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What Does Career Advancement Look Like in a Web Design Role?

Author: Sean H.

As the digital world expands, almost every business has a website presence, skyrocketing the demand for skilled web designers. The design field is diverse and versatile, providing an exponential trajectory for anyone looking for career progression.

Whether you’re a freelancer or working full-time, web designers often follow a natural progression path guaranteed to create growth and new opportunities based on experience and expertise.

Internship Programs

As an undergraduate or new graduate, you may choose to undergo internship programs with reputable companies. These positions, which could last weeks to months, can help you gain valuable experience on the job and in the working environment. They can also contribute to building lasting connections that could be useful later in your career. In addition, you can create a more extensive portfolio using design materials.

In today’s corporate world, many companies also offer work-from-home internships. Most internship programs are paid, though not as high as a full-time job, but the benefits can greatly outweigh the pay. However, decide early how much work you’re willing to give for free or low pay. 

Fresh Grad Web Designer Roles

Entry-level positions are often part- or full-time paid jobs for new graduates. In your early career, you may be hired as a web designer, assistant web designer or junior designer, depending on the company. 

In an agency, entry-level positions could mean designing collateral for clients or the agency itself. You would be part of a creative team and might work on more minor web design aspects. Either way, you would likely have less creative control over the work, as the briefs and specifications would come from seniors. Your job would entail following the brief for your designs.

You can also find this role as a freelance position, provided you have the resources. However, keep in mind that freelancers usually do not have access to the healthcare and supplemental benefits that they would enjoy with a company — and, as more than three quarters of Americans participate in employer-sponsored healthcare, this benefit is a necessity for many workers. Further, nearly one quarter of companies prioritize internal hires when providing promotions and career advancement opportunities, making an in-house role more beneficial for those looking to climb the corporate ladder.

Mid-Level or Specialized Web Designer Roles

Once you have gained a few years of experience and are building your expertise in web designing, you may qualify for mid-level positions. Your job may include some creative control over tasks. You also may be required to lead and manage projects and guide entry-level designers through creative briefs. Naturally, mid-level positions are higher paying and are a step further on the path to senior positions.

At this point, some designers choose to specialize in various subfields within web design. Examples include user experience design, digital interface design and front-end development. Some branch out to gaming design and development. Designers who specialize solely in their niche of choice usually do not do mainstream web designing. 

Senior or Lead Web Designer Roles

Senior web designers are those with extensive experience and expertise in the role. You will be in charge of converting client input and comments into comprehensive briefs for mid- and entry-level designers to work on. 

You will also work closely with the team throughout the project’s life cycle and make changes to the brief if needed. Your team may comprise web, graphic and other specialized designers.

Chief Creative Officers

Some senior web designers choose to take the management path as directors or chief creative officers (CCOs). This higher management role would put you in charge of the company’s creative direction. You would design, implement and monitor the company’s creative vision and ensure all design staff adhere to the project specs. Many chief officers have the flexibility to work from anywhere. 

You would be the highest touchpoint for the organization’s design department to consult and report to. In some companies, CCOs also attend client meetings to provide input on design matters. 

Enjoy Solid Career Progression as a Web Designer

As a web designer, you have a straightforward career progression path laid in front of you. These positions pay well and provide valuable expertise to their team and clients. At the same time, the job also supports your preferences to deviate from the path and specialize in your chosen niche. 

How to Break Free From Design Ruts: 5 Creative Strategies for Web Designers

Author: Eleanor Hecks

Even the most innovative designers can hit a wall — churning out similar layouts, color schemes or typography until everything starts to feel repetitive. Falling into a design rut is more common than you might think. The good news? There are simple strategies to shake up your creativity and rekindle your unique design spark.

Here are five fresh, actionable strategies to break free from that design rut.

  1. Step Outside of the Screen

Sometimes, getting up and physically stepping away from the screen is all it takes! The problem with designing in one spot — at the same desk, with the same view — is that it locks your brain into the same visual framework. Try moving to a different setting — go for a walk, visit a museum or sit in a cafe for an hour.

Absorb your new surroundings. These small changes can help you reset, offering fresh visuals and perspectives that translate into new, more inventive design ideas. Plus, a little exercise and fresh air can help increase cognitive flexibility, which is key to creative thinking and problem-solving.

  1. Set Boundaries to Break Free

Constraints might sound counterintuitive when trying to break free from a rut, but they can be surprisingly liberating. Limit yourself to only two colors or one font style, or challenge yourself to design without using images for a project. These limitations force you to think differently and push your creativity beyond the “walls” you’ve built and been comfortable in.

You’ll be amazed at how the act of restriction can lead to fresh, uncharted design choices. As the saying goes, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” Sometimes, a small constraint is exactly the push you need to innovate.

