Web Site Critique - Week 28

Site:	http://www.beyondconcepts.com/ Web Design Company
Target:	Companies in Georgia and the USA requiring web services.
Engaging/not:	The home page is very simple with most of the space taken up by the logo (which is also the link “button” to the main page), under which is a row of navigation buttons to the pages of the site. Despite (because of?) the simple design, the use of shades of grey and blue and an overall smart metallic look, the site makes a striking impact. Subsequent pages use a shallower version of the logo but keep the navigation row. Under this, the page is split into two halves: - The left side gives a précis of the page, or lists sub-topics - The right side elaborates on the theme, or displays the sub-topic in detail. The portfolio page has links to the actual web sites that have been developed.
Would want:	Overall this is a very professional looking site, easy to navigate and informative.
Would not want:

Web Site Critique - Week 27

Site:	http://www.netdogz.com/ Web Design Company
Target:	Companies in Connecticut and the USA requiring web services.
Engaging/not:	The home page uses Flash to display the company logo at the top of the page and a list of navigation options in a column to its left. This looks very striking, but could be a problem for someone with a dial-up connection (presumably considered a remote possibility for the target audience). The navigation is repeated across the bottom of the page where the company’s address, etc. is also displayed: Access requires a scroll-down. The remainder of the home page is taken up with news items and some testimonials. The remaining pages use a simpler version of the logo (non-Flash) with a contact 800 number prominently displayed. Navigation on these pages uses a simple horizontal array. Each page has a title at the top and all maintain the same design elements while using a different illustration in the left-hand column.
Would want:	Overall this is a very professional looking site, easy to navigate and informative.
Would not want:

Web Site Critique - Week 26.

Site:	http://www.thekillersfansite.com/index.html Fan site for the group “Killers”
Target:	Fans aged 18-?.
Engaging/not:	The web site is constructed in black and white with shades of grey. While this mimics the official “Island Records” web site for The Killers, it does appear drab for a fan site. The layout of the site is very simple with the navigation in a column down the left side of the page. The navigation is quite specific which makes it easy to go exactly where you would like in the site. Each page maintains the layout with the header picture changing for each page but the titles, etc staying in place. My biggest quibble with the site is that it offers a “chat” facility so any fans can communicate with each other. HOWEVER, this is crammed into the navigation column under the navigation buttons which means that there is a tiny area displayed with overflow bars for up/down & left/right.
Would want:	The “low-tech’” look works well for ease of navigation.
Would not want:	The “chat” facility would be MUCH better in a page of its own.

Web Site Critique - Week 22

Site:	http://www.foxsearchlight.com/sunshine/ Movie “Sunshine” promo
Target:	Movie goers aged 18-40.
Engaging/not:	This is a website designed to promote the science-fiction movie “Sunshine”. Striking layout mimicking the viewport of a spaceship heading for the sun. Navigation buttons look like shiny plastic or black metal and this look is also used for the background. However, everything is VERY slow to load. Rollovers on the special sections open up a window giving more details of the contents of the section (which is a nice feature given how long it takes for the section to actually open if it is clicked).
Would want:	The hi-tech looking layout is admirably suited for the sci-fi genre and I like the information windows which display when rolling over the section titles.
Would not want:	Everything is slow to download. I think this could loose the very audience they are trying to attract.

Web Site Critique - Week 21

Site:	http://www.bluenile.com/ Blue Nile Jeweler
Target:	Web-savvy people with disposable income aged 25-60.
Engaging/not:	Simple, elegant layout with a deep blue header (which contains the store logo in the top left with a toll-free phone contact number and navigation to order status, etc. on the right-hand side). There is a lighter blue navigation area down the left side of the page and navigation buttons in the same shade along the bottom of the header area which access major section pages such as “Jewelry”, “Watches”, etc. These buttons become tabs when that page is opened giving a clear reference to the current page. The navigation items in the left-hand column are split into “Shop by Product” and “Shop by Material” sections: When a selection is made here the column changes to show the sections within that choice, along with “Related Links” while keeping references to the main sections using pop-out menus. Along the bottom of the page (in the same colour as the section headings in the left navigation area) is a navigation bar with links to “About Us”, “Careers”, etc. Within each section the top of the display page shows the “breadcrumb” trail so that it can easily be seen where the user is and how to get back to previous pages using the displayed links. This site is very nicely laid out for someone easily able to use a mouse to navigate but could be difficult for someone with vision limitations or someone not used to web conventions.
Would want:	The conventional layout makes it easy to use the site. The navigation areas are grouped into logical areas; the purchasing links to the top left, shopping links in the left column and company information along the bottom.
Would not want:	Because of the size of the pages (even the “home” page) the company links to not show up without scrolling. While these may be considered the least-important it would have been nice if, on the home page at least, these could be seen without having to scroll.

