Reflections on Moulthrop's revolutionary ideas, folder structure & URL decisions, initial wireframe concepts, user flow, and interaction theory on the modern web.

Reflecting on Moulthrop, S. (2003) "You Say You Want a Revolution? Hypertext and the Laws of Media (1991)"

Moulthrop's work invites us to reconsider the promises of hypertext in transforming the way we interact with media. Even though his paper originally focused on hypertext as a revolution in how information is consumed and created, the underlying ideas speak powerfully to the internet today. By applying McLuhan's tetrad of media effects—enhancement, obsolescence, retrieval, and reversal—Moulthrop anticipated many of the tensions we now experience in digital communication.

How does it speak to the Internet today? Moulthrop's foresight is evident in the democratization of publishing, the non-linearity of digital narratives, and the ongoing tension between user freedom and algorithmic control. As we grapple with both the benefits and pitfalls of modern platforms, his framework provides a valuable lens through which to assess our digital environment.

Folder Structure and URL Scheme: Decisions & Insights

In building my website, thoughtful consideration has been given to both the folder structure and URL scheme. Maintaining a clean, scalable system is essential for efficient development and for ensuring an intuitive user experience.

Folder Structure: The site's files are organized into clear directories—index.html in the root, a dedicated blog folder for blog posts, and separate directories for assets (images, CSS, JavaScript). This logical hierarchy supports easy navigation within the project and simplifies the process of scaling and updating content.

Initial Wireframe Concepts & Design Thoughts

As part of the iterative design process, I developed initial wireframe sketches that capture the vision for both the portfolio homepage and the blog layout. The aim is to strike a balance between creative expression and usability.

These concepts are intended to set the stage for an engaging user experience: a grid layout that ensures key projects stand out, paired with a blog interface that encourages users to explore content in a non-linear, immersive way.

User Flow: From Entry to Engagement

The user flow illustrates the structured journey a user takes through the site, detailing the following:

• Global Navigation: Available on all pages for seamless transitions between Home, Portfolio, Design, Essay, Profile, and Blogs.
• Home Page: Serves as the landing point with clear call-to-actions leading to other sections.
• Section Pages (Portfolio, Design, Essay, Profile): Each offers well-organized content and intuitive navigation back to the homepage or other related areas.
• Blogs: Function as a hub where each post links to a detailed content page, with easy navigation back to the blog main page.

This user flow ensures that visitors always have clear pathways to explore the site and discover new content without losing their context.

Inspirational References & Resource Collection

Inspiration is drawn from leading websites that excel at combining aesthetic design with usability. Below is a curated list of references that continue to influence my design choices:

• Awwwards – Showcases top web design trends and innovative approaches to navigation.
• Behance – Features creative portfolios with notable creative works.
• Bruno Simon's Portfolio – Demonstrates the engaging potential of 3D interactive design.
• Brittany Chiang's Portfolio – Exemplifies a minimal, clean design that balances technical skills with storytelling.
• Codrops – Offers cutting-edge tutorials and case studies on advanced web design elements.

Reimagining Interaction and the World Wide Web

At its core, interaction on the web transcends simple clicks and navigational cues—it's a dynamic, dialogic process. The evolution of interaction reflects a shift from a static repository of information to a vibrant ecosystem of user-driven, responsive experiences.

What does interaction mean to me? It means creating a seamless, meaningful exchange between digital content and the human experience. Thoughtful interaction involves designing intentional pathways, providing timely feedback, and extending our cognitive abilities through progressive disclosure and contextual interfaces.

This reflective approach, informed by Moulthrop's ideas, challenges us to rethink linear media formats. The modern web—with its multimedia content, interactive elements, and user-driven design—is a testament to the ongoing revolution in digital communication.

Planning and organizing my portfolio website with focus on structure, user experience, and information architecture.

My Goals for My Website

I want my portfolio website to showcase my diverse skills in game design, software development, and visual design work. My main goal is to present my projects and creations in a way that highlights my unique style and technical abilities. I need to develop intuitive navigation that allows visitors to explore my different design domains seamlessly. My site will feature interactive demonstrations of my game prototypes, code samples, and visual design work. I aim to guide potential clients or employers through my professional journey, showing the evolution of my skills and creative approach.

My Target User Analysis

My website primarily serves potential employers, clients, and fellow designers who are interested in my game, software, and visual design capabilities. These visitors have specific needs: quick access to my project highlights and technical skills; interactive examples that demonstrate my game mechanics and visual style; practical demonstrations of my problem-solving approach; and a portfolio organized to showcase both my specialized skills and versatility across different design disciplines.