  1. Play Some Tunes to Shake up Your Thought Process

Music has a fascinating way of rewiring the mind, especially when you’re stuck in a creative rut. Listening to music is shown to open up new pathways in the brain, broadening your scope of thinking. Music also encourages the brain to explore beyond its usual routine, which is perfect for breaking out of a narrow design thought process.

If you’re stuck on a particular design element or theme, try creating a playlist different from your usual background music. For instance, classical pieces can bring elegance to your work, while upbeat jazz or funky electronic music may just give you that much-needed energy and creativity boost. Switching up your soundtrack can loosen that creative block and inspire your mind to take new directions.

  1. Collaborate or Seek Feedback

It’s easy to get tunnel vision when you’re too close to or familiar with a design. One simple way to overcome this? Bring in someone else’s perspective. You don’t necessarily have to co-design — even just a quick feedback session can work wonders!

Show your work to a fellow designer, a marketer, or a client and get their thoughts. You might be surprised by the insights an “outsider” can bring. Sometimes, a fresh set of eyes is all you need to see possibilities you might have missed. Collaboration opens your mind and allows you to talk through your ideas out loud, which can help you realize what’s missing or what can be improved.

Without other people’s input, you may also just miss out on fantastic ideas that could elevate your design. Developing the habit of seeking and being open to feedback is essential, as it sharpens your skills and makes you a more adaptable and better-rounded designer.

  1. Play With Unfamiliar Tools and Techniques

Using new tools or experimenting with fresh design techniques is like adding a new color to your palette — it’s instantly refreshing and motivating.

Spend time on a platform you’ve never used before, like experimenting with 3D design software or using an artificial intelligence (AI) design assistant to mix things up. This will stretch your technical skills and open the door to new design approaches.

Don’t be afraid to explore these tools and see where they lead. Even if they don’t directly apply to your current project, they could offer inspiration or perspective for something down the line.

Break Out of the Box

A design rut can sometimes feel like an immovable block, but it’s often a sign that your creativity simply needs a jump-start. By trying these strategies, you can break free and find new sources of information in no time!

The next time you feel stuck, think of it as a chance to try something completely different. The best designers don’t avoid or dread creative ruts — they recognize these are simply part of the creative ride and master techniques for breaking out of them.

Privacy by Design: Integrating Secure Data Storage Practices Into the Web Design Life Cycle

Author: Eleanor Hecks

In an era where data breaches and privacy concerns dominate headlines, integrating secure storage and privacy practices into the web design process is necessary. Users are more aware than ever of how companies handle their information and expect greater transparency and control over their personal information. For a small business, this means adopting approaches that embed privacy at the core of website development.

Understanding Privacy by Design

Privacy by design (PbD) is an approach that embeds privacy into the core of web design. Instead of waiting for concerns to surface after a product launch, PbD integrates safety measures from the start.

The idea behind this strategy is simple — protect user information by:

  • Minimizing data collection.
  • Enhancing data security.
  • Providing transparency regarding data use.

When privacy is the foundation of a website, organizations build trust with their users and shield themselves from the potential consequences of breaching data regulations. Privacy by design may be crucial to keeping user information safe, but it also sets a precedent for the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).

Noncompliance with these regulations can lead to severe financial penalties, and researchers found that GDPR violations primarily stem from failure to comply with general data processing principles. These problems have amounted to 2.4 billion euros in fines this year. Organizations that avoid prioritizing privacy risks face significant legal consequences.

Stage 1: Planning and Strategy

Privacy and security must be a top consideration from the beginning. It is crucial to identify what data is truly necessary to collect and prioritize in the planning and strategy phase. Businesses should also align their overall goals with privacy objectives, ensuring user consent is central to the data collection process. This means planning how to securely store and protect information, whether through encryption or other safeguards.

Additionally, compliance with data protection laws should be a key part of the strategy. Establishing a framework for meeting these requirements early on prevents costly legal repercussions down the line. The best way to go about this is to consult with legal experts about embedding privacy measures. They can ensure you meet regulatory obligations before development begins.

Stage 2: Design and Prototyping

It is important to be transparent about data collection in the design and prototyping phase. Your interfaces must clearly define what information you collect, why and how users can control their privacy settings. Prioritizing user consent ensures individuals can make informed decisions about their information.

As more professionals use tools and services like generative artificial intelligence (AI) platforms in the design phase, it becomes increasingly essential to protect user privacy even this early on in a site’s lifecycle. Designers can protect user data by anonymizing data given in things like AI prompts, substituting real names with pseudonyms or generalizing sensitive details to remove personally identifiable information.

Stage 3: Development and Implementation

During this phase, privacy considerations must translate into actionable security measures. This stage focuses on integrating technical practices to safeguard user data throughout the website’s functionality. Secure coding practices are essential here, with adherence to industry standards such as Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) guidelines. These standards prevent common vulnerabilities by embedding security into the code.

