Home Page

I have create a rough sketch of a home page of my website that critiques the 3 other sites. I wanted this page to be simple, state something in the title and show a brief description of the website in a structured format like the other three. At the top of the description there will be a link to the actual website, where as the description will be a very brief critique that leads to another page with the full critique of the website and the necessary information Krista requires.

Here is a .jpg of the homepage with filler text for the brief critique....

Web Site Critique#3

Designflood.com

Navigation:

Is it easy to navigate or difficult?

It is very easy to navigate through the site

How are you led through the site?

Classic format viewing from top to bottom with more page numbers at the very bottom if you want to continue searching.

What visual clues are given to tell you how to interact?

Standard clues, such as the mouse turns into a hand when you roll over a link, there are arrows and more page numbers at the bottom if you want to explore more, etc. When you want to rank a site, the square inverts color when you roll over it.

Does the designer use a metaphors to get you to move through the website?

A couple arrows, but more than metaphors is follows a strict structure and does not vary.

What Kind of metaphors are used? Organizational Metaphors = (organized by type, kind etc...); Functional Metaphors = performs a “real world” function (in Photoshop you can figuratively “cut” and “paste”) or Visual Metaphors (common graphic elements familiar to most – the traditional “play”, “fast-forward”, “rewind” buttons found on CD players)

Like i mentioned, not a lot of metaphors, but i guess it is organized by format. Each website resides in a rectangle, with the rating system next to that. Every page is exactly the same.

Information Architecture:

Does the information in the site make sense?

Yes it does

Can you access the content you want easily?

Yes, I have no issues finding what I want to know

How is the content organized? (By location, alphabet, timeline, category, etc? )

All of their content is organized by location and timeline. Each page is exactly the same and then a timeline is used (sort of) for the multiple pages on the bottom.

Is there visual and content hierarchy that allows you to easily understand and access the information presented to you?

The only hierarchy is how we read things from top to bottom. They all have equal weight and importance based on size, color, type, etc.

Usability

Is this site easy to use?

Yes it is

How do the above two concepts, navigation and information architecture, work in terms of making the site usable or not? Do the metaphors make sense with the content?

Metaphors are not a big focus of this site. The information architecture works extremely well for usability. This is by far the main focus of use instead of metaphors

Overall- does the site sustain your interest and engagement?

Not really. I am more interested in the site's i am going to rate, then this portal.

Meaning-Making: (Narrative and Metaphoric Structures)

In what way is the designer creating meaning in this site?

I don't feel there is any deeper meaning in the site. It just what it is.

Are they using metaphor? (Remember, metaphor is very common in our experience with computers, sometimes so common we don’t even realize we are using it, i.e. the desktop, cutting and pasting, file systems, buttons, etc.).

They use buttons for links, but that is all I am noticing on this site.

Is there a narrative, story or event that unfolds over time?

No.

Is this narrative linear, non-linear, or multi-linear?

The is no real narrative.

Reflection of the User:

Is there a reflection of you, as the user, on this site? Does it change according to your specific visit? Do you receive mouse feedback? text feedback? Does the site store any choices you have made? Are you engaged enough in the site to linger and explore.

The best example of reflection is when you roll over the number to rank the website. The colors invert and when you click on a number VOTE NOW disappears and the average vote appears comparing it to how YOU voted.

Transparency of Design:

Does the design of the site lead you to pay more attention to the content or to the design itself?

Well the design is just basic. So i pay more attention to that content. I enjoy that i get to vote, so i want to keep exploring other sites and vote on them.

Does the design feel transparent or “natural”, leading you to focus on the content and forget the design completely? Or – Is attention called more to the design itself?

It feels natural. There is not much to it, so its easy to look through.

Does the transparency or lack of transparency of the design make sense with what the site is intending to do?

I feel that transparent nature is fine, since the focus is on ranking other sites. I just wish it was more interactive than it is. The transparency of the design is great how it is.

Web Site Critique #2

Will Howe Creative

Navigation:

Is it easy to navigate or difficult?

