Rhys' design journal.

My personal digital journal, where I share some tips and tricks to help you level up your business website, as well as a curation of design theories and topics that I have learnt about over the years. Check back regularly for new content as I continue to refine and migrate posts from my old blog.

An AI illustration of sustainable web design featuring a city, cloud based-server, and nature.
By Rhys Dyson December 26, 2024
Discover sustainable web design techniques, from file optimisation to reducing data storage, that minimise digital waste and environmental impact.
An illustration of web servers and cloud technology
By Rhys Dyson December 18, 2024
Discover how transition design aims to create sustainable solutions for a world in flux, moving beyond human-centred approaches toward earth-centred, long-term perspectives.
A man wearing glasses using a desktop computer.
By Rhys Dyson December 11, 2024
Explore human-centred design and its focus on creating products with users in mind, from aesthetics to functionality, enhancing usability and engagement.
By Rhys Dyson November 30, 2024
Discover how mechanisation reshaped design from handcrafted goods to mass production, exploring its influence on modern design processes, tools, and user experience.
An illustration of somebody trying to reach an app icon on their smartphone
By Rhys Dyson November 24, 2024
In design, ergonomics is about making products and digital spaces that are user-friendly, comfortable, and accessible. Rooted in understanding how people interact with their environments, ergonomics addresses everything from button placement on a website to the shape and positioning of physical objects. Its goal is to prevent discomfort and fatigue, promoting efficiency and enhancing user satisfaction. Let’s explore how ergonomics shapes both physical and digital design spaces. The Core Principles of Ergonomics Ergonomics in design is grounded in several principles focused on user experience. These include user comfort, functionality, accessibility, and efficiency. By integrating these principles, designers can create websites and interfaces that are easy to navigate and comfortable for users, regardless of age, ability, or device. Ergonomics ensures designs align with how humans naturally operate, reducing physical and mental strain. Ergonomics in Digital Design Applying ergonomics to digital design involves examining users' interactions with interfaces, such as where they click, scroll, and type. For instance, placing important navigation elements within thumb’s reach is essential on mobile devices to enhance user experience. Ergonomics can even influence the colour and contrast in a design to improve readability, benefiting users with different visual abilities. Prioritising ergonomics in web design means delivering intuitive, enjoyable experiences that naturally fit users' needs and abilities. Creating Accessible Web Designs Accessibility is integral to ergonomic design. Accessible design considers a wide range of users by ensuring that interfaces are usable for people with disabilities. Features like keyboard-friendly navigation, screen-reader compatibility, and captioned videos all enhance accessibility. These adjustments don’t just follow best practices; they also expand the website’s reach and inclusivity, allowing more users to engage comfortably with content. Reducing Cognitive Load Minimising cognitive load – the mental effort required to process information – is essential for ergonomic design. Designers can achieve this by keeping interfaces simple, focusing on intuitive navigation and clear calls to action. Clean layouts and well-organised content help users easily find the information they need, leading to a smoother, more satisfying browsing experience. The Role of Feedback in Ergonomic Design Feedback plays a vital role in ergonomic design, especially in digital interfaces. Visual cues, like button animations or colour changes, provide users with immediate responses to their actions, making navigation clearer and reducing user confusion. Feedback supports a seamless user experience, signalling that their actions are being recognised and processed as intended. 
An illustration of an accept and decline button in a desktop interface
By Rhys Dyson November 19, 2024
Uncover the role of semiotics in design and learn how symbols, signs, and cultural meanings enhance visual communication and user experience.
An illustration of a calculator app on a smart phone replacing tangible calculators
By Rhys Dyson November 11, 2024
Discover how perspectives shape the design process, from cultural influences to scientific and abstract approaches. Learn why embracing diverse viewpoints leads to richer, more user-centred design solutions.
An illustration of a website interface
By Rhys Dyson November 6, 2024
Explore epistemology in design and learn how understanding knowledge impacts creative solutions, user experience, and design strategy.
An illustration of augmented reality through a mobile phone
By Rhys Dyson November 2, 2024
What is Ontology? Ontology, often referred to as the "study of being," explores the essence of existence, our interaction with reality, and our ways of being. In design, ontology considers the impact of artefacts on our lives, shaping our routines, environment, and understanding of the world.
An AI illustration of sustainable web design featuring a city, cloud based-server, and nature.
By Rhys Dyson December 26, 2024
Discover sustainable web design techniques, from file optimisation to reducing data storage, that minimise digital waste and environmental impact.
An illustration of web servers and cloud technology
By Rhys Dyson December 18, 2024
Discover how transition design aims to create sustainable solutions for a world in flux, moving beyond human-centred approaches toward earth-centred, long-term perspectives.
A man wearing glasses using a desktop computer.
By Rhys Dyson December 11, 2024
Explore human-centred design and its focus on creating products with users in mind, from aesthetics to functionality, enhancing usability and engagement.
By Rhys Dyson November 30, 2024
Discover how mechanisation reshaped design from handcrafted goods to mass production, exploring its influence on modern design processes, tools, and user experience.
An illustration of somebody trying to reach an app icon on their smartphone
By Rhys Dyson November 24, 2024
In design, ergonomics is about making products and digital spaces that are user-friendly, comfortable, and accessible. Rooted in understanding how people interact with their environments, ergonomics addresses everything from button placement on a website to the shape and positioning of physical objects. Its goal is to prevent discomfort and fatigue, promoting efficiency and enhancing user satisfaction. Let’s explore how ergonomics shapes both physical and digital design spaces. The Core Principles of Ergonomics Ergonomics in design is grounded in several principles focused on user experience. These include user comfort, functionality, accessibility, and efficiency. By integrating these principles, designers can create websites and interfaces that are easy to navigate and comfortable for users, regardless of age, ability, or device. Ergonomics ensures designs align with how humans naturally operate, reducing physical and mental strain. Ergonomics in Digital Design Applying ergonomics to digital design involves examining users' interactions with interfaces, such as where they click, scroll, and type. For instance, placing important navigation elements within thumb’s reach is essential on mobile devices to enhance user experience. Ergonomics can even influence the colour and contrast in a design to improve readability, benefiting users with different visual abilities. Prioritising ergonomics in web design means delivering intuitive, enjoyable experiences that naturally fit users' needs and abilities. Creating Accessible Web Designs Accessibility is integral to ergonomic design. Accessible design considers a wide range of users by ensuring that interfaces are usable for people with disabilities. Features like keyboard-friendly navigation, screen-reader compatibility, and captioned videos all enhance accessibility. These adjustments don’t just follow best practices; they also expand the website’s reach and inclusivity, allowing more users to engage comfortably with content. Reducing Cognitive Load Minimising cognitive load – the mental effort required to process information – is essential for ergonomic design. Designers can achieve this by keeping interfaces simple, focusing on intuitive navigation and clear calls to action. Clean layouts and well-organised content help users easily find the information they need, leading to a smoother, more satisfying browsing experience. The Role of Feedback in Ergonomic Design Feedback plays a vital role in ergonomic design, especially in digital interfaces. Visual cues, like button animations or colour changes, provide users with immediate responses to their actions, making navigation clearer and reducing user confusion. Feedback supports a seamless user experience, signalling that their actions are being recognised and processed as intended. 
An illustration of an accept and decline button in a desktop interface
By Rhys Dyson November 19, 2024
Uncover the role of semiotics in design and learn how symbols, signs, and cultural meanings enhance visual communication and user experience.
See more entries

Design theories and philosophies.

A collection of design theories and principles from my studies in interactive and visual design at QUT.

By Rhys Dyson December 1, 2024
Learn how Gestalt principles can elevate your web design by creating a unified, user-friendly layout. Discover techniques for applying proximity, similarity, and more for seamless interactions.
By Rhys Dyson November 22, 2024
Discover essential layout and composition principles to create web designs that balance space, hierarchy, and alignment. Learn how strategic design enhances usability and user experience.
By Rhys Dyson November 14, 2024
Explore how colour theory enhances web design by evoking emotions, reinforcing brand identity, and guiding user flow. Learn how colour impacts usability, accessibility, and user experience.
By Rhys Dyson November 11, 2024
Explore the impact of typography in web design. Learn how to create visual hierarchy, guide user flow, and balance aesthetics with functionality to enhance user experience.
By Rhys Dyson November 10, 2024
Learn how to choose, edit, and prepare images for your website to enhance user experience, brand identity, and performance. Discover tips for integrating visuals to create a cohesive, professional look that resonates with your audience.
By Rhys Dyson December 1, 2024
Learn how Gestalt principles can elevate your web design by creating a unified, user-friendly layout. Discover techniques for applying proximity, similarity, and more for seamless interactions.
By Rhys Dyson November 22, 2024
Discover essential layout and composition principles to create web designs that balance space, hierarchy, and alignment. Learn how strategic design enhances usability and user experience.
By Rhys Dyson November 14, 2024
Explore how colour theory enhances web design by evoking emotions, reinforcing brand identity, and guiding user flow. Learn how colour impacts usability, accessibility, and user experience.
By Rhys Dyson November 11, 2024
Explore the impact of typography in web design. Learn how to create visual hierarchy, guide user flow, and balance aesthetics with functionality to enhance user experience.
By Rhys Dyson November 10, 2024
Learn how to choose, edit, and prepare images for your website to enhance user experience, brand identity, and performance. Discover tips for integrating visuals to create a cohesive, professional look that resonates with your audience.
See more entries

Visual Design Principles.

A collection of design principles that I follow in my web and product design.

A collection of other thought pieces on design.

Designers paper prototyping an adaptive website
By Rhys Dyson October 24, 2024
Discover the key differences between responsive and adaptive web design, and learn which approach is best for your website’s performance and user experience.
A Caucasian man using 90's desktop computer and internet browser
By Rhys Dyson October 3, 2024
Trace the evolution of the internet from its origins to the digital age. Learn how the web has transformed our world. Read more for a history dive!
Designers paper prototyping an adaptive website
By Rhys Dyson October 24, 2024
Discover the key differences between responsive and adaptive web design, and learn which approach is best for your website’s performance and user experience.
A Caucasian man using 90's desktop computer and internet browser
By Rhys Dyson October 3, 2024
Trace the evolution of the internet from its origins to the digital age. Learn how the web has transformed our world. Read more for a history dive!

General Design Topics.

A series of posts around technical topics, from hosting, domains and specific website platforms.

A screenshot of the version control in Pixel Together
By Rhys Dyson December 11, 2022
There have been many great updates to the Pixel Together platform throughout 2022. Here I showcase some of the best. Click to find out.
A search bar with that start of a domain address
By Rhys Dyson April 3, 2022
au domains are a quick way to show your customers your business is legitimate and Australian owned. They're the newer, shorter .com.au. Get one today.
A magnifying glass over a keyboard shortcut key
By Rhys Dyson September 2, 2021
Learn all the Mac & Windows PC keyboard shortcut keys for Pixel Together in one place, with the ultimate keyboard shortcut reference cheat sheet. See shortcuts.
A screenshot of the version control in Pixel Together
By Rhys Dyson December 11, 2022
There have been many great updates to the Pixel Together platform throughout 2022. Here I showcase some of the best. Click to find out.
A search bar with that start of a domain address
By Rhys Dyson April 3, 2022
au domains are a quick way to show your customers your business is legitimate and Australian owned. They're the newer, shorter .com.au. Get one today.
A magnifying glass over a keyboard shortcut key
By Rhys Dyson September 2, 2021
Learn all the Mac & Windows PC keyboard shortcut keys for Pixel Together in one place, with the ultimate keyboard shortcut reference cheat sheet. See shortcuts.

Technical.