Another critical piece is implementing strong authentication mechanisms. For instance, two-factor authentication secures logins and prevents hackers from gaining access to sensitive areas of your site.

Data storage is another key aspect of development. Small businesses should choose between on-premises or cloud-based solutions, considering the security features each offers. Regardless of the options, data encryption is non-negotiable. These protocols help you prevent unauthorized access or leaks.

Stage 4: Testing and Quality Assurance

Testing and quality assurance are key in verifying the privacy and security measures you put into place on a website. At this stage, thorough security testing is essential to discover susceptibilities before launch day. Techniques such as penetration testing and vulnerability scanning can expose weak points in the system where data breaches could occur. Regular code reviews are also important to ensure your coding practices are consistent throughout development.

Stage 5: Launch and Post-Launch Monitoring

A website launch is just the beginning when maintaining privacy and data security. After going live, continuous monitoring is necessary to detect threats. This phase involves using monitoring tools and systems to track potential weaknesses or suspicious activities. They can provide live alerts and incident response protocols to ensure you address potential breaches in time.

Building Trust Through Privacy-First Web Design

Privacy by design ensures user data remains safe. As privacy concerns continue to grow, taking steps to protect personal information will ensure your business remains trustworthy and responsible. The ultimate goal is to create a digital experience where people feel confident in their privacy protection. Making it a core part of your web design process sets you up for a future where privacy and trust are key to lasting customer relationships.

How Do Cultural Differences Impact the Web Design Process?

Author: Eleanor Hecks

Designing websites for audiences of different cultures can be complex, as it requires a deep understanding of how they influence design preferences and user experiences. Yet, web designers can create meaningful digital experiences by adapting their approach. Cultural differences majorly impact web design, and several strategies can help navigate these challenges.

The Influence of Culture on Web Design

When designing for a global audience, designers must remember that cultural differences go beyond language. Every aspect of a website can garner alternate perceptions based on cultural values and norms.

For instance, when it comes to visual aesthetics, Western cultures often lean toward minimalist designs. They prefer clean lines, ample white space and simple color schemes. Conversely, many parts of Asia have visually stimulating websites with bright colors, dense layouts and intricate details.

In North America, users expect streamlined navigation with a focus on speed and functionality. However, in regions where relationship-building is central — like some Middle Eastern cultures — websites may include more social elements. These components typically involve an integration of collaboration and personalized content. Cultural differences impact web design in various ways, and designers must adapt to them to build trust and engagement.

Cultural Considerations in Web Design

To design for a global audience, web designers should have a deep understanding of cultural preferences and practices. This involves a few key considerations, such as language and localization. Beyond merely switching languages, localization means adjusting the design to reflect cultural differences, such as regional symbols, idioms and colors.

Cultural backgrounds also heavily influence reading patterns and website layouts. In Arabic regions, people read from right to left, which differs from Westerners. Therefore, everything from menu placement to scrolling behaviors should align with the website’s intended audience.

Lastly, symbolism and meaning are crucial. From images to icons, each can carry varying connotations across cultures. For instance, a thumbs-up can be positive in one culture but may be offensive in another. While gaining this understanding of symbolic meanings may take time, designers can ensure they use symbols that communicate the right message.

Designing for Clients of Different Cultures

When designing with cultural differences in mind, web designers must adapt their approach to ensure the final product resonates with diverse audiences. Several key strategies are available to help.

1. Research Cultural Norms and Preferences

Before starting any design project, researching the culture is essential for attracting the client’s target audience. This includes studying popular design trends, color symbolism and cultural attitudes toward technology.

In Japan, communication tends to be more contextual and reliant on shared understanding. This can affect how a designer presents content on a website. However, the U.S. and Germany prefer direct communication, where clarity and straightforwardness are key. Web designers should understand these preferences to align the site with users’ visual and emotional expectations.

2. Structure Client Meetings for Participation

Effective communication is critical when working on site designs across cultures, especially when face-to-face meetings are impossible. For example, it can be hard to understand someone on the other line of a phone call when facial expressions and body language are nonexistent.

Therefore, it is important to structure meetings with international clients to encourage participation. Particularly when access to nonverbal feedback like body language is limited, people with marginalized identities or those from more reserved cultures often find it harder to jump into discussions during phone calls. To mitigate this, incorporate nonverbal communication such as chat functions or reactions, or specifically invite others to chime into the conversation. This ensures everyone can share their input and create a more productive meeting with clients.

3. Use Flexible Design Frameworks

Designers should allow for flexibility in their frameworks to meet the needs of different cultures. This means creating layouts, color schemes and features professionals can easily adapt to suit various audiences. A modular design that allows for changes in visual elements makes it easier to cater to specific regions without starting from scratch.

