Why Design Matters: How a Well-Designed Website Can Increase Engagement

Presented by Kimberly Filko, Graphic Designer, Blackboard; Amber Wolfe, Graphic Designer, Blackboard; and Meghan Hawk, Manager, Graphic Design, Blackboard
Sponsored by Blackboard

Watch the Recording

If you view the recording and would like a CE certificate, join the Family Engagement & Community Outreach in K-12 community and go to the CE Quizzes link in the Community Toolbox.

You might be surprised by how much the look and feel of a website impacts communication and community engagement at your school, but do you know all the components that go into creating a great website design? Colors, text, functionality, and interactivity are just the start of the core principles you need to know to create a truly engaging website.

Three professional website designers present this edWebinar and cover an array of topics including:

• Why a web presence is so critical
• How hierarchy and layout are important to user experience
• The impact of digital accessibility and how it should drive design
• Design best practices (colors, typography, imagery, content, etc.)
• The power of photography and graphics

Learn web design best practices along with current trends to create the best website for your school and district. Everyone involved in K–12 web design is invited to watch the recording, including PR/communication leaders, teachers, web masters, superintendents, and school administrators.

About the Presenters
Kimberly (Kimbr) Filko has been part of the Creative Services design team at Blackboard for the past four years. She has an extensive background in art and design and completed a Bachelor of Science in graphic design from the Pennsylvania College of Technology. In her current role she works with clients to conceptualize and design beautiful website templates. She also ensures all design templates meet and maintain ADA standards. Before joining the Blackboard team, Kimbr worked for Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida where she held various roles including guest relations and graphic designer for onboarding classes at Disney University.

Amber Wolfe graduated from Bradley Academy of the Visual Arts with a BA in graphic design. She has been immersed in web design for over a decade, starting at a company as the sole designer building her skills, and now with the Blackboard team. Outside of work she enjoys being a mom, competing in Tough Mudder competitions, and watching zombie movies.

Meghan Hawk joined Blackboard in 2009 and has nine plus years of experience designing websites for educational organizations. She has a bachelor’s degree in graphic design from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and is based in State College, Pennsylvania. In her current role, Meghan manages a team of talented designers who deliver high quality, responsive, and user-friendly web solutions for the K-12 market.

Join the Family Engagement & Community Outreach in K-12 community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, view past edWebinars, take a quiz to receive a CE certificate for a past edWebinar, and access free resources.

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