It is very easy to navigate through the site

How are you led through the site?

The site opens up with two squares (links) to either his portfolio or his blog. You decide which you would like to view 1st and those buttons take you to each page individually

What visual clues are given to tell you how to interact?

Under each image is a > arrow with the title of the page. Once you jump into his portfolio there are arrows to scroll through his images manually or you can press the play button to run through the images automatically

Does the designer use a metaphors to get you to move through the website?

Yes he does.

What Kind of metaphors are used? Organizational Metaphors = (organized by type, kind etc...); Functional Metaphors = performs a “real world” function (in Photoshop you can figuratively “cut” and “paste”) or Visual Metaphors (common graphic elements familiar to most – the traditional “play”, “fast-forward”, “rewind” buttons found on CD players)

Visual metaphors are heavily used in his portfolio and home page. Arrows are common, but the traditional 'play' and 'pause' buttons that are found on CD players

Information Architecture:

Does the information in the site make sense?

Yes it does

Can you access the content you want easily?

Yes, it is extremely easy

How is the content organized? (By location, alphabet, timeline, category, etc? )

Content is organized by location since you start out with only 2 images on the home site. Once you enter into his portfolio his content is organized by a timeline since it scrolls through the images from 1 to 30

Is there visual and content hierarchy that allows you to easily understand and access the information presented to you?

Well, not really. At the beginning those two images are exactly the same size, they have equal value it is up to you to decide which one interests you first. Once in the portfolio, the main image is lit up while the next one up is darker so you naturally focus on the brighter image for the time being.

Usability

Is this site easy to use?

Yes it is

How do the above two concepts, navigation and information architecture, work in terms of making the site usable or not? Do the metaphors make sense with the content?

The architecture is very simple, yet effective and if there were any doubts the metaphors such as play, pause and arrows lead you through the site effective and usable. The metaphors make sense with the content as much as any arrow or play button do. The content is nothing more than his work, and since it is a slideshow it makes perfect sense.

Overall- does the site sustain your interest and engagement?

Yes it does. I like looking at things, so it was easy to scroll through.

Meaning-Making: (Narrative and Metaphoric Structures

In what way is the designer creating meaning in this site?

There really is not much meaning in the site. It his just his portfolio, which displays his work. He kept the colors and imagery simple so the viewer will focus on the work and not an over the top flashy website.

Are they using metaphor? (Remember, metaphor is very common in our experience with computers, sometimes so common we don’t even realize we are using it, i.e. the desktop, cutting and pasting, file systems, buttons, etc.).

They use buttons for links, and arrows/play/pause to control the slideshow. Is the slideshow a metaphor too?

Is there a narrative, story or event that unfolds over time?

There really is not a narrative, i guess except the story of his work? He is showing you his work over the course of his career.

Is this narrative linear, non-linear, or multi-linear?

If that counts as a narrative i guess it would be linear

Reflection of the User:

Is there a reflection of you, as the user, on this site? Does it change according to your specific visit? Do you receive mouse feedback? text feedback? Does the site store any choices you have made? Are you engaged enough in the site to linger and explore.

Reflection is minimally used. I could only find one instance of reflection, when i first move my mouse over the images in his portfolio the arrow and the play button appear

Transparency of Design:

Does the design of the site lead you to pay more attention to the content or to the design itself?

The design is so subtle that i don't even notice it. I instead focus on the content, his work.

Does the design feel transparent or “natural”, leading you to focus on the content and forget the design completely? Or – Is attention called more to the design itself?

The design feels natural. I don't feel i have to prod and search for ways to lead me around. There is only so much i can do except view his artwork. I really don't even think about the design while im on his site.

Does the transparency or lack of transparency of the design make sense with what the site is intending to do?

Yes it makes perfect sense. Since it is his portfolio he would want the viewer to focus on his work. Now, if he was a great web designer, maybe a tricky cool design would be effective as well, but his design is basic and natural so it does not distract from his work or frustrate the user.

Web Site Critique# 1

Open Doors Student Site

Navigation:

Is it easy to navigate or difficult?