4. Study the Six Dimensions of National Culture

Geert Hofstede’s six dimensions of national culture include cultural insights such as power distance, masculinity versus femininity and uncertainty avoidance. These dimensions appear on world maps and provide a valuable understanding of how cultural values shape behaviors.

In turn, these dimensions help designers comprehend how users interact with websites. For instance, cultures with higher power distance mean hierarchical structures are more common, so formally structured websites are preferable.

5. Use Testing and Feedback

Testing and gathering feedback are surefire ways to understand whether a design is relatable. Conduct usability tests with users from the target culture and solicit input on key design elements. This will uncover cultural blind spots and allow a website to evolve in a way that meets audience expectations.

Adapting to Cultural Differences in Web Design

Cultural awareness and adaptability are key in designing for global audiences. Take the time to understand peoples’ norms and streamline the process using a flexible design framework. Leveraging these strategies will strengthen the workflow and strengthen relationship-building with clients worldwide.

Wireframe vs. Mock-up vs. Prototype: Differences and Use Cases in Design

Author: Eleanor Hecks

Design is an ever-changing field, as trends shift and more people go online. Twenty years ago, very few businesses had a digital presence compared to the millions operating brick-and-mortar stores. Today, most companies of all sizes have websites. Because each brand has a unique focus and customer base, determining the best design methods for each client requires meticulous planning.

You must fully understand a business’s needs before developing a website, app or product. How you set things in motion depends on the end user and company goals.

What Are the Differences Between Design Frameworks?

According to Cognitive Market Research, the global web design market is worth an estimated $56.8 billion and will grow 8.5% annually through 2031. With a growing market comes a lot of competition for design work. The more organized you are with your processes, the happier your clients will be and the more referrals you’ll get.

You may use one or more methods to design a site. Understanding what each does and when to utilize it allows you to move between structures and present a viable product to your clients. It’s also easier to make big changes during the planning stage.

Wireframes

Wireframes are one of the most commonly used formats in design. In its simplest form, the wireframe shows the basic layout plan for the site and features that may be added. They work great for early collaboration to get a vision in place for the finished design.

This stage is about effectively communicating the basic ideas of the site effectively to stakeholders, as getting a client on board with the overall design sets the tone of the entire project.

Mock-ups

A mock-up shows the aesthetics of the design and gives the client some things to consider. These are often utilized to show options for the finished product. They are usually based on the wireframe and contain the basic look agreed upon but include a lot more detail, graphics and colors to begin bringing the design to life.

Here, a designer’s job is to do more than just present a visual — the designer essentially becomes a verbal and visual storyteller that narrates to the client how each element will look and function together to meet user needs. As 60% of an innovation leader’s role lies in effective storytelling, and first impressions are 94% design-related, this phase could arguably be the most important when getting clients on board with a final design.

Prototypes

A prototype is usually the final stage before approval. It gives you a chance to test that everything works as intended. Some people call this a staging phase. The client can interact with the interface and see how it functions.

This phase mainly involves guiding clients through different scenarios and use cases, demonstrating the site’s value and effectiveness at meeting consumer needs. It gives the designer’s clients a final chance to ensure they feel confident with their investment before moving forward.

Examples of How to Use Each Type of Model

Most designers will use all three at various stages of the design process. To better understand how each functions, consider a mock design job and see how the designer moves through the different phases of the project.

Phase 1: Concept

The designer meets with a new client and collects ideas to determine what they want for their website design. The customer signs a contract and the designer gets to work. After a bit of research into the industry and what competitors offer, they use a wireframe to lay out what the website will look like.

The client receives a rendering that shows the different pages that will be on the site, as well as the navigation structure and content. Any special features of the design plans for the site are also laid out in the image. Some back and forth tends to happen at this stage.

Phase 2: Aesthetics and Tweaking

Once the client approves the basic concept, the designer gets to work coming up with a design that matches the brand’s personality. They use the wireframe to lay out a background, hero image, icons and headings.

The website is starting to look more like a site, but the elements of the design are not yet clickable or interactive. The client still receives a two-dimensional image for their consideration. At this juncture, they may have a few style changes.

Phase 3: Testing and Final Approval

The final phase of the design process usually moves the concept into a prototype. Webpages are created in a staging area that the designer, client and key players can access.

The designer clicks through each link or button to ensure the site functions as intended. They may also run tests at this time to see how long the pages take to load and what the overall impression from the target audience is. Work is ongoing after approval because the designer must ensure the client is happy with how the site functions.

Use Each Tool at the Right Time

The key to successfully using wireframes, mock-ups and prototypes as a designer is tapping into them at the appropriate time. A strong wireframe can help you sell the website or app concept to a lead, but the prototype shows just what you’re capable of designing and why it will help your customer’s business.

How Effective Emotional Design Can Transform Online Engagement

Author: Eleanor Hecks

Countless websites and apps provide digital experiences that promote site visitors, but do they encourage them to stay? It only takes a few seconds for a site user to make up their mind about an online product. Utilizing this time wisely to create a positive first impression is key to maintaining their satisfaction.

