led to another, and companies wanted their brand and graphics reflected on their websites. It was a natural to design the look and feel in branding and the print collateral to the next step so that the consistency would be reflected online.
I got on board in 2001 with a certification in multimedia/ web design at the UW and did one of my first websites for a garden type of theme. As shown above. Challenging to code with the limitations on CSS at that time.
Rosepapa - One of my first websites
My first website I created for myself was mainly Flash created in 1999. Shown left.
Everyday now or so it seems, styles are changing online. It’s a frantic race for the newest thing, which is often a regurgitation of something already done.
Web 1.0, Web 2.0, Web 3.0 (is it here yet?)…what’s next?
Keeps it exciting, but let’s not forget who the market is and what we are trying to communicate.
Design with the end goal in mind!
Facebook provides many tools for maximizing the effect of your presence and brand on the social network, most of all by means of business pages, also known as fan pages.
Whether freelancers, small agency founders or website owners, too many of us work alone.
to women and men…we really are different!
