A UX Designer's Minimal Computing Journey

Coding and web development are skills I’ve largely avoided so far in university. I struggled significantly in my first-year computer science class because I felt disconnected from the material, and I was really only there out of obligation to degree requirements. I’ve always gravitated toward the creative aspects of digital humanities, especially UX design, so it probably won’t come as a surprise to you that I haven’t taken a coding class since.

"Monitor showing Java Programming" by Ilya Pavlov vis Unsplash

Despite promising myself I’d steer clear of programming, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing from my digital humanities toolkit. When the DH@Guelph Summer 2025 workshop list was announced, I was immediately drawn to the sessions focused on data visualization and saw them as an opportunity to showcase my virtual art skills. However, I paused to ground myself in reality. I realized that if I only relied on the tools I was already comfortable with, I would never truly grow as an aspiring digital humanist. After spending so much time in CTS learning about digital spaces and how data breathes life into them, I finally understood the issue. I had little to no grasp of the back-end processes behind the digital tools I used and almost no direct ownership of my online presence.

My personal CTS blog is a perfect example of this. I simply upload images and text while WIX handles the rest. The platform dictates design principles and formatting, leaving me with minimal control. This realization made me rethink how I engage with digital creation and inspired me to seek out a more hands-on, transparent approach to building online spaces.

"Creativity is better left unconfined" by Marija Zaric via Unsplash.

The Introduction to Minimal Web Design with Jekyll workshop provided an intensive yet deeply supportive environment for learning computing, particularly web design through a minimalist lens. The daily theory components illuminated the appeal of static website building, showcasing how it empowers creators to resist the constraints imposed by monopolistic platforms on self-expression and creativity.

Having engaged in class discussions on the harms of platform capitalism, I saw this process as a form of data activism; a needs-based approach to web design using cost-effective, transparent, and open-source tools. Absorbing the principles of minimal computing as a critical praxis profoundly shaped my enthusiasm for my digital project. Without this knowledge, I would have merely gone through the motions of website building, lacking the passion and heart that now drive my creative process.

With a clear website idea in mind from the start, I had a solid advantage. On the first day, I quickly devised the concept for my site, Paws and Hearts, aiming to showcase the impact of pet ownership on emotional well-being through a collection of testimonies and images. However, executing my vision proved challenging without a solid grasp of HTML and CSS. The first two days of the workshop left me discouraged, and I feared I wouldn’t have anything worthwhile to present at the showcase. Being surrounded by PhD candidates and working professionals, I wanted to put my best self forward and prove that I deserved to take up space in this environment.

Despite my doubts, I committed fully to the remaining two days, seeking as much technical support from the instructors as possible. In the end, I emerged with a nearly fully functional website that I customized using self-created graphics, my knowledge of design principles, and a deeper understanding of how these websites are made possible! I was surprised by how naturally I was able to integrate my affinity for artistry with technical processes. I didn’t have to sacrifice one for the other. Being able to incorporate my personal artwork into the project made the experience feel more meaningful and left me genuinely proud of what I had created so far.

Testimonies Section of Paws and Hearts, Organized by Species

The next step is to develop a more polished version of Paws & Hearts, incorporating as many testimonies as possible. My plan is to use a Dropbox feature, allowing consenting participants to email their images and stories directly. If this proves too complex, I will set up a file upload Google Form and manually encode the submissions into my code editor, Visual Studio Code. 

From this point forward, every aspect of my project will be intentionally crafted, supported by scholarly sources and thorough external research. So far, I feel I have a solid understanding of the creative and conceptual decisions behind my site, and I will make it a priority to clearly articulate them in my upcoming methodological analysis. Most importantly, I will document my metadata within the code editor on each page to offer insight into my thought process. I'd like to spend a considerable amount of time on the methodology section because it explains why and how the project was built while providing the knowledge others to understand or replicate the process.

My workshop experience has ignited a passion within me that I never knew was possible. These past weeks have been incredibly rewarding, and I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to create something about a topic I’m passionate about while developing a brand-new set of skills.

Thanks for reading. This is Melissa, signing off!

"Thank You” GIF via Wix Stock GIFs