One way brands are fostering that connection is through emotional design. This design principle creates experiences that captivate and build lasting loyalty, and understanding it is the key to building long-standing relationships with customers.

What Is Emotional Design?

Emotional design is a philosophy that centers around creating experiences that evoke specific feelings in users. It is based on the psychological triggers that influence how people feel when interacting with a product.

Designers can use this method to create experiences that make interactions usable and emotionally satisfying. While design focuses on aesthetics, it also considers the emotional journey that accompanies each interaction.

In emotional design, designers use it to engage users on three cognitive levels, including visceral, behavioral and reflective. When a product interacts with users on all three levels, it can create positive experiences for people who use it.

How Effective Emotional Design Attracts Online Engagement

Emotional design drives online engagement because it taps into the center of human experience — their emotions. When users have positive feelings while interacting with a website, they are likelier to stick around and return more frequently. Research shows the impact that emotional design has on user engagement.

A study found the difference in interactions between two of the same ATMs, except one had a more attractive interface. The results showed that the ATM with a more visually pleasing interface led to higher engagement levels and greater user satisfaction. This was because the design generated positive emotions among users, making it seem like the machine was easier to use.

Several platforms have implemented emotional design to enhance engagement. Take Headspace, for example. This meditation app expertly uses this principle to create a calming atmosphere for its users, from soothing colors to gentle animations. Its design aligns with its goal of promoting mindfulness while encouraging repeat engagement.

The same interactions can occur for nonprofits looking to encourage website engagement and donations. Volunteers are already twice as likely to donate to charity when they feel emotionally connected to a cause. If you incorporate emotionally resonant design elements — such as heartwarming stories and imagery — you are even likelier to encourage continued volunteer involvement and financial support.

Implementing Emotional Design

Since emotional design is integral to an app or website, several key points are essential to consider.

1. Know Your Users’ Desires

Understanding your users on a deeper level is crucial. When you know your users’ wants, needs and values, you can gain insight into what may trigger their response.

For example, suppose you have a website that sells home security systems. Users may desire to feel safe and protected 24/7. Knowing this, you can craft a strategy for the site’s design that assures visitors that the products work to meet their needs.

2. Implement Website Elements That Elicit Strong Emotion

When users visit a platform, they should be able to understand the message your brand is trying to send. Stories can resonate with visitors emotionally, so your website should incorporate details that work together to cause a specific response.

For example, images and colors are excellent ways to tell the user a story. Colors create the mood for a platform, while visuals craft a narrative that draws users in. Incorporating these elements is essential to eliciting users’ responses, helping them feel more connected to your brand on a personal level.

3. Give Users the Feeling of Ownership

People often develop a strong emotional attachment to items or experiences they feel they have some ownership over, even if it is symbolic. This psychological phenomenon is known as the endowment effect, which suggests that individuals value an item more highly when they own it.

Websites and apps can achieve this effect by personalizing their platforms. For example, they may offer features where users can explore a product through interactive videos. When you make site visitors feel like they are engaging with a product in person, they are more likely to become attached to it.

The Power of Emotional Design

Emotional design is more than an aesthetic choice — it is a way for brands to connect deeply with their audience to foster more meaningful interactions. When you understand the psychological meaning and effectiveness behind emotional design, you can create experiences that elicit strong emotions. As a result, your brand is more likely to encourage them to stay loyal and develop lasting relationships for success.

Optimized UX in Backend Software: 4 Principles of Intuitive Design for Internal Tools

Author: Eleanor Hecks

Many small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) have internal tools like administrator panels, dashboards, approval queues and data entry platforms. However, just because these technologies are common does not mean they typically look good or are easy to use. How can decision-makers apply the principles of intuitive backend design to their user experience (UX)?

The Importance of a Well-Designed Backend

Many business leaders deprioritize the look and feel of internal tools because they believe the consumer-facing user interface (UI) is the only one that matters. While the assumption that software for employees is somehow less important may seem harmless, it can significantly impact productivity and morale.

Software developers can hardly concentrate when they bounce between pages, documents and platforms for one project. Research shows that resuming an interrupted task takes roughly 25 minutes on average, affecting productivity. As a result, businesses take longer to release updates and complete requests.

Clutter complicates things. Even seemingly straightforward tasks can be tedious if employees lack well-designed backend software. In addition to being time-consuming, it makes them error-prone. For example, they may cause version control issues when changing their copy of a file without updating the original.

While there’s never a perfect time to revisit backend software design for employees, many SMBs are already planning to make changes to their technologies. One study found that the organizations they surveyed were far more likely to adopt new technologies or migrate their existing systems to the cloud in 2023 than in the past. As more businesses continue to follow this trend and update their software or move to cloud-based technologies, the upcoming changes create a great opportunity for optimizing internal tools’ UX in the process.

