Assignment 6B (Cont)
Question 2. Explain the five websites assigned whether they have the above design elements and have properly used these elements and other design elements such as color (i.e. balance, scheme, etc.), gestalt principles (continuity, proximity, etc), economy, etc (i.e. how the design and the usability interact).
This is the website that I feel is the worst among the 5 of them.
At first glance, it is weird to have 2 dark tones used together in a webpage. Dark orange and dark blue are used here. These 2 colors are like competing against each other to attract the viewer’s attention. From an earlier lecture, this shade of orange represents distrust and sadness while this shade of blue stands for depression. Therefore, it is strange that an institution use these 2 colors to represent them.
Secondly, the blue portion occupies slightly more space than the orange. It gives an imbalance feel to me. Moreover, all the information is at the right side while there is only the name of the institution at the left. It gives a much heavier feel on the right side.
Thirdly, there isn’t any emphasis for me. I do not know where I should navigate to. There isn’t any point of focus for me.
Lastly, there isn’t any unity and flow as the name of the university is placed on the left side and then it suddenly branches out to all the links on the right. Personally, I prefer a pyramid-shaped structure so I could follow the information from top to down.
University of Kansas Medical Center
For University of Kansas Medical Center’s website, I feel there is no unity as I have to scroll up and down to view the complete website which makes it a chore. Also, some of the sub-sections are in bold just like the main sections so there is no feel of unity.
The web page is divided into 3 main segments and they are all use different colors which is confusing for me. There is a slight negative space at the bottom half of the page which I feel should be removed so it has a continuity feel.
I feel that if the hyperlinks are placed on the top instead of all over the page would be a better option. It will have a more organized structure. If there is a necessary that all the links must be present, then drop-down menus for these links would be the solution.
For University of Kansas Medical Center’s website, I feel there is no unity as I have to scroll up and down to view the complete website which makes it a chore. Also, some of the sub-sections are in bold just like the main sections so there is no feel of unity.
The web page is divided into 3 main segments and they are all use different colors which is confusing for me. There is a slight negative space at the bottom half of the page which I feel should be removed so it has a continuity feel.
I feel that if the hyperlinks are placed on the top instead of all over the page would be a better option. It will have a more organized structure. If there is a necessary that all the links must be present, then drop-down menus for these links would be the solution.
University of Kentucky
For University of Kentucky, the first thing I notice is the large white space at the right. It gives an imbalance feel to the whole website. There is simply too much negative space. To remedy it, the web page could possibly be shifted to the center to balance the negative space on both sides.
The frames/boxes that are not closed suggest there might be more information at the bottom so I might just scroll down to find out. However, I couldn’t scroll down anymore so it is misleading the viewer.
Also, the picture of the 4 students is distracting as I don’t feel the connection between them and the institution. Therefore, it does not have the unity and continuity.
Moreover, there are 2 tab bars, one on the top and one at the middle of the page. I don’t feel the flow and necessity for these 2 bars. I feel they should just move the middle bar right to the top. This bar has all the necessary information that a student will need.
Lastly, may be I am an outsider, I don’t understand their slogan of “see blue in everything we do”. Therefore, if they could remove it or do not make it so prominent, then it would not be too misleading for the ordinary visitor.
The frames/boxes that are not closed suggest there might be more information at the bottom so I might just scroll down to find out. However, I couldn’t scroll down anymore so it is misleading the viewer.
Also, the picture of the 4 students is distracting as I don’t feel the connection between them and the institution. Therefore, it does not have the unity and continuity.
Moreover, there are 2 tab bars, one on the top and one at the middle of the page. I don’t feel the flow and necessity for these 2 bars. I feel they should just move the middle bar right to the top. This bar has all the necessary information that a student will need.
Lastly, may be I am an outsider, I don’t understand their slogan of “see blue in everything we do”. Therefore, if they could remove it or do not make it so prominent, then it would not be too misleading for the ordinary visitor.
University of Louisiana
Personally, for all the 5 websites, I prefer this the most.
I like that it is situated right at the middle so it sort of balance out the negative spaces on both sides. Also, I don’t have to scroll up and down to navigate the page.
The color contrast is also good as the minimal use of red against the white background brightens up the page.
The institution’s logo half is equally balance with the picture on the right side so there isn’t a feel of which half is competing for the viewer’s attention.
There is also good proximity between the different tabs on the top. The viewer will not have the feeling that the website is trying hard to stuff all the information at the top.
I also like that they emphasize some of the main points (in the center) for visitors to their website. For example, prospective students know straightaway where to click when they visit this website.
I like that it is situated right at the middle so it sort of balance out the negative spaces on both sides. Also, I don’t have to scroll up and down to navigate the page.
The color contrast is also good as the minimal use of red against the white background brightens up the page.
The institution’s logo half is equally balance with the picture on the right side so there isn’t a feel of which half is competing for the viewer’s attention.
There is also good proximity between the different tabs on the top. The viewer will not have the feeling that the website is trying hard to stuff all the information at the top.
I also like that they emphasize some of the main points (in the center) for visitors to their website. For example, prospective students know straightaway where to click when they visit this website.
University of Louisville
This website also has the problem of having too much negative space at the middle section.
Proximity of the words also differs. On the left, the links are appropriately spaced apart. Meanwhile, the links in the middle section have too much empty space between them. As for the links on the right, they are grouped too closely together. I feel they should have some degree of uniformity to ensure there is unity.
I feel the website’s layout is spread out too widely. It diversifies the viewer’s attention. Thus, this problem could be solved by having the website framed up and position it in the center.
One more point is the name of the university. It is of the small font and located at the top left hand corner of the website. It doesn’t really attract the viewer’s attention which should not be the case. I feel the name should be made more prominent to the visitors so they have a clear idea what they are surfing about.
Proximity of the words also differs. On the left, the links are appropriately spaced apart. Meanwhile, the links in the middle section have too much empty space between them. As for the links on the right, they are grouped too closely together. I feel they should have some degree of uniformity to ensure there is unity.
I feel the website’s layout is spread out too widely. It diversifies the viewer’s attention. Thus, this problem could be solved by having the website framed up and position it in the center.
One more point is the name of the university. It is of the small font and located at the top left hand corner of the website. It doesn’t really attract the viewer’s attention which should not be the case. I feel the name should be made more prominent to the visitors so they have a clear idea what they are surfing about.
The University of Kansas
At first glance, it is weird to have 2 dark tones used together in a webpage. Dark orange and dark blue are used here. These 2 colors are like competing against each other to attract the viewer’s attention. From an earlier lecture, this shade of orange represents distrust and sadness while this shade of blue stands for depression. Therefore, it is strange that an institution use these 2 colors to represent them.
Secondly, the blue portion occupies slightly more space than the orange. It gives an imbalance feel to me. Moreover, all the information is at the right side while there is only the name of the institution at the left. It gives a much heavier feel on the right side.
Thirdly, there isn’t any emphasis for me. I do not know where I should navigate to. There isn’t any point of focus for me.
Lastly, there isn’t any unity and flow as the name of the university is placed on the left side and then it suddenly branches out to all the links on the right. Personally, I prefer a pyramid-shaped structure so I could follow the information from top to down.