Good Design
Design features:
Text: Summarize
the qualities of the use of type that make a website successful.
Smooth, sensible, legible. If lengthy, columns that give the eye a place to rest. Ample margins. Centering on whatever screen is being used. Hierarchy of title, subtitles & text is obvious.
Navigation: Summarize the qualities of the
navigation that make a website successful.
Gracefully list the pages/topics covered on the site. It should be easy & efficient to see what the pages are, link accurately, link back accurately. Preferably to be able to find where the viewer is & a quick amiable source to determine where they want to be or find what they are looking for. If linking to another company's site be sure to have it go to another tab or window, so they can come back to yours easily.
Links: Summarize the qualities of the links, and their behavior that make
a website successful.
Good Simple Navigation - Prominent contact links &/or information - letting the viewer know where they are or where they have already been. Coordination of colors & style.
[NOTE: disagreement - underlining every link is very tacky. Scooting the curser to obvious spots finding a "screen tip" is far more tasteful.]
Graphics: Summarize the use of Graphics, vector and
raster,that make a website successful.
Graphics should be be an asset not an overbearing hindrance. Graceful, complementary. Vector eases the enlargement & clarity, Every one has an alternative text for the advantage of slow loading or viewers astigmatism. Browser safe colors. Of they have to be animated graphics - they stop on their own. Buttons are not garish.
General Design: Summarize the aspects of the overall design that
make a website successful.
Comfort, pleasing to the eye, efficient simplicity, ease to find answers, gently inspiring questions, positively impressive, Simple navigation, lower in bytes the better (improves grace in loading.) Coordination of all the pages. Consistent heading & page links.
Notes:
Respect customers - always keep them in mind. Entertain them gracefully.
"The only reason my website exists is to solve my customers' problems" is a good & noble thought, but often it is out of context. As an artist the site exists for obtaining an audience, entertaining people into becoming fans & then, hopefully, customers. Gracefully getting your (or your client's) name out into the world(ww) makes a bit more sense.
As a calligrapher, I do not like The Keystone Design's Logo - it looks amateur. Their client samples are quite impressive - if you can get by their own heading. http://www.thekdu.com/
As in an artist's statement; it is unprofessional to do a website in the first person. It appears to be either a feeble plea or an informally jesting chat.
[The wording of http://www.artofdavemyers.com/galleries is awful, although the general format is nice, the wording sounds like either a high school drop out or a casual annoyance.]
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Bad Design>>>
By the by, "http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com" has a bit of a flaw as well: you shouldn't put the grand title of :
"Biggest Mistakes in Web Design"
Followed directly by links & ads for your sponsors! I first thought that they were the samples. Very sloppy.
Design features:
Text: Summarize
the qualities of the use of type that make a website unsuccessful.
It should not spread all the way across the monitor. It should not be illegibly small, the smaller implements have to be kept in mind. Bold & outlined characters do not work well.
Navigation: Summarize the qualities of the
navigation that make a website unsuccessful.
It is recommended not to have the page flow to the side/horizontally, but I have seen some for Art that worked quite well. Audio zips & ringings while touching links are very annoying.
Navigation suggests links - which is covered below.
Links: Summarize the qualities of the links, and their behavior that make
a website unsuccessful.
Links that do not work, Links that are difficult to find & distinguish. Not indicating which page the viewer is on or where they have been. That annoying blue gleam - especially around pics. Ghost links. Garish text links, or worse, text that is colorful enough to appear to be a link when it is not.
Links to pages with no link back to the previous & no heading/menu of the site itself.
[Although most internet travelers know enough to hit the back arrow, in fact most do not even look for the return point with the curser.]
Graphics: Summarize the use of Graphics, vector and
raster, that make a website unsuccessful.
Flashy is annoying. Raster is a heavier weight, inhibits with pixels & takes longer to load. It can also be blown with either extreme too much or too little - temperance. Posting trivial work that is uncomplimentary.
General Design: Summarize the aspects of the overall design that
make a website unsuccessful.
A confusingly elaborate index page destroys the ambiance of the site.
Complementary contrast is essential.
Notes:
Sloppy is bad. Bad loses customers. It all comes down to respect.
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Now, this was a difficult topic to narrow down & select a "winner."
Practical efficiency & appeal felt more significant. Thus the choice.
Design features: X-Ray Accessories, Parts, Supplies, and Equipment
Text: Summarize
the qualities of the use of type that make this site unsuccessful.
Where to start!
It thrives on the impracticality of an atrocious background.
The text is so small that it is virtually illegible on an iPad - just think of what it would be on an iPod or a Blackberry! The set list is also not direct or orderly. The lines shift with undiscriminated topics. Some give the number of products/links, some do not. The main description statement at the top of the page does adjust to screen size -BUT- when on the computer screen, spreads all the way across, becoming even more illegible.
The margins are awful - almost non-existent.
Navigation: Summarize the qualities of the
navigation that make this site unsuccessful.
The lists are in no practical order, not even alphabetical.
SURPRISE! They do have a Search Bar! But, it is not as efficient as it could be. I searched for "blue gloves," it put blue cases on the list before gloves. Then the entire list of glove manufacturers, showing their Logos with no description or photo of the style or type, until you went through them - one - at - a - time.
Links: Summarize the qualities of the links, and their behavior that make
this site unsuccessful.
Most of the links work fine, but they do not give a Screen Tip. This is essential for accommodating many guests, especially the blind or visually impaired. All can appreciate this simple gesture.
Graphics: Summarize the use of Graphics, both
vector and raster, which make this site unsuccessful.
