About the Designer

(Jeanne M. Gloor)

Sometimes things happen that are beyond a person's control. At the begining of 1999, I had to make some career changes. Although I have acquired many skills in my work history, I felt that my best move should be toward the technology that is becoming the new communication vehicle for this generation, Digital Media.

The year 2000 started with over 3.6 million Web sites on the Internet, 1.5 billion Web pages. Projected growth is estimated at 2 million pages per day. Initially, most of these Web sites were created by anyone who could program in Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) because there were so few trained Web Designers available. Companies realized the importance of having a presence on the Web and had to resort to designers with only basic skills.

These companies now realize the importance of a "positive" web image and are seeking trained designers who can deliver this image in a site that is attractive, is functional, and meets the purposes of the companies and their site visitors.

• A good Web Designer must keep the sponsor's and the user's needs in mind from the initial planning stages to the final presentation on the Internet.
• The site must have consistency in design and navigational means.
• The site must be designed for ease of information location.
• The design must not be filled with too much clutter and distractions that mask the information.
• Text and the page format should be chosen to make it easier for the user to read.
• Graphics and animations should be appropriate to the content of the text.
• Graphics, animation, video and animations should be compressed as much as possible to decrease the downloading time.
• A Web Designer should possess Visual Design skills and programming language skills that blend with technical writing skills.
• Messages on the Web must be presented in a more visual sense than the traditional information sources. The visual design entices the user to absorb the message the site is meant to deliver.
• Advertising and marketing skills are needed to sell a positive site image to the user.
• The ability to provide interactivity and a dimensional look to the design is needed.
• A Web Designer must be trained to identify what the site sponsor is selling, what audience he is selling to, and how to satisfy both.
• A good Web Designer must combine all of the above with patience and common sense to deliver a well-designed Web site.

Some have the misconception that because of the new, inexpensive software on the market, anyone can make a Web site. This is similar to thinking that because of the new hammers in the hardware department anyone can build a house. A good Website should be constructed by a creative designer who is trained in all the skills and technologies so that the Web site will appear and perform to meet the expectations of both the user and the site sponsor.

With all of this in mind, my choice was to attend Terra Community College to obtain a degree in Web Design and Digital Communications. My desire to receive the extensive training necessary to use our new communication media effectively has become reality.

To Terra Community College and to each professional instructor involved during my educational pursuits, thank you for providing a solid foundation for my new career choice. Because of TCC and the excellent instruction received there, I now excel in the skills and technological abilities needed in the fields of Web Design and Digital Communications.
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