Design post-4

 

  If you've ever been to Publix or other local grocery stores in Florida, you've probably noticed that most of the bottled water on the shelves is from Zephyrhills—a natural spring located near Dade City. I’ve always been partial to this brand. It’s cheap, easy to find, and in my opinion, it tastes the best. There’s also something comforting about the light aqua-colored wrapping and the clean, simple label—it’s familiar, nostalgic even.

But one thing I didn’t realize until I started traveling more is that spring water brands are often deeply regional. When I was in Louisiana and Texas, I started noticing that Zephyrhills was nowhere to be found. Instead, there was Ozarka, a Texas-based brand with similar packaging and price. The label was different, but the concept was the same: clean design, a splash of color, and some carefully chosen typefaces that try to say, “this water is pure, local, and trustworthy.”

Up north, especially in states like Maine and New Hampshire, the shelves were full of Poland Spring and Deer Park. Again, same idea—regional spring water packaged in a familiar format. It was kind of like seeing the same product wearing different clothes depending on the state you’re in. That’s when it hit me: I was learning about design without even realizing it.

Every label told a visual story. The colors, the fonts, the imagery to appear local—they were all subtle cues meant to convey purity, nature, and reliability. It made me realize how much design plays a role in building trust, especially with everyday items like bottled water. And honestly, comparing these brands helped train my eye. I started noticing how typography, layout, and color palettes can be adapted for local markets while still feeling familiar across the board.

But safe to say- no one beats Zephyrhills.

Anyway- One of my friends got curious about the water bottles, I mean after all they even held the same shape, only difference was the taste of minerals in some- and upon further research, all these are owned by Nestle, who actually received some back lash and legal issue, so they renamed/got sold to Blue Triton.

Despite all of these being regional, and some getting incredibly patriotic over their "water" they're all packed and sold by the same company, it's a very smart and clever way to market, and I thought it was quite intresting to discover!

Accessibility

 Accessibility is important in website design because it ensures that all users- including those with disabilities- can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with content. Making a site accessible not only complies with legal requirements (The ADA like we went over in class) but also improves usability for everyone, broadens your audience, and demonstrates inclusive design.

List of 10:

1. Use Semantic HTML
   Structure with proper HTML tags (<header>, <nav>, <main>, <article>, <footer>, etc.) so assistive technologies can interpret the content.

2. Provide Text Alternatives for All Non-Text Content
   Use descriptive alt attributes for images, and ensure captions or transcripts are available for videos and audio. These show when the images cannot load as well.

3. Ensure Sufficient Color Contrast
   Text should have enough contrast against the background to be readable by people with visual impairments or color blindness. Or have the option to change it.

4. Keyboard Navigation
   Ensure that all interactive elements (like links, buttons, forms, etc..) can be accessed and operated using a keyboard alone.

5. Responsive and Scalable Design
   Make your site usable across different devices/platforms and support zooming without breaking layout or hiding content.

6. Clear and Consistent Navigation
   Keep menus, headers, and page structures consistent so users can learn and navigate intuitively.

7. Use ARIA Landmarks and Roles Wisely
   Use ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) roles to provide additional context to screen readers, but avoid overuse or misuse.

8. Descriptive Link Text
   Avoid vague links like “click here.” Use link text that describes the destination or action (e.g., “Download the accessibility guide”).

9. Avoid Auto-Playing Media
   Auto-playing videos or sounds can disorient users- especially those using screen readers—and should be avoided or easily stopped.

10. Test with Real Users and Assistive Technologies
    Go beyond automated tools and include users with disabilities in your testing process to find issues that algorithms might miss.