My Content Mapping

My Information Structure

I'll organize my content into these main categories reflecting my expertise areas:

• Game Design Portfolio
  • Game concepts and mechanics
  • Development process documentation
  • Link to itch.io games published
• Software Development Projects
  • Web applications
  • Link to actual websites
• Visual Design Work
  • UI/UX design projects
  • Illustrations and concept art
  • Brand identity projects
• Blog Page
  • Make a book that the user can navigate to read blogs

My Information Architecture (IA)

Following the principles from the slides, I'll organize my content hierarchically:

• Primary navigation for main categories (Games, Software, Visual, Blog)
• Secondary navigation within each category for projects/subcategories
• Card sorting with potential users to validate my categorization
• Clear labeling system using terminology familiar to my target audience

My User Experience Flow

User Journey Mapping

My portfolio flow begins with an engaging introduction that showcases my best work across all disciplines. From there:

• Landing Page: Featuring my strongest and latest projects
• Portfolio Navigation: Allowing direct access to game, software, or visual design sections
• Project Deep Dives: Detailed case studies of my process and problem-solving to show how i think and approach my designs
• Contact and Resume: Professional information

My Interface Elements

Navigation Components

Following the slides' categories, I'll implement:

• Primary Navigation: Main menu with clear icons for Games, Software, Visual, and Blog sections
• Breadcrumbs: Showing current location (e.g., Home > Games > Project Name)
• Pagination: For my blog "book" interface to create an immersive reading experience

Input Controls

• Buttons: Clearly labeled call-to-action buttons for exploring projects
• Toggles: For switching between grid/list views of projects
• Interactive Elements: Direct manipulation of game demos and prototypes

Informational Components

• Tooltips: For explaining technical terms or providing context
• Message Boxes: For form submission confirmation

My Progress

Looking back at my development progress so far, I'm making steady headway on my portfolio website. I've established the foundation by implementing the HTML structure, which has given me a solid semantic framework to build upon. This initial markup phase has been crucial for organizing my content logically and ensuring accessibility from the start.

I've also begun incorporating images into my portfolio, which is bringing my work to life visually. Seeing my game designs, software projects, and visual art start to appear on the page has been rewarding, though I still need to optimize these assets for web performance.

One of my main focus areas has been improving my file structure. I've reorganized my project files into more logical directories that reflect the content categories I mapped out (games, software, visual design, and blog). This cleaner organization will make it much easier to maintain the site as I add more projects and blog content over time.

Reflecting on my HTML development process and applying interaction design principles to establish a strong foundation for my website.

Website 1 HTML Development

My Journey with HTML Structure

The initial phase of developing Website 1 has focused entirely on HTML structure, and this foundation-laying process has been both educational and challenging. Creating the skeleton to support my design vision required more strategic thinking than I initially expected.

Where I've Struggled

The most significant challenge I've faced is translating my image of the final website into appropriate HTML elements. I found myself restructuring certain portions of the site multiple times as I realized my initial approach wouldn't effectively support the layout I envisioned. This has made me focus more on ensuring a solid and coherent HTML structure. I think this is great because it ensures I have structured my website in a way that is efficient and a way that allows me to more effectively integrate my other elements such as the CSS and js.

Navigation planning was particularly tricky. While I knew which pages I wanted to include, determining the best way to structure the menu items required me to think deeply about user pathways and information architecture before writing a single line of CSS.

I have also started to use tags and id's to sort of plan how I want my site to look, and plan how I approach it.

IxD Process

Beginning to work through the Interaction Design process has been enlightening, even at this early HTML stage. When structuring my content, I found myself constantly referring back to the core IxD principles:

1. Discovering User Needs

While developing the HTML structure, I realized I needed to better understand who would be using my website and what they would be looking for. This influenced how I prioritized content in my HTML hierarchy and which sections I decided to create.

2. Defining Interaction Patterns

Even without CSS, I've tried to structure my HTML in ways that suggest how users will interact with the site. For example, I've grouped related interactive elements together and established clear parent-child relationships between content sections.

3. Developing the Framework

My current HTML structure represents the skeleton of the interaction framework. By thoughtfully organizing elements and establishing clear relationships between them, I'm laying groundwork for interactions that will feel natural and intuitive once styling and JavaScript are added.

4. Refining the Experience

Looking at my wireframes alongside my current HTML structure has revealed some discrepancies. In several cases, I've adjusted my HTML to better support the interactions I envisioned in my wireframes, particularly around navigation and form elements.

What I'm Proud Of

Despite these challenges, I'm particularly proud of how I've organized my content hierarchy. By thinking carefully about heading levels and semantic structure, I've created a solid foundation for both visual design and accessibility.

The link structure I've implemented represents a well-thought-out user journey. I've created clear pathways between related content and ensured that the navigation feels intuitive even in this early HTML-only stage. I also plan to direct users to my itch.io pages with my portfolio items.

I'm also pleased with how I've structured my HTML to accommodate future responsive design requirements. By planning for different viewport sizes from the beginning, I've set myself up for an easier transition when I begin applying CSS.

Changes for Future Development

I plan to implement more consistent naming conventions for classes and IDs. While I've been reasonably systematic, I see opportunities to create a more coherent naming pattern that will make CSS targeting more intuitive.

Finally, I want to enhance my form structures with better validation attributes and more appropriate input types. This will significantly impact the user experience once styling is applied.

Looking Forward

This HTML phase has taught me that thoughtful structure is crucial for effective web design. While I'm eager to begin adding visual styles, I recognize that the time invested in creating a solid HTML foundation will pay dividends throughout the rest of the development process.

As I move into CSS development, I'll carry forward the lessons learned from this structural work, particularly the importance of planning ahead and considering how each element contributes to both the visual presentation and the underlying semantic meaning of the content.

Analyzing South African websites to understand diverse approaches to content organization, user experience, and cultural representation in digital design.

Website Analysis Overview

I examined four distinct South African websites to understand how different organizations approach web design, user experience, and content presentation. Each site represents a different sector and demonstrates unique design philosophies and user interface patterns.

1. News24

News24 | South Africa's leading source of trusted news stands out because of how content-rich and content-focused it is. It has a rather complex information and visual hierarchy allowing viewers to see a vast selection of pertinent content. What I like more is the sub-websites of News24, such as Sports24, which reorganises the data into specific categories allowing users to navigate specific interests.

Design Insights

This adds value to my understanding as it demonstrates how a single design system adapts to specific content needs and user needs. The modular approach to content organization shows how hierarchical information architecture can serve diverse user goals within a unified brand experience.

Areas for Improvement

However, a significant drawback of the website is how it prioritises advertising, thus disrupting user flows. Additionally, its content-heavy approach could be overwhelming to some users with multiple elements competing for the user's attention. This teaches me the importance of balancing monetization with user experience.

2. South African Reserve Bank Website

South African Reserve Bank stands out for its consistent style and strong cultural branding. The site reinforces South African culture and identity by featuring visual elements such as African patterns in the backgrounds, while also communicating a clear institutional message and agenda.

What Works Well

What I particularly appreciate is its data visualisation presented in an intuitive and user-friendly way, making complex financial information accessible to the general public. The site successfully balances institutional authority with approachable design, demonstrating how government websites can be both professional and culturally relevant.

3. South African Revenue Service Website

SARS | South African Revenue Service offers interesting UI/UX patterns centred around task completion. Its form-based interface design guides users through complex tax submission processes with clear progression indicators and feedback systems.

Functional Design Approach

The information architecture categorises tax-related services logically and uses strong calls-to-action for critical tasks. This task-oriented design philosophy prioritizes functionality over aesthetics, which is appropriate for its user base and use cases.

Design Challenges

However, the interface suffers from visual density with multiple competing elements and navigational options that can create cognitive overload. Additionally, it is somewhat monochrome and lacks sufficient contrast, which could impact accessibility. This reinforces the importance of visual hierarchy and accessibility considerations in my own design work.

4. Bathu Sneakers

Bathu Sneakers presents a contemporary e-commerce interface with a strong visual emphasis on product showcases. The site employs effective product displays with interactive viewing options that enhance the shopping experience.

E-commerce Excellence

Its navigation system utilises a category structure with filtering options that simplify product discovery. The visual design successfully highlights the products and creates an engaging shopping environment that encourages exploration and purchase.

Brand Communication Opportunity

The only significant downside is that the brand's intentions or core message are not communicated as efficiently as they could be. While products are sold effectively, an opportunity remains to emphasise who Bathu is as a brand through more intentional stylistic choices such as fonts, colors, and typography that reflect their South African heritage and brand values.

Key Takeaways for My Design Practice

This analysis has reinforced several important principles for my own web design approach:

• Content Strategy: The balance between comprehensive information and user-friendly presentation is crucial, as seen in News24's complex but organized approach.
• Cultural Integration: The Reserve Bank's successful incorporation of South African visual elements shows how cultural identity can enhance rather than compromise professional design.
• Task-Oriented Design: SARS demonstrates the importance of clear user flows for complex processes, though visual hierarchy remains essential.
• Brand Storytelling: Bathu's example highlights the opportunity to strengthen brand communication through consistent visual language and typography choices.

These insights will inform my continued development of user-centered design approaches that balance functionality, accessibility, and cultural relevance in digital experiences.

The web is no longer just a medium for sharing information—it is infrastructure for daily life, social connection, and civic participation. As such, web designers and developers bear increasing ethical responsibility. Bryan Cantrill’s essay, “Andreessen’s Corollary: Ethical Dilemmas in Software Engineering,” and the Design Justice framework both interrogate this responsibility, albeit from different angles. Together, they form a compelling call to action for more intentional, inclusive, and accountable web design.

1. The Invisible Hands Behind Code: Learning from Cantrill

Bryan Cantrill critiques Marc Andreessen’s now-infamous idea that “software is eating the world,” suggesting instead that software is written by people—people who make choices that deeply affect society. Cantrill’s corollary reminds us that software engineering is far from morally neutral. Decisions about functionality, data collection, or security are often guided more by commercial incentives than by ethical imperatives.

From a web design standpoint, this insight is crucial. For example:

• Dark patterns—like manipulative UI elements that trick users into subscriptions or sharing data—aren’t bugs, they’re features designed with full intention.
• Accessibility often remains an afterthought, even though neglecting it actively excludes millions of users.
• Data collection embedded in websites—through cookies, trackers, or hidden analytics—is typically opaque and biased toward monetization, not user trust.

Cantrill's framing suggests that designers and developers must actively question the motives behind the tools they build and the systems they participate in. It’s not enough to say “I’m just building what I’m told.” Designers have power—and therefore, responsibility.

2. Reimagining Design Through Justice: The Design Justice Network

The Design Justice Network proposes a radically different foundation for technology creation—one centered on equity, community engagement, and dismantling structural oppression. Rather than designing “for” people, the framework urges us to design with and by those most affected by digital systems.

Key principles that challenge conventional web design practices include:

• Centering marginalized voices—ensuring that those who are usually excluded from tech conversations lead the design process.
• Redistributing design power—questioning who gets to define problems and whose ideas count as legitimate “solutions.”
• Avoiding harm—proactively considering the social and environmental consequences of design choices.

For example, under a Design Justice framework, a community website for a mutual aid group would prioritize:

• Privacy over analytics, resisting third-party trackers that undermine trust.
• Inclusive UX that works for all—screen reader support, multilingual options, mobile-first layouts.
• Collaborative development, where community members guide design priorities, rather than a distant client or executive.

3. Ethical Web Design: Bridging the Two Frameworks

Bringing Cantrill and Design Justice into conversation reveals both critique and construction. Cantrill helps diagnose the failures of ethics in mainstream tech culture; Design Justice offers pathways to rebuild more equitable design systems. For web designers, this means:

• Rejecting “neutral” design—recognizing that all design reflects values.
• Resisting exploitative defaults—choosing not to implement manipulative UX, even if it’s more “profitable.”
• Building slow, sustainable, intentional tech—especially in a climate of algorithmic acceleration and surveillance capitalism.

Web designers need to interrogate the systems they operate within. Are we reinforcing tech monopolies, or building tools that empower communities? Are we perpetuating harm, or designing with care?

Conclusion: From Efficiency to Empathy

Web design is no longer just about aesthetic or usability—it’s about ethics, politics, and justice. Cantrill calls on engineers to acknowledge their power and moral agency; Design Justice tells us how to wield that power more responsibly.

As we build the next generation of digital spaces, our challenge is clear: move from efficiency to empathy, from profit to participation, from extraction to equity. It’s not just about what we can design—but what we should.

Reflecting on my close reading analysis of internet access as a fundamental right and the broader implications for digital equity in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The Research Process

Writing my close reading essay on Kasapis' "Internet Access is a Fundamental Right" has been an intellectually rewarding journey that connected theoretical frameworks with pressing contemporary issues. The process of analyzing this article through the lens of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, particularly using insights from Makridakis and Sutherland, has deepened my understanding of how digital rights intersect with technological transformation.

Key Insights from the Analysis

Internet Access as an Enabling Right

One of the most compelling aspects of Kasapis' argument is the framing of internet access as an "enabling right" - one that facilitates the exercise of other established rights. The pandemic made this particularly visible when access to education, healthcare, employment, and civic participation became largely dependent on digital connectivity. This insight has profound implications for how we think about digital infrastructure as essential public infrastructure, similar to roads or electricity.

The Pandemic as a Critical Juncture

The COVID-19 pandemic served as a natural experiment that exposed the real-world consequences of digital divides. What was perhaps theoretical before became starkly practical - students without internet access couldn't attend school, workers without connectivity lost employment opportunities, and communities without digital access were cut off from essential services and information. This moment created both urgency and visibility for digital access questions.

Connecting to the Fourth Industrial Revolution

Situating Kasapis' work within the broader context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution revealed how internet access functions as a gateway to participation in transformative technological changes. Makridakis' warnings about potential inequality in the AI revolution align closely with Kasapis' concerns about digital divides, suggesting that current internet access inequalities may be precursors to even more consequential technology-related disparities.

The South African Context

Sutherland's analysis of South Africa's engagement with the Fourth Industrial Revolution provided valuable contextual grounding for the more theoretical claims. South Africa's challenges with infrastructure limitations, educational gaps, and economic constraints exemplify the concrete barriers to internet access that exist globally. The country's policy experiments offer practical examples of how rights-based frameworks might be operationalized in specific contexts.

Critical Reflections on Rights-Based Approaches

Strengths of the Framework

The rights-based approach to internet access offers several advantages. It connects digital access to established normative frameworks, potentially mobilizing existing legal and political resources. By framing connectivity as a fundamental right rather than a commodity, it shifts the conversation from market-based solutions to questions of social justice and human dignity.

