A Review of Webflow

  Webflow is quite the ideal website builder for those who have a bit of knowledge about designing and code. There is a small learning curve, but after spending an hour or two on the site, navigation becomes almost second nature. Webflows allows its user to start with a completely blank canvas or use a few of of the free templates they offer. A positive about Webflow is that while the main focus is to visually edit a site, there is also the option to focus on its code. It also allows the user to host the site on their own server.

  When creating a website in Webflow, the site takes you to what they call "The Designer". This is where the creation and customization of sites begin. Once of the most glorious features of Webflow is that it automatically makes the site responsive (see #1). The icons at the top of the page allow the user to manipulate the site and see what it looks like on a desktop, tablet or mobile device. Another nice feature of Webflow us that similar to dreamweaver, it tells the user what is being selected (see #2). Knowing what is selected is helpful in that it aids in making sure things being changed are supposed to be changed. Whatever is being selected will have a blue highlight around it and a small blue label in the upper left corner. Again, similar to Dreamweaver, Webflow has a small menu on the bottom left corner that also states what is being selected and edited.

  When in "The Designer" the user has two menus on either side of the screen. The one on the left, is to add divs, text, heading etc to the site (see #3). They are grouped into sub menus such as "basic" "typography" "media" and "forums". The on on the right is to edit whatever has been edited. To add something to the site, simply click on "add element" and drag out to the main part of the site.

  Then head over to the right side and customize it (see #4). Change the padding, height, color, type. Most adjustments can be done manually or just by clicking on the arrows featured on the right side menu. Like the left side, the right side menu is sorted into sub categories like "position" "typography" and background.

What The Rising Use of Mobile Users Mean For Web Designers

  Looking at the user stats for our school site, it is apparent that the number of mobile users are increasing. While the majority of users visit on a desktop, the amount of mobile users have continued to increasingly surpass the amount of tablet users. This is probably due to the ease and accessibility to mobile devices. Every time I step out of the house or my car, I make sure I have my phone. Anytime I go to lunch I make sure I have my phone. Right before I go to bed I - yep, check my phone. Last week I went to a restaurant and they even recommended we use our phones to order our food. This is helpful to web designers, as it is now more important to make sure websites are responsive and have mobile friendly navigation.

  An important stat to focus on is how long mobile users stay on the site compared to non-mobile users. The bounce rate for mobile users continues to be the largest, almost 15% from the 2014 stats. In contradiction the amount of time a mobile user spends on the site continues to be the smallest. Compared to desktop users, mobile users stay on the site for almost half the amount of time. This is important for web designers to pay attention to, as mobile users aren't just perusing the site - they are looking for a specific, quick piece of information. This indicted that the mobile, responsive designs of websites must be clean and easy to navigate.

New and Improved

Last week's assignment was to improve and add to our blog. I typically lean towards more minimalist design, but the last layout of my blog was a bit to minimal. I didn't really have any color and my banner didn't reflect my aesthetic. The first change I made was I created a new header. I knew I wanted it to be my own photo, so I had a "mini shoot" when I shot potential photos I could use for a header. I also added some color and enlarged my nav bar.

Other changes I made include adding a background and labeling my posts. Labeling my posts will keep them a bit more organized and easy to find. I was unsure about adding a background, but I think it pairs well with my banner and the feel of my blog. 

The last couple changes I made were adding some code to get my Instagram to show up in my side bar and adding a portfolio link. I had a portfolio link in my nav bar before, but it hadn't been updated for a while. I also updated my bio and photo. 

Photo(s) of the Week

   In correspondence with my senior project of taking a photo a day, I will also be blogging about my favorite photo(s) from that week. This weeks photo is of my friend Ashlynn. Ashlynn is one of those people who can make your heart feel all warm and squishy just when they laugh. She is so bubbly, always up for an adventure, and one of my best friends. She is also my go-to-girl when I want to experiment with my photography. I had wanted to test out my new umbrella lights for months, but I couldn't find a place ideal enough to test them. I knew I wanted to mess around with harsh, almost blown out lighting and high contrast. The shoot kind of turned into a mock American Apparel shoot. 

Gallup Strengths Test

  Last week my entire class took the Gallup StrengthsFinder Test. After we took the test a guest speaker came in to discuss our results.

1 - Intellection

2 - Input

3 - Adaptability

4 - Empathy

5 - Futuristic 

  My first strength is intellection. Gallup states "a mental hum is one of the constants of your life". This is incredibly applicable to me. I am always thinking about something. My mind doesn't stop. I am not the loudest in group conversations, but I am listening. Listening and thinking. Sometimes this can be a downfall, but most of the time I think I see it as a strength. Gallup also states that I see time alone as an opportunity for "musing and reflection". I am quite introspective and my mind is always buzzing about something. 

  My second strength is input. I have always had many interests. Ever since I was little I've gone through "phases". One week I was an expert on the deep sea, the next day I was an expert on Harry Potter. I've always joked that I'm not really good at any one thing, just mediocre at a ton of little things. I tend to collect small bits of useless information, the stuff that is only useful on every other Jeopardy episode or while playing Trivia Crack, but this is kind of the epitome of "Input". Gallup states that collecting a variety of information "acquiring, compelling and filing stuff away...keeps your mind fresh". This would probably explain why I can never seem to delete photos off my phone (what if I need that blurry picture of a smiling dog later?) and why I smiled and nodded sheepishly when the speaker asked if anyone had a never ending music archive.

Adaptability is my third strength. I remember one time my cousin decided to take my sister and I out to eat. We spent a good 30 minutes deciding on what restaurant because the only answer my sister and I could come up with when prompted with "where do you want to eat?" was "I don't care". I'm a pretty go-with-the-flow person. If something is goes awry my thought process is typically 1. *Mildly freaks out* 2. *Realizes that freaking out won't help* 3. *Accepts the issue and convinces self that it is for the better*.  Gallup describes those with adaptability as people who "see [the future] as a place that you create out of the choices that you make right now". 

My fourth strength is empathy. Gallup describes those with empathy as being able to "hear the unvoiced question...anticipate the need". I think that I'm pretty good at picking up the vibe other people are giving off. I can be pretty intuitive and can easily put myself in other people's shoes. I don't always necessarily agree with the other person, but I can see where they're coming from. Seeing situations from other's perspective is a strength that benefits myself and others.

Futuristic is my fifth strength. I think this is strange considering adaptability is also one of my strengths, but it makes sense. Even though I like to take things as they come I'm also always looking to the future. Gallup states "you are a dreamer...the future energizes you". Sometimes it's the little things like getting to wear a new shirt or overnight french toast, but something is always pulling me towards tomorrow.