Principles of Intuitive Design for Internal Tools

Standardization is one of the leading design principles for backend software. Layouts, colors, patterns, placements and shapes should be similar across employee-facing platforms to minimize the amount of onboarding and upkeep needed. Any new hire should be able to train on the fundamentals of one tool and readily apply it to others.

Another one of the most essential principles involves context awareness. Unlike consumers, employees will use internal tools for hours at a time — the average person spends over 6.5 hours on their screen daily. Relevant design decisions like adding dark mode or incorporating keyboard-friendly navigation are key.

Employees — especially those who work remotely with their setups — may access internal tools in unconventional ways. You must be prepared, whether they have a dual monitor setup or use a laptop. Consider how aspect ratio and display size affect text scaling, scrolling and button size.

Maintenance is another principle of intuitive backend design. Around 57% of developers state their company has at least one full-time employee dedicated to maintaining internal applications, meaning 43% do not. What happens when they quit? Do development operations fall into disrepair? Assign someone — or two people since redundancy is a lifesaver — to this role.

5 Tips for Making Internal Tools More Intuitive

Follow these tips to ensure you create a unified, optimized backend UX for employees:

  1. Don’t Design for the Sake of It

Overdesign has been the cause of death for many a good UI. You don’t need over-the-top animations or transitions for an intuitive, appealing UX. Your strategic use of colors, layouts and design elements is enough to make the tool attractive and enjoyable to use. Prioritize functionality above all else and allow aesthetics to come naturally to you as you progress.

  1. Track Backend-Specific Metrics

Setting and tracking a baseline enables you to address pain points as they emerge and optimize for usability. Track backend-specific metrics like productivity, mouse movement and click volume. Your goal should be to minimize the work developers must do before they can complete a task.

  1. Try to Accommodate Edge Cases

Your team will occasionally encounter unexpected situations. For example, what happens when they need to approve a request, but the person with authorization is out of office? That scenario is basic, but it gets the point across. Accounting for and accommodating edge cases during the initial design phase prevents operational hiccups later.

  1. Source Feedback From Users

When it comes to ease of use, feedback is everything. Real-world usability testing should be a core component of UX optimization because a live environment differs significantly from staging. Ask your team what they like and dislike about their internal tools’ UI, getting specifics on what they would change.

  1. Let Developers Request Features

As employees get used to the new UX, they will want additional features, options and shortcuts. Create a framework that lets them request these things, and incorporate the most popular. Minor personalization can be beneficial if you have multiple teams with their own codebases, technology stacks and release schedules.

The Bottom Line of Optimizing Backend UX

These design principles and tips can help you optimize your UX, ensuring backend employees can use internal tools effectively. Remember, big changes like these take time — do not feel concerned if your metrics seem to slide back initially. Eventually, if you make the right decisions, you should see gains.

How to Shift from Etsy to a Standalone Site as an Emerging eCommerce Entrepreneur

Author: Eleanor Hecks

You started an online store on Etsy and spent time growing an audience and a list of repeat customers. Now, you should probably shift your frequent clients to an independent platform, where you maintain control.

However, moving from Etsy to a standalone site requires some work and an understanding of the differences. Your audience may also have some preferences about where they shop. Here are the things to keep in mind as you make the transition.

1. Set Goals

Consider the specific goals you want to achieve by opening a separate site. Some reasons include:

  • Expanding to customers outside a single platform
  • Maintaining complete control over your business
  • Preparing for any potential changes by Etsy that might negatively impact your business
  • Gaining more customization options

Setting up a dedicated site costs money. By setting specific goals that you keep in mind, you can keep the new website within your budget while ensuring your site meets your unique needs.

2. Prepare for Growth

As your business grows, you may have times when traffic spikes — for example, research indicates that around 66% of people will increase their online shopping during the holidays. Pay attention to when your busiest seasons are and when you sell the most. Make sure your new website can handle the increased bandwidth during those times.

  • Ask about bandwidth rules and charges for going over
  • Consider what new products might pay your website costs and bring more sales
  • Know your audience and where to teach them

Ideally, you’ll launch new marketing campaigns alongside your new standalone site.

3. Secure Domain Name

Whether you use a dedicated server or put your store on a platform such as Squarespace, Wix or Shopify, you’ll need a domain name to send customers to. For e-commerce sites in the U.S., a .com domain is your best bet. People recognize it as a commercial site and are comfortable with the extension.

  • Find a reasonable domain name registrar. You can use GoDaddy or WordPress Domains, for example. Be sure they are reputable, as you don’t want to lose your domain.
  • Search for a name yet to be used to brand your store.
  • Find one that is easy to spell and remember. The harder you make the name, the more likely someone will mess up typing it and never make it to your storefront.