Implementation Challenges

However, my analysis also revealed significant challenges in translating rights claims into universal access. Questions remain about how to define "adequate" access, who bears responsibility for providing connectivity, and how to finance universal access initiatives. The tension between positive and negative rights - between freedom from interference and entitlement to provision - creates complex obligations for states and private entities.

Implications for Design and Development

This research has significant implications for my own work in web design and development. Understanding internet access as a fundamental right reinforces the importance of designing for accessibility and inclusion. It's not enough to create beautiful, functional websites if significant portions of the population cannot access them due to connectivity barriers.

Designing for Digital Equity

This perspective encourages me to consider:

• How my designs perform on low-bandwidth connections
• Whether my sites are accessible on basic devices and older browsers
• How to optimize for users with limited data allowances
• The importance of progressive enhancement and graceful degradation

Future Research Directions

My essay identified several promising avenues for future research, including empirical studies of pandemic digital exclusion, comparative policy analysis, and the development of interdisciplinary frameworks. I'm particularly interested in how rights-based approaches to internet access might inform governance of emerging technologies like AI systems and IoT devices.

Personal Growth and Learning

This close reading exercise pushed me to engage more deeply with academic literature and to think critically about the intersection of technology, rights, and social justice. The process of synthesizing perspectives from different authors and connecting theoretical frameworks to practical challenges has strengthened my analytical skills and broadened my understanding of the social implications of technological design.

Looking Forward

The question of internet access as a fundamental right will only become more pressing as we move deeper into the digital age. As someone working in web development and design, I have a responsibility to consider how my work contributes to or challenges digital divides. The insights from this analysis will continue to inform my approach to creating inclusive, accessible digital experiences.

The pandemic may have created a policy window for reconceptualizing internet access, but sustaining momentum for digital equity will require ongoing advocacy, research, and innovation. As we shape tomorrow's digital world, we must ensure that the question is not simply whether people can connect today, but whether they will have the opportunity to participate in and benefit from the technological transformations that lie ahead.

In his 2019 article Digital Inequalities in the Age of Artificial Intelligence and Big Data, Christoph Lutz presents a sophisticated, three-tiered framework for understanding how digital inequalities are evolving alongside rapid technological advancement. Rather than viewing digital divides as merely access-based, Lutz expands the concept to include disparities in skills and outcomes, particularly in the context of AI and platform-based digital systems.

This essay critically engages with Lutz’s framework, applying it to the creative industries in South Africa, a nation marked by high youth unemployment and enduring socioeconomic disparity, to reflect on the concepts discussed in Lutz’s work in the South African context. Lutz’s conceptual tools, including his metaphors of “gardens,” “walled gardens,” and “prison yards,” offer a powerful lens for understanding how inequalities cascade across infrastructure, skills, and digital participation.

The First-Level Digital Divide: Rethinking Access

Lutz challenges the simplistic notion of the “connected” and the “disconnected” in this discourse by introducing a more nuanced spectrum of digital access through “garden metaphors.”

• Gardens represent high-quality, unrestricted access. These can be individuals with access to high tech equipment and set-ups, empowering them to not only use tech, but further create with tech.
• Walled Gardens refer to constrained ecosystems like mobile-only internet use or platform-specific constraints. These users have limitations in terms of how they can use tech.
• Prison Yards symbolise environments dominated by proprietary, closed AI systems with minimal user agency. These are usually data-capturing systems, smart homes, smart devices, etc.

In the South African creative sector, this spectrum is not metaphorical, it is material. Many township-based creatives rely solely on smartphones for internet access, making them inhabitants of “walled gardens.” These constraints limit their ability to run resource-intensive creative software, access advanced generative AI tools, or participate in global creative economies. Meanwhile, the metaphor of the “prison yard” becomes increasingly relevant as creatives engage with corporate-controlled AI systems that lock users into exploitative data arrangements while offering little transparency or creative freedom.

Curated Digital Experiences and Creative Autonomy

Lutz’s metaphor of “walled gardens” also draws attention to the curated nature of digital platforms, an aspect with profound implications for creative workers. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Spotify curate user experience through algorithmic filtering, content moderation, and design architectures that subtly shape behaviour.

This curation has several implications:

• Loss of Creative Autonomy: Platform algorithms reward specific content formats and aesthetics, pushing creators to conform to trends rather than innovate. This suppresses cultural specificity and limits expression.
• Unequal Visibility: South African creatives may struggle with platform biases, such as language limitations, underrepresentation of African aesthetics, or moderation practices that unintentionally silence non-Western narratives.
• Economic Exploitation: Many creatives rely on platforms for income, yet monetisation models favour the platform over the user. Creatives become dependent on opaque algorithmic systems for visibility and earnings.
• Global Cultural Hierarchies: Curated platforms often reinforce Eurocentric standards, marginalising local content and perpetuating colonial-era imbalances in cultural production.