Obviously NOT vector. The featured piece of what appears to be an X-Ray in Process is flashy, distracting & creepy. The ratty fuzzy edges of the Titles appear to be an odd, feeble attempt with Photoshop. The sample pics are edge adjusted, "Beveled" with Photoshop Typography Styles. [Might even be Gimp - which is fine with adjusting photos for entry in a juried art show but not for adjusting logo formats.]
Using a puzzle piece to mark each subtitle would not be so bad if they were all different & fit together - like solving a puzzling problem. Topping each of these with the same ribbing x-ray pic is rather feeble.
General Design: Summarize the aspects of the overall design that
make this site unsuccessful.
It thrives on the impracticality of an atrocious background with font colors that are either too contrasting or not enough. They are a perfect sample of destroying value, color scheme,
saturation, hue, font, placement, alignment, extension, texture, balance,
rhythm, unity, variety & contrast.
Describe the purpose of this site in the notes. (Include whether
it was easy to determine the purpose – why or why not?)
It seems somewhat obvious and rather easy to determine the purpose of the site, but you have to read on down to find it. The address/title of the site is indeterminable as well, pnwx could be a theatre company or a railroad yard for all we can tell!
Notes:
The choice of a soft aqua to periwinkle to purple wave blending pattern in the background was an awful choice. Background patterns aren't always wrong, but they need to be discreet & complementary. This site is so "Early 90's" style that it is amazing that it is still in existence. I understand that they do not publish a catalog - this is their survival. Amazing.
NOTE to company: Please think of your customers first, you might even get more customers by word of mouth.
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URL of site #1: http://ellenwilliamsphotography.com/index.html
Design features: Fine Art Photography
Text: Summarize
the qualities of the use of type that make this site successful.
Simple sans-serif font nice column not over bearing. Adjustable & legible, witty.
Navigation: Summarize the qualities of the navigation
that make this site successful.
Headings work well, definitely lets you know what page you are on. [Although there is not a proper page title to show in the tab. If saved for the viewer's file it will label the link just as as "Home" - a big mistake of many sites.]
Links: Summarize the qualities of the links, and their behavior that make
this site successful.
Obvious but not garish. It is nice when you are given the choice of returning to the topic page or continuing your own slide show.
[Although "home" is used a bit too often - sometimes returning to the main portfolio page instead of the actual home page.]
Graphics: Summarize the use of Graphics, vector and
raster, which make this site successful.
Clear & inviting well placed. Only negatives: pics are placed without as much margin below as above & no size or purchase information.
General Design: Summarize the aspects of the overall design that
make this site successful.
Lovely heading with artist's name & topic prominent. Nice flowing format. But needs more contact information.
Describe the purpose of this site in the notes. (Include whether
it was easy to determine the purpose – why or why not?)
Notes:
ellen williams fine art photography
was obvious enough
But email is the only contact option.
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URL of site #2: http://www.fosterwhite.com
Design features: Fine Art
Text: Summarize
the qualities of the use of type that make this site successful.
All sans-serif capitals, yet it works. Postings & notes are upper & lower case. When the curser touches an artist's name it darkens & becomes underlined. The artist's page includes a file of their work with title, year, medium, size & price followed by a brief biography, also links to individual pages showing a larger pic (with title, year, medium, size & price)
Navigation: Summarize the qualities of the navigation
that make this site successful.
The links are clean & clear. The list of media is obvious, menu at the top is steadily on every page. [They do not need to say "HOME" you know it when you touch their title.]
[Yet it would be one touch nicer if the home/index page would show a different color font on the links to the pages that you have already visited.]
Links: Summarize the qualities of the links, and their behavior that make
this site successful.
As with navigation: clean & clear. Very quick.
Graphics: Summarize the use of Graphics, vector and
raster, which make this site successful.
The only annoyance was a stray from the form by underlining the submissions options - they are not links, just subtitles.
General Design: Summarize the aspects of the overall design that
make this site successful.
Formality, respect, character. Very professional in presentation. The contact page even offers a map. It also lists address, phone, staff & hours with links to Facebook & Twitter! There is also a page to get on their mailing list, email list & inquire about artists or pieces of their work.
Describe the purpose of this site in the notes. (Include whether
it was easy to determine the purpose – why or why not?)
Notes:
Very simple to determine the purpose of this site. Absolutely obvious. Prominent in the title - on every page. [This would have gotten at least a B+ in Scott Mansfield's class!]
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Design features: A TRUE Digital/Graphic Designer's site!! Very hard to find.
Text: Summarize
the qualities of the use of type that make this site successful.
An airy sans-serif, Nice to view large or small.
Navigation: Summarize the qualities of the navigation
that make this site successful.
When you skirt over a link it goes bold with a gracefully distant underline.
[Which would be better if it retained some alteration of tone after being visited.]
Links: Summarize the qualities of the links, and their behavior that make
this site successful.
Gentle color change in links - but all very accurate & efficient. Quick loading. Her heading & logo are on every page. The Logo links back to the index - neat & clean.
Graphics: Summarize the use of Graphics, vector and
raster, which make this site successful.
The Index page is a "Slide Show" with a somewhat annoying, but understandable, pop-up of listings of skills & talents. The samples are clear & well displayed. Very nice slide shows by category.
General Design: Summarize the aspects of the overall design that
make this site successful.
Efficient & attractive. Very inviting
Describe the purpose of this site in the notes. (Include whether
it was easy to determine the purpose – why or why not?)
Notes:
The purpose is to get clientele.
Her contact information is fabulous! Even a P.O.Box, email address & phone #.
She does dictate contact & working hours. Perhaps we all should, but in art that is seldom possible.