Web Critique - Week 20

Site:	http://www.threadman.com/ Thread Man Fine Clothing “Classic Clothing for the Gentleman”
Target:	Men in the upper income brackets, between 30 and 60.
Engaging/not:	Elegant looking home page: The colours, text and muted images convey the feeling of understated opulence. Subsequent pages all maintain a common format using the same text elements from the home page with the same links laid out in a horizontal bar across the top of the page, with the logo being the only route back to the home page. For some reason these pages do not keep the background colour from the home page (I think it would look better and maintain cohesion if they did). The “Shop Online” page becomes “Select a Category” when opened and the categories themselves are displayed in a very small box in the middle of the page as simple underlined links. This looks like they couldn’t be bothered to make the page look more enticing.
Would want:	The home page is very nicely laid out.
Would not want:	It is a pity that the design elements of the home page are not maintained on every page in the site.

Site Critique - Week 15 nuber 2

Site:	http://www.annestahl.com/ Anne Stahl abstract landscape painting
Target:	Fans and anyone interested in purchasing the art.
Engaging/not:	Very eye-catching home page: The navigation is in a column on the left and repeated in a bar along the bottom of the page. The majority of the home page is taken up with a slideshow of the artist’s work which grabs the attention of the site visitor. On subsequent pages the muted olive background color is maintained and the bottom navigation bar is reflected along the top of the page. The exceptions to this are the “Thesis” page and the “Guest Book” page, both of which drastically change the style: The reason for this is particularly hard to understand for the “Guest Book” page. Each series of paintings is displayed on a separate page but for some reason there is no consistency in the format of the displays.
Would want:	The home page is very nicely laid out: The layout itself, the use of colours, which enhance the images of the paintings and do not try to compete with them for attention.
Would not want:	It is a pity that the design elements of the home page are not maintained on every page in the site and that one scheme is not used to display all the series of paintings.

Site Critique - Week 15

Site:	http://www.webuildpages.com/ Internet Marketing Services
Target:	Businesses with web pages who wish to increase their ranking in search engines such as Yahoo and Google.
Engaging/not:	Very underwhelming design. There is a grey navigation bar at the top of the page just under the logo (which is the only way to get back ‘home’ from other pages) and the links are repeated at the bottom of the page: This is a good thing since the pages are all very long and require much scrolling. There is a histogram on the home page. The bars get bigger as you go right but there is no explanation of what this represents. The whole site seems haphazard and slapdash, not what you would expect to attract serious business custom! However, the services offered are clearly laid out along with the costs.
Would want:
Would not want:	The overall effect is one of disorganization. Perhaps more pages with less blurb on each would work better? If I were an online business, this would not tempt me to hire them.

Site Critique - Week 14

Site:	http://www.helenmirren.com/universe.html The Helen Mirren Appreciation Society
Target:	Fans of the actress Helen Mirren
Engaging/not:	Nicely laid out home page. The top quarter of the screen is taken up with a background image showing Helen in various head-shots starting in natural colours on the left and fading into a deep red on the right. This same red is used in a solid band along the bottom of the page which contains links to other areas of the site. The main navigation is achieved using tabs at the top of the display section of the page. This scheme is maintained throughout the site.
Would want:	The stimulating but not over forceful graphics in the header image etc.
Would not want:	The split between the links at the top of the page and those at the bottom seems a bit arbitrary: Biography at the bottom, Career at the top, for example. It would have been better to have the “Helen” links all as tabs at the top and the “Society” links where they are along the bottom.

Site Critique - Week 13

Site:	http://www.ox.ac.uk/ University of Oxford
Target:	Students, Alumni and Visitors
Engaging/not:	Simple, uncluttered opening page with a top banner in Oxford blue containing the university crest and the title. The page is split into three main sections: A list of “Quick Links” on the left Two columns of links of “Information For” and “Information About” categories A “Latest News” section on the right There is also a “search” featured prominently at the top of the page. Subsequent pages differ from the ‘home’ page in that the crest tops a column of Oxford blue down the left-hand side which contains the links and indicates the current page by using a lighter shade of blue. The bottom of the column also has the address and phone number for the University Offices. Overall, a pleasant, easy to use, accessible site.
Would want:	The clean, open web pages that lead you to each service offered. The maintenance of the same design elements on each page
Would not want:	The links to the various museums and galleries in Oxford open in the current page. It would be better if these opened a new page.

Site critique - Week 12

Site:	http://www.missouri.gov/mo/index.htm State of Missouri’s Official Web Site
Target:	Residents and Visitors to the state
Engaging/not:	Nice, uncluttered opening page: Showing News items, photographs of the state, link to the Governor, etc. and Featured sites. Navigation in the left-hand column is clear and the current item is clearly indicated. Every page (except the new “Business” page) maintains the same general design scheme with the “Show me Missouri” logo giving easy return to the home page. For residents, the pages give links to educational and residential sites, for visitors the “traveling” page gives access to places of interest, recreation areas, etc. Overall, an easy to use, accessible site.
Would want:	The clean, open web pages that lead you to each service offered.
Would not want:	The “Business” page is, in fact, an access to a totally different site, yet is opened within the same window. It would be better if it opened a new window for this.