David Jacob Blankson-Hemans - w-t-f-i-t-w-w-w

The world wide web is a place where everything online exists in a huge network of connections. At its most basic level, it lets people access webpages through a browser and move from one idea to another through links that stretch across the internet. But after spending a semester actually building for the web, I see it very differently now.
What surprised me most was realizing that the web feels spatial, not just informational. When I first organized my pages for any website, I did it randomly and thought of links as simple shortcuts to content. After spending more time moving through my own site and hearing feedback from others, I started to see that the structure of a website works more like a floor plan than a filing cabinet. Some pages make you want to stay and explore. Others simply guide you somewhere else. It reminded me of how certain rooms in a building naturally hold your attention while others only exist to connect spaces together.
I also started to notice the constant tension between how something feels and how well it functions. In my final project, I made choices that focused more on creating an experience than on making everything as efficient as possible, and I received feedback pushing me in the opposite direction. Looking back, I think both perspectives were valid. That balance between usability and expression is part of what makes the web such an interesting medium. It can be practical and artistic at the same time.
Another thing I came to appreciate is how open the web really is. Personal websites feel very different from social media posts because they are entirely shaped by the person creating them. They feel more personal, more intentional, almost like a mix between an art project and a journal. With how detailed and specific you can get I see how much more interesting the web is in expressiong yourself.

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