It is very easy to navigate through the site

How are you led through the site?

The site is set up in a structured format with links on the right that lead you away from the home page and to the other pages involved with the site.

What visual clues are given to tell you how to interact?

The links are in a list to the left, a common way to tell the viewer they are links and when you roll over the words they change color and move slightly to the right. These hotspots let the user know there is something there to use.

Does the designer use a metaphors to get you to move through the website?

Yes, but very limited

What Kind of metaphors are used? Organizational Metaphors = (organized by type, kind etc...); Functional Metaphors = performs a “real world” function (in Photoshop you can figuratively “cut” and “paste”) or Visual Metaphors (common graphic elements familiar to most – the traditional “play”, “fast-forward”, “rewind” buttons found on CD players)

The only metaphor I am seeing is organizational metaphors, organized by type and color of type. I do not see any functional metaphors nor visual ones. I guess there is 1 arrow on the site, but that is a ll.

Information Architecture:

Does the information in t he site make sense?

Yes it does

Can you access the content you want easily?

Yes, I have no issues finding what I want to know

How is the content organized? (B y locati on, alphabet, timeline, category, etc? )

All of their content is organized by location. The main site is a centered conglomeration from every page, and the top left is for the links. When you go to a new page they use the standard top information is the newest and bottom is the oldest

Is there visual and content hierarchy that allows you to easily understand and access the information presented to you?

Yes, the title is an image at the top of the site and from there your eye leads you down (naturally) to more information. T he most important and necessary information is first in the list of links if you are looking for something specifically where as the main page allows the vie wer to explore.

Usability

Is this site easy to use?

Yes it is

How do the above two concepts, navigat ion and information architecture, work in terms of making the site usable or not? Do the metaphors make sense with the content?

Metaphors are not a big focus of this site, however, the few that are used with the organizational metaphors are effective and make the site usable. The information architecture works extremely well for usability. This is by far the main focus of use instead of metaphors

Overall- does the site sustain your interest and engagement?

Yes it does. Engagement is not as powe rful as interest, but I do not get bored looking around the site.

Meaning-Making: (Narrative and Metaphoric Structures)

In what way is the designer creating meaning in this site?

The designer created meaning thro ugh im agery and words. While the graphical elements are cool I do not think they support the meaning of the site that the imager y and words that are on the page.

Are they using metaphor? (Remember, metaphor is very common in our experience with computers, sometimes so common we don’t even realize we are using it, i.e. the desktop, cutting and pasting, file systems, buttons, etc.).

They use buttons for link

s, but that is all I am noticing on this site.

Is there a narrative, story or event that unfolds over time?

No, each page has a different

message, but all under th

e same overall meaning

Is this narrative linear, non-linear, or multi-linear?

The is no real narrative.

Reflection of the User:

Is there a reflection o

f you, as the user, on this site? Does it change according to your specific visit? Do you receive mouse feedback? text feedback

? Does the site store any choices you have made? Are you engaged enough in the site to linger and explore.

The only strong sense of reflection is w

hen you roll over the links the button changes color and moves and then when you click on a link to a new page, that button stays illuminated and bold to let you know what page you are on. The overall engagement does not make me want to linger and explore, but the graphical elements an

d design keeps me long enough

Transparency of Design:

Does the design of the site lead you to pay

more attention to the content or to the design itself?

No, not really. I guess I pay more attention to the design than I do to the content because it is a strong overall design that

stays similar in all pages

Does the design feel transparent or “natu

ral”, leading you to focus on the content and forget the design completely? Or – Is attention called more to the design itself?

The attention is more on the design itself. I don’t lose my self in the page and focus solely on the content, I just let my eye wander aesthetically

Does the transparency or lack of transpa

rency of the design make sense with what the site is intending to do?

Yeah, you would have to be interested in

the purpose of this site to truly care. If you weren’t a Christian you probably wo

uld not care to explore and read becaus

e you probably would not agree with the stuff or care about the issues they discuss. So it is very transparent and for

this site, its alright.

Screenshots: