Web Development of Sixtiespress Website - Essay Example

Web Design Report Contents Contents 2 0 Introduction 3 2.0 Part Critical Analysis3 2.1 Graphics 3 2.2 Use of Colour 4 2.3 Navigation 5 2.4 Content 6 2.5 Contrast 7 2.6 Readability 7 3.0 Part 2: Recommendations 7 3.1 Graphics 7 3.2 Colour 8 3.3 Navigation 8 3.4 Content 8 3.5 Contrast 9 3.6 Readability 9 3.7 Story board 9 4.0 Conclusion 10 5.0 Bibliography 12 6.0 Appendix 13 6.1 Prototype: Home page 13 6.2 Prototype other pages 14 Web Design Report 1.0 Introduction In this connected age, websites are considered the main form of online presence. However, it is not just about having a website. The design and usability of the website is very significant. This is because websites are an extension of a business, organization, government, group or individual and serves as the first contact for prospects. Therefore it is necessary to have a website that impress visitors, gains there trust and makes it easy for them to access information they searching. To develop such a website, the design and structure must be achieved effectively. Web design parameters like use of graphics, content organization, navigation, colour, links and others are critical to efficiency of a website. This report critically analyses and examines www.sixtiespress.co.uk and presents significant recommendations worth undertaking to make its structure and design effective. 2.0 Part 1: Critical Analysis 2.1 Graphics According to Nielson (2003), graphics or photos are used to show real content and not just to decorate the homepage. He argues that people are naