Task Overview

I recently completed a design challenge for my portfolio. The project involved redesigning and developing a Developer's Blog Page for Ryalto. My goal was to create a user-friendly interface where team members could share knowledge and insights on new technologies or frameworks. I focused on aligning the design with Ryalto's brand values while enhancing user engagement. The process included creating mockups in Figma, followed by development using static HTML and CSS to ensure clean, semantic code and maintainable styling. My submission included the design, the static webpage, and a detailed explanation of my design decisions. I emphasized the rationale behind the layout, color scheme, typography, and features specifically chosen to improve the user experience and content discoverability and also the kind response from the team.

Understanding the challenge

The main challenge was to design a page that was not only full of useful developer information but also kept users interested. I needed to find the right balance between looking good and being useful. It was important to know who the users would be and what would make the page useful and interesting to them. I also had to organize a lot of information in a way that was easy for users to navigate, also included organizing a vast amount of content in a way that is easily navigable and appealing to the target audience.

Research and Analysis

To tackle this, I started by studying the target audience, which included developers, tech enthusiasts, and potential new hires. I looked at what similar websites were doing through surveys, and other similar web pages to understand what users liked and didn't like. I also checked out our competitors to learn from their designs.

About the Design Principles

I used basic but important design principles like focusing on the user, making sure everything was clear and consistent, intuitive navigation and organizing information well. I wanted to make sure users could find what they were looking for easily and that the site was engaging, using good design elements like color and typography to match Ryalto’s style.

Specific Design Choices

Made specific choices like creating a navigation bar with sections such as "About" and "Dev Essentials" to help users find information quickly. I also added a blog section and career opportunities to give a full picture of what it's like to be a developer at Ryalto. I chose elements that would make the page more interactive and engaging. Below is an annoted design file for better understanding:

Feedback and Iterations

Well, frankly, I grappled with my logical and design instincts. I made several adjustments to the navigation and layout, enhancing interactive elements to boost the site's user-friendliness. No Ryalto staff were involved, as it was an assessment, of course 😁

Outcome and Reflection

The redesigned platform effectively showcases Ryalto developers' projects, enabling them to share their learning in both coding and design. This endeavor highlighted the importance of a user-centric design philosophy, providing a dynamic space for developers to demonstrate their expertise. It underlines the crucial balance between meeting user expectations and adhering to Ryalto's strategic vision, thereby fostering an environment of shared knowledge and innovation.

And, last bit..

Made it to the top 10% in the Ryalto’s Junior Front End Engineer Technical Challenge! 🌟 Didn't snag the job, but hey, being in the elite league has its own perks. On to the next design adventure with more pixels and lines to conquer!