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.