Most registrars ask where to point the name. For now, secure the domain. You can worry about fixing nameservers later. The website hosting provider will likely have instructions on how to make the changes easily when you’re ready.

4. Choose the Right Platform

E-commerce generates around $5.7 trillion per year and is growing. Where you place your standalone website may be as important as its name. You want a reliable hosting provider with high uptime statistics.

If designing the site yourself, you need something easy to use or that your web designer understands. While not an exhaustive list, some options include:

  • Shopify
  • Wix
  • Squarespace
  • WordPress hosting through any web host provider
  • Zyro

For the most control, go with a shared hosting plan. You can upgrade to a dedicated hosting plan as you grow. For a drag-and-drop solution, choose a platform geared toward online sellers.

5. Migrate Your Store

Once you set up your site, start migrating products to your new store. The fastest way to migrate information is to download your store’s data and upload it to the new platform. Each will have a different process. To download a CSV file from Etsy:

  • Log in to your store account and go to “Store Manager.”
  • Navigate to Settings > Options > Download Data.
  • Indicate you want a CSV file.

The file will contain information on your active listings, which you can upload to your new platform. Double-check all information to ensure everything copied correctly.

Should You Leave Your Etsy Store Up?

Since Etsy charges per listing, whether your item sells or not, you may wonder if you should keep your Etsy store even after creating a new website. It depends. Look at where your traffic comes from. If most of the purchases are from your private marketing and mailing list, you could delete your listings. However, if the majority of your traffic comes from Etsy searches, you will want to leave your store active until your website sales surpass your Etsy sales.

You can also list items in multiple places, including Etsy, eBay and Mercari, as well as on your website. As long as you make sales and profit, you’ll benefit from each platform’s marketing.

How Designers Can Craft Accessible Web Experiences for an Audience of Older Adults

Author: Eleanor Hecks

Crafting websites tailored to the needs of older adults requires some knowledge of the audience’s potential conditions and preferences. Brands catering to seniors or wanting to add more of them to the customer base can attract new customers by tweaking their designs.

If you sell products aimed at older adults, such as hearing aids or scooters, checking your site’s accessibility is a must. Banks, grocery stores and medical offices must cater to several generations. Ensuring everyone has an excellent user experience (UX) is crucial to success.

Potential Accessibility Issues for Seniors

According to the latest Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, older people are more likely to have a disability–around 46% of those over 75 report at least one condition. The most common issues include mobility and cognition. However, conditions can also include vision and hearing impairments.

As people age, they may deal with arthritis and vision issues, leading to struggles, particularly when using a small screen device. Tapping a tiny link or button may be impossible for someone with low manual dexterity.

Ways to Improve a Website Experience for Older Adults

Many of the principles designers use for excellent UX apply to creating a positive design for older adults. Adding a checklist of items to consider goes a long way toward keeping your site friendly to multiple age groups.

1. Increase Sizes

Since some seniors struggle with dexterity, arthritis and pain, making call to action (CTA) buttons larger can improve their interaction with your page.

Statista estimates that there are 311.36 million U.S. mobile internet users in 2024, with a projected increase to 333.18 by 2029. Some older adults only access websites via their smartphones. Imagine being in their shoes, trying to tap on a tiny little link when they struggle to use their hands already.

Going slightly larger positively impacts anyone with dexterity issues who wishes to access your site from a mobile device. Larger sizes also help those with visual struggles.

2. Improve Contrast

Older adults may find their vision isn’t as crisp as it once was. Some suffer from macular degeneration or cataracts. As people age, they often need readers for close-up text, too. Some won’t bother with the glasses and will struggle as text runs together.

One thing that helps older adults is using high contrast in your design. If your background is white, the text should be black or navy blue. Use big fonts that are clear and easy to decipher. Avoid scripts and decorative fonts whenever possible.

3. Tweak the Navigation

Simplify the navigation on your site. While Generation Z has grown up around technology and doesn’t remember a time without digital information, baby boomers grew up without computers. Many are quite tech-savvy, but they could struggle if you start moving navigation around or making elements challenging to find.

Excellent navigation benefits all your users, so spending time adding some breadcrumbs and making popular pages easy to find is worthwhile. Make your logo clickable so the user can easily return to the home page.

4. Perfect Visuals

Take the time to fix any issues with visuals. Even photos should have some contrast so they are easy to read. Add alt tags for those using screen readers.

As nearly two-thirds of readers still opt for physical written copies of content such as books when available versus digital content, some seniors may prefer to print pages to read or save for later. Ensure you have crisp displays that translate well to print, as well as an option to print content easily available.

If you have a text overlay on an image, follow best practices and use a serif or sans serif font, make it big and ensure it contrasts with the background.