These curated environments don’t just shape what is seen, they structure who gets seen and why, reinforcing systemic inequality through seemingly neutral technological processes.

The Second-Level Digital Divide: Skills, Literacy, and Platform Navigation

Beyond access, Lutz explores the divide in digital skills and competencies, a particularly critical gap in the age of AI. He emphasises that meaningful participation in digital economies now requires not only technical know-how but also algorithmic literacy, an understanding of how platforms organise, recommend, and monetise content.

In South Africa’s creative sector, this divide becomes sharply evident:

• Creatives with access to formal education or institutional support can adopt and leverage AI to enhance their workflows.
• Independent or informally trained artists often lack the training to understand, let alone exploit, algorithmic tools.

This skills gap produces a two-tiered creative economy, where the ability to engage with AI platforms becomes a form of cultural capital. Lutz’s application of Bourdieu’s theory of stratification helps explain how platform success is not just about talent but about knowing how to “speak the language” of the algorithm. Without this meta-knowledge, even highly skilled creatives may remain invisible or undervalued in digital marketplaces.

The Third-Level Digital Divide: Outcomes, Data Exploitation, and Algorithmic Governance

Lutz’s third-level divide interrogates the unequal outcomes that result even when access and skills are equalised. This level explores how platform algorithms act as hidden gatekeepers, shaping opportunity and extracting value through opaque mechanisms. He identifies three key areas of concern:

• Algorithmic Gatekeeping: Platforms distribute exposure and economic rewards based on non-transparent criteria, disadvantaging those who don’t align with dominant trends or platform values.
• Data Exploitation: Creative outputs, engagement metrics, and personal information are harvested as data commodities, with little benefit returned to users.
• Digital Vulnerability: Creatives become subject to surveillance, scoring, and de-platforming, exacerbating precarity in already unstable economic sectors.

These concerns are acute in South Africa, where many young creatives turn to digital platforms as their primary avenue for economic participation. Without policy safeguards or platform accountability, their data is mined, their content is filtered, and their visibility is algorithmically governed in ways that reproduce existing global inequalities.

Rejecting Techno-Utopianism: Lutz’s Theoretical Contribution

One of the greatest strengths of Lutz’s framework is its rejection of techno-utopian narratives. He challenges the assumption that digital technologies inherently democratize access or opportunity. Instead, he shows how existing inequalities are digitised and intensified unless intentionally disrupted through policy, education, and critical platform design.

By grounding his work in sociological theory, particularly Bourdieu’s insights on capital and stratification, Lutz brings much-needed rigour to the digital inequality debate. His framework encourages interdisciplinary approaches, combining critical theory, computational methods, and platform studies to build a fuller picture of how digital systems shape society.

Conclusion

Lutz’s three-tiered framework offers an essential roadmap for understanding the complex, evolving nature of digital inequality in the age of AI. When applied to South Africa’s creative industries, it reveals a layered system of exclusion:

• Access remains constrained by infrastructural limitations and mobile-only environments.
• Skills gaps, especially in algorithmic literacy, stratify participation and success.
• Outcomes are shaped by opaque, exploitative systems that commodify data and marginalise certain voices.

By expanding our understanding of digital inequality to include curated experiences, algorithmic governance, and data exploitation, Lutz provides a theoretical foundation for not just diagnosing, but addressing, the deep structural issues embedded in digital systems.

To ensure that AI and digital platforms serve as tools for empowerment rather than mechanisms of exclusion, scholars, policymakers, and technologists must heed Lutz’s call for intentional, equity-driven design and regulation. Only then can the promise of digital creativity be realized for all, regardless of geography, class, or connection speed.

In evolving my website, I've strategically integrated JavaScript to enhance both functionality and user experience. My implementation approach has been focused on solving specific usability challenges while improving code efficiency and accessibility.

JavaScript has transformed several key areas of my site. One notable feature is a dynamic carousel developed to showcase my professional roles, making content presentation more engaging and space-efficient. This carousel not only captures user attention but also enables smooth navigation through multiple items without overwhelming the page layout.

Additionally, I implemented an advanced filtering system that significantly streamlines navigation by allowing users to quickly access relevant content without triggering full page reloads. This approach leverages asynchronous data handling, resulting in a faster, smoother browsing experience that respects user intent and reduces friction.

Interaction Design Improvements

From an interaction design perspective, these JavaScript elements have created a more responsive and intuitive user experience. The carousel provides a dynamic, visually appealing way to present information, maintaining user engagement. Meanwhile, the filtering system empowers users to customise their browsing experience according to their interests, which aligns with best practices in user-centred design.

One of the most impactful changes was replacing bulky PDF displays of my UI/UX design work with JavaScript-powered image carousels. This not only eliminated slow PDF loading times but also enhanced accessibility. By enabling descriptive alt tags on each image, I improved content usability for visually impaired users and adhered to inclusive design principles.

Code Efficiency and Future Directions

Moving forward, I plan to further leverage JavaScript to eliminate redundant code patterns across the site. Creating reusable components for common elements like the navigation bar and footer will enhance maintainability and ensure consistent styling and behavior across pages.

Moreover, I intend to introduce subtle animations that improve visual feedback, such as hover effects and transition animations, which can make interactions feel smoother and more natural. These enhancements will not only demonstrate my growing JavaScript capabilities but also contribute positively to the overall aesthetic and functional quality of the site.

Reflection on JavaScript’s Role in Interaction Design

Through these implementations, JavaScript has proven instrumental in streamlining interaction design by creating a more responsive, efficient, and accessible website experience. It has enabled me to solve practical problems while elevating the user's journey, showing that thoughtful scripting is as vital to UX as visual design.

An ethical internet represents a digital ecosystem grounded in principles of fairness, privacy, transparency, inclusivity, and accountability. As the internet increasingly permeates every facet of human life—from communication and commerce to governance and education—the need for a morally responsible and just digital environment becomes paramount.

Privacy and Data Protection

At the core of an ethical internet is the protection of user privacy and control over personal data. According to Solove (2006), privacy is a fundamental human right that must be safeguarded against surveillance, data breaches, and exploitative data mining. Ethical internet platforms should implement robust encryption, provide users with clear and accessible data policies, and allow meaningful consent mechanisms, as emphasized in Nissenbaum’s (2010) theory of “contextual integrity,” which argues that privacy norms depend on the context of information flow. Without this, users become vulnerable to manipulation and exploitation, as seen in cases of unauthorized data harvesting (Zuboff, 2019).

Transparency and Accountability

An ethical internet demands transparency in algorithms, content moderation, and data usage. Gillespie (2018) stresses that the opaque nature of algorithmic decision-making can perpetuate biases and misinformation, undermining trust. Platforms must disclose how algorithms work, how content is curated, and provide users with tools to contest automated decisions. Additionally, governance structures must hold tech companies accountable for harmful content, misinformation, and breaches of user trust, aligning with the recommendations by Crawford and Paglen (2019) on ethical AI deployment.

Inclusivity and Access

The ethical internet must be inclusive, ensuring equitable access and representation across socioeconomic, geographic, and cultural lines. According to van Dijk (2020), the digital divide remains a significant barrier to participation and empowerment, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities. Therefore, policies must focus on affordable access, digital literacy, and the amplification of diverse voices, creating a pluralistic digital public sphere that respects cultural differences and promotes social justice (Couldry & Mejias, 2019).

Freedom of Expression and Harm Reduction

Balancing freedom of expression with the reduction of harm is another ethical imperative. While the internet should remain a space for open dialogue and innovation, it should also prevent harassment, hate speech, and the spread of harmful misinformation (Suzor, 2019). Ethical frameworks should promote responsible speech and enforce community standards that protect vulnerable groups without imposing censorship or bias.

Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility

An emerging dimension of internet ethics is environmental sustainability. As internet infrastructure and data centers consume vast amounts of energy, ethical stewardship includes minimizing environmental impact and promoting sustainable digital practices (De Vries et al., 2018).

In summary, an ethical internet is one that protects user rights, fosters transparency, promotes inclusivity, ensures accountability, balances freedoms with harm prevention, and acknowledges environmental responsibilities. Achieving this vision requires collaboration among governments, corporations, civil society, and users themselves, guided by ethical principles supported by rigorous research and public engagement.

References

• Solove, D. J. (2006). A taxonomy of privacy. University of Pennsylvania Law Review, 154(3), 477–564.
• Nissenbaum, H. (2010). Privacy in Context: Technology, Policy, and the Integrity of Social Life. Stanford University Press.
• Zuboff, S. (2019). The Age of Surveillance Capitalism. PublicAffairs.
• Gillespie, T. (2018). Custodians of the Internet. Yale University Press.
• Crawford, K., & Paglen, T. (2019). Excavating AI. International Journal of Communication.
• van Dijk, J. (2020). The Digital Divide. Polity Press.
• Couldry, N., & Mejias, U. A. (2019). The Costs of Connection. Stanford University Press.
• Suzor, N. (2019). Lawless. Cambridge University Press.
• De Vries, A., et al. (2018). Bitcoin’s growing energy problem. Joule, 2(5), 801–805.

In my artistic and programming practice, I would approach justice and ethics through a lens of intentional representation, inclusivity, and critical examination of power structures embedded within technology. This approach recognises that creative and technical work is never neutral; it either reinforces existing inequalities or actively works to dismantle them.

My primary approach would centre lived experiences in the design process and outcomes. This is important because when designing for a demographic or audience, understanding their needs and their lived experiences becomes rather important and necessary. Costanza-Chock (2020) emphasises that "design justice focuses on how design distributes benefits and burdens between various groups of people" and advocates for community-led practices that prioritise those most impacted by design decisions (p. 23). This implies moving beyond tokenistic consultation to genuine collaboration where affected communities have meaningful agency in shaping technological solutions. By embedding this participatory approach into practice, one ensures that the work serves those historically marginalised by mainstream technology rather than perpetuating existing power imbalances that, when not addressed, persist.

