American University - American Observer Class - WordPress Portfolios

Portfolios, WordPress and Buying InstinctAmerican University School of CommunicationsOctober 18, 2011

What is Design?

Justin Seeley@JustinSeeley - Oklahoma City Design is the expression of an idea, be it print, web, or other. To me it isnt just looking pretty but also functional.

Jayvie Canono@OneFineJay - Severn, MD Design is a methodical and rational approach to solving a problem.

John Cornthwait@jrcornthwait - Roanoke, VA For me as a web designer, its the logical, organized presentation of information.

Good Design...

Good Design...✤ Engages the senses

Good Design...✤ Engages the senses ✤ Visually attractive

Good Design...✤ Engages the senses ✤ Visually attractive ✤ Emotionally connecting

Good Design...✤ Engages the senses ✤ Visually attractive ✤ Emotionally connecting ✤ Naturally intuitive

But Good Design...

But Good Design...✤ Serves a strategic purpose

But Good Design...✤ Serves a strategic purpose✤ Convinces consumers to investigate

But Good Design...✤ Serves a strategic purpose✤ Convinces consumers to investigate✤ Does not convert business

Let’s talk Apple...

Why do people buy Apple?

Why do people buy Apple?✤ Simplicity and elegance of the form factor (touch screen, etc)

Why do people buy Apple?✤ Simplicity and elegance of the form factor (touch screen, etc)✤ Aesthetics of iOS

Why do people buy Apple?✤ Simplicity and elegance of the form factor (touch screen, etc)✤ Aesthetics of iOS✤ Integration with other Apple products (iPad, Mac, Apple TV)

Why do people buy Apple?✤ Simplicity and elegance of the form factor (touch screen, etc)✤ Aesthetics of iOS✤ Integration with other Apple products (iPad, Mac, Apple TV)✤ Consistency of high-quality products

Reasons not to buy Apple

Reasons not to buy Apple✤ Not cheap

Reasons not to buy Apple✤ Not cheap✤ Perception of Cult-like behavior

Reasons not to buy Apple✤ Not cheap✤ Perception of Cult-like behavior✤ Many of their innovations aren’t all that innovative (iOS5 Notiﬁcations, Wireless Sync, iCloud)

Reasons not to buy Apple✤ Not cheap✤ Perception of Cult-like behavior✤ Many of their innovations aren’t all that innovative (iOS5 Notiﬁcations, Wireless Sync, iCloud)✤ Intentionally closed environment, unlike Android

But people keepbuying!“Let’s stand in line on Day 1”

Brand Loyalty Trumps Design

Brand Loyalty Trumps Design✤ People would buy iPhones even if Apple.com sucked. Fortunately, it doesn’t.

Brand Loyalty Trumps Design✤ People would buy iPhones even if Apple.com sucked. Fortunately, it doesn’t.✤ People would buy iPad 2s from popup stores in Austin during SXSW because they need to have an intuitive portable device that has a track record.

Brand Loyalty Trumps Design✤ People would buy iPhones even if Apple.com sucked. Fortunately, it doesn’t.✤ People would buy iPad 2s from popup stores in Austin during SXSW because they need to have an intuitive portable device that has a track record.✤ People would buy Apple products simply because there’s a pattern of consistency that has deﬁned Apple since the original iPod release.

What the hell does this have to dowith WordPress?

Yoda.Question my sanity, you are.

Jedi Mind Tricks

Jedi Mind Tricks✤ Luke was too focused on practical elements of becoming Jedi

Jedi Mind Tricks✤ Luke was too focused on practical elements of becoming Jedi✤ Yoda taught Luke how to channel a deeper Force to become Jedi

Jedi Mind Tricks✤ Luke was too focused on practical elements of becoming Jedi✤ Yoda taught Luke how to channel a deeper Force to become Jedi✤ Formulaic solutions to non-formulaic problems will prevent you from being Jedi

Which brings me to WordPress

Which brings me to WordPress✤ Identify your goal - is it more sales? More awareness? Viral marketing?

Which brings me to WordPress✤ Identify your goal - is it more sales? More awareness? Viral marketing?✤ What is your call to action?

Which brings me to WordPress✤ Identify your goal - is it more sales? More awareness? Viral marketing?✤ What is your call to action?✤ Dozens of theme options, but what is your main idea?

Which brings me to WordPress✤ Identify your goal - is it more sales? More awareness? Viral marketing?✤ What is your call to action?✤ Dozens of theme options, but what is your main idea?✤ You can’t be everything, so don’t try.

Which brings me to WordPress✤ Identify your goal - is it more sales? More awareness? Viral marketing?✤ What is your call to action?✤ Dozens of theme options, but what is your main idea?✤ You can’t be everything, so don’t try.✤ How can you convert repeat customers AND make them your marketing mechanism?

Practical WordPress

Practical WordPress✤ Use Custom Post Types to keep portfolio items, stories, and case studies separate from posts and pages and more easily manageable.

Practical WordPress✤ Use Custom Post Types to keep portfolio items, stories, and case studies separate from posts and pages and more easily manageable.✤ Use post thumbnails for spashy screenshots

Practical WordPress✤ Use Custom Post Types to keep portfolio items, stories, and case studies separate from posts and pages and more easily manageable.✤ Use post thumbnails for spashy screenshots✤ Use your intuition over your brain when deciding on what and how to show your portfolio - design is only one part visual. The rest is empathy.

Thank you!Aaron Brazell - aaron@technosailor.com - @technosailor - WordPress Bible, http://amzn.to/wpbible2

✤ iPhone Photo by Witer on Flickr. Creative Commons. http://www.flickr.com/photos/witer/4908036684/✤ All photos of Twitter users accessed via Twitter API or used with permission.✤ iPhone line photo by Leo Prieto. Creative Commons. http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoprieto/751764781/✤ Yoda photo by Andres Rueda. Creative Commons. http://www.flickr.com/photos/andresrueda/ 3454095552

American University - American Observer Class - WordPress Portfolios

by Aaron Brazell

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