Web Design for Small Businesses: Enhancing User Experience
Hristov, Ivan (2024)
Hristov, Ivan
2024
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024111428221
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024111428221
Tiivistelmä
This thesis presents my portfolio, illustrating the role of effective web design in enhancing the online presence, usability, and customer engagement of small businesses. Through case studies of three websites I created Porvoo Thaiboxing Club, Fix-U Massage Clinic, and Grey Bull Tattoo Studio. I demonstrate how strategic web design can make a business more visible, user friendly, and engaging. Each website incorporates key design principles that address the specific needs and goals of each business.
Gestalt Principles are applied to create visual harmony and organize content in ways that are naturally easy for users to process, making information more accessible and engaging.
User-Centered Design (UCD) plays a significant role by focusing on crafting websites that prioritize the needs and preferences of users, allowing for straightforward navigation and intuitive interactions.
Fitts' Law enhances usability by guiding the placement of interactive elements, such as buttons, in accessible areas, making interactions smoother and more convenient for users. Meanwhile, Color Theory is used to select colors that align with the brand's identity and evoke the desired
emotions, which helps to build trust and encourage engagement with the site.
The design process began after each business ordered its website, with work starting in late August 2023 and publishing dates ranging from early October to December 2023. Throughout this process, I was given the freedom to make creative decisions for each site, except for Grey Bull Tattoo, where the owner provided specific guidelines to closely align the design with their brand vision.
Using feedback from interviews with business owners and user surveys, this thesis evaluates the impact of these design choices on user satisfaction and business success, revealing that user-centered practices significantly enhance engagement, satisfaction, and ease of navigation.
Reflecting on my work, this portfolio allowed me to grow as both a designer and a small business owner. By connecting specific design practices to measurable business outcomes, this thesis underscores how small businesses can leverage web design to stay competitive and drive growth in today’s digital landscape.
Gestalt Principles are applied to create visual harmony and organize content in ways that are naturally easy for users to process, making information more accessible and engaging.
User-Centered Design (UCD) plays a significant role by focusing on crafting websites that prioritize the needs and preferences of users, allowing for straightforward navigation and intuitive interactions.
Fitts' Law enhances usability by guiding the placement of interactive elements, such as buttons, in accessible areas, making interactions smoother and more convenient for users. Meanwhile, Color Theory is used to select colors that align with the brand's identity and evoke the desired
emotions, which helps to build trust and encourage engagement with the site.
The design process began after each business ordered its website, with work starting in late August 2023 and publishing dates ranging from early October to December 2023. Throughout this process, I was given the freedom to make creative decisions for each site, except for Grey Bull Tattoo, where the owner provided specific guidelines to closely align the design with their brand vision.
Using feedback from interviews with business owners and user surveys, this thesis evaluates the impact of these design choices on user satisfaction and business success, revealing that user-centered practices significantly enhance engagement, satisfaction, and ease of navigation.
Reflecting on my work, this portfolio allowed me to grow as both a designer and a small business owner. By connecting specific design practices to measurable business outcomes, this thesis underscores how small businesses can leverage web design to stay competitive and drive growth in today’s digital landscape.