Another aspect is to resist algorithmic colonisation. Birhane (2023) warns that "algorithmic systems often reproduce and amplify existing social inequalities" while simultaneously appearing objective and neutral, particularly in contexts where Western technological frameworks are imposed without considering local knowledge systems. This requires interrogating the datasets, algorithms, and assumptions embedded in code, questioning whose perspectives are centred and whose are erased. Rather than simply adopting existing frameworks uncritically, it is important to seek to understand how technical choices might perpetuate colonial logic and work to develop more equitable alternatives that honour diverse ways of knowing and being.

Furthermore, ethical considerations must be woven throughout the creative and development process, not added as an afterthought. Mok (2023) argues that "ethical UX design requires us to consider the long-term implications of our design choices on users and society" and emphasises that morality cannot be separated from technical functionality. This means conducting regular ethical audits of work and considering unintended consequences. By treating ethics as fundamental rather than optional, I would create work that genuinely serves human flourishing rather than extractive or harmful purposes.

My approach would also emphasise transparency and accountability throughout my practice. I would document my decision-making processes, make my methodologies accessible to community review, and remain open to criticism and course correction. This acknowledges that ethical practice is not a destination but an ongoing commitment to justice that requires humility, continuous learning, and willingness to be challenged by those most affected by my work. Through this framework, I aim to contribute to a more just technological landscape that amplifies marginalised voices rather than silencing them.

References

• Birhane, A. (2023) '(PDF) Algorithmic Colonization of Africa', in ResearchGate. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/371850898_Algorithmic_Colonization_of_Africa.
• Costanza-Chock, S. (2020) Design Justice: Community-Led Practices to Build the Worlds We Need. The MIT Press. Available at: https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/12255.001.0001.
• Mok, J. (2023) Defining Ethical UX: The Intersection of Morality and Design, Medium. Available at: https://articles.ux-primer.com/defining-ethical-ux-the-intersection-of-morality-and-design-1d209cd1da4e.

In my continuous exploration of effective digital design, I have delved into the realm of UI, UX design, influenced by research and methodologies rooted in design thinking, and enriched by insights from symbols and visual signs. A particularly insightful article is UI, UX Design, Web Based Learning Application Using Design Thinking Method, by Winda Suci Lestari Nasution and Patriot Nusa, which presents an in depth study of how iterative design processes and the careful integration of symbols and visual cues can greatly enhance usability and user engagement.

Key Findings and Their Impact on My Design

Nasution and Nusa emphasize that a design thinking approach not only creates efficient task flows, but also leverages semiotic analysis, studying symbols and signs to create interfaces that communicate meaning intuitively, a point that resonates with my commitment to clarity and functionality.

Lessons from the ABSA Design Thinking Workshop

I had the opportunity to attend an ABSA Design Thinking Workshop where I explored the power of iteration and user empathy in the design process. One key takeaway was the importance of failing fast and refining quickly through feedback. This mindset directly informed how I approached this website project. From wireframes to final layout, I applied iterative feedback cycles, reworking my UI structure and spacing based on user testing and visual clarity.

The workshop also stressed storytelling in UX and aligning design choices with user expectations. This encouraged me to be intentional about my layout flow, ensuring users always know where they are and what to do next. Whether through prominent CTAs, simplified navigation, or consistent iconography, each element serves a purpose grounded in clarity and ease of use.

Symbolism and Semiotics in UI, UX

Symbols, whether they appear in navigation icons, buttons, or subtle typographic accents, serve as visual shorthand for complex ideas. For example, my use of a consistent color palette, where Neon Cyan and Electric Blue punctuate key interactive elements, reinforces familiar cues, builds trust, and communicates order, professionalism, and a tech savvy identity.

Typography, Layout, and Professional Persona

My design philosophy is deeply influenced by the idea that every element, from typography to layout, shapes user perception. By choosing futuristic yet readable fonts like Orbitron for headings and Exo 2 for body text, I convey technological sophistication and approachability. The clear grid based layout and strategic white space work together with these typographic choices to ensure that the interface feels uncluttered, professional, and inviting.

Concluding Thoughts

Integrating the insights from Nasution and Nusa along with experiential learning from the ABSA Workshop has reinforced my belief in the value of iterative, user centered design, as well as the communicative power of symbols, signs, and refined typography. My website aspires to be a digital space that is not only visually impressive, but also exudes professionalism and technical expertise. This approach is fundamental to my ongoing efforts to refine the UI, UX of my work.

References:
Nasution, W. S. L., and Nusa, P, (2021), UI, UX Design, Web Based Learning Application Using Design Thinking Method, Sainsmat.