5. Make Settings Adjustable

Make your design customizable to meet the needs of users from different generations. Code the option for them to change the text color, font size or lighting. You may need to add a video that shows how they can adjust things to suit their needs.

If you’re uncertain how to create personalized options, grab a code from a web design tool and insert it in your files.

6. Implement Error Correction

Look at your error correction models. Make forms as simple as possible to clarify which step to take next.

Your error messages should offer feedback to correct user mistakes. Imagine you want only their first name and email, but they fail to provide an extension on the email, rendering the information useless.

Offer a reminder that an email looks like name@provider.com and show them how to correct the mistake. You will have to spend a little more time coding your forms, but the result will be a senior-friendly form that is more enjoyable for those with less experience filling in digital forms.

Test With Your Users

Including all ages in your designs requires planning and persistence. Take the time to test out any design changes with your users. Gather a team of customers who will give honest feedback about what they like and what needs improvement. Over time, your design will become more accessible to older adults, and you’ll gain higher conversion rates and happier clients.

WordPress vs. Drupal: Which Is the Best Fit for Your Web Project?

Author: Eleanor Hecks

Choosing the right content management system (CMS) is crucial for your website project. It impacts your site’s functionality, design and usability. To understand whether WordPress or Drupal is suitable for your site project, you must know their differences. Once you know how each CMS functions under various conditions, you can decide which one fits your needs best.

1. Scalability

When choosing between WordPress and Drupal, knowing their scalability is essential for ensuring your website can grow alongside your business needs.

WordPress

WordPress is well-known for its scalability. It powers small blogs and large enterprises alike. With so many plugins and themes, WordPress can easily handle increased traffic and content.

However, achieving optimal performance at scale often requires additional resources and optimizations. These would include tasks such as caching plugins, a good hosting service and a content delivery network.

Drupal

Drupal was already built with scalability in mind. It is highly flexible and can support large websites with traffic surges and extensive databases. Additionally, it offers advanced caching features and handles large-scale projects more efficiently than WordPress.

Winner: Drupal

Both CMSs can scale to meet the demands of growing websites. However, Drupal wins in handling large, complex projects. If you need enterprise-level scalability, it is often the better choice. Yet, with its ample plugin support, WordPress makes a strong contender for smaller sites.

2. Security

With cybercrime affecting approximately 32% of businesses annually and costing up to $6 trillion worldwide, security is a critical factor in choosing a CMS.

WordPress

WordPress is a frequent target for cyberattacks because 64.3% of websites worldwide use it as a CMS. However, security can be easy to handle by making regular updates and installing security plugins. Since it has a large community, you can also ensure quick identification and patching of vulnerabilities. Nonetheless, users must stay on top of best security practices to maintain a safe site.

Drupal

Drupal has a security team, making it more tightly controlled with potential threats. The CMS also has built-in security measures and rigorous coding standards government and corporate websites prefer.

Winner: Drupal

WordPress and Drupal offer strong security capabilities, but Drupal’s protocols and dedicated team give it an edge. However, any CMS can have security flaws, so proper management is essential to fixing vulnerabilities.

3. Ease of Use

One reason you may choose a CMS over the other is your technical expertise. Knowing how each affects the efficiency and flexibility of your development process helps you decide which CMS is better for your project needs.

WordPress

Many developers choose WordPress for its ease of setup and use. Its extensive documentation, large community, and various plugins and themes make development straightforward. Developers can get started quickly and customize websites with minimal coding. However, advanced customizations require in-depth knowledge of PHP, CSS and HTML.

Drupal

Drupal is more complex and has a steeper learning curve than WordPress. While it offers more flexibility and control, it can overwhelm beginners. Drupal’s modular approach allows developers to build highly customizable solutions, but it provides a deeper understanding of its architecture and coding practices.

Winner: WordPress

WordPress is the clear winner for ease of use and quicker setups. On the other hand, Drupal is more suitable if you are comfortable with greater complexity and need more control over your projects.

4. Website Integrations

A CMS should be able to connect with various tools and services to enhance functionality seamlessly.

WordPress

WordPress has over 59,000 plugins and numerous themes, allowing for integration with multiple third-party tools and services. From e-commerce to marketing automation, WordPress offers plugins for practically anything you need. Its REST API also enables further custom integrations, making it highly adaptable.

Drupal

Drupal also supports many integrations with third-party sites and tools. Its APIs allow connections to various systems, including CRM, ERP and marketing automation platforms. With its openness and level of customization, it makes a strong choice for intricate projects.

Winner: WordPress

WordPress and Drupal have strong integrations, but WordPress is more user-friendly. Therefore, WordPress is ideal if you desire easier implementation.

Making a Choice for Your Website Project

Choosing between WordPress and Drupal depends on your needs. Many developers use WordPress because of its ease of use and overall functionalities. However, if you need a CMS with more advanced customization and traffic scalability, consider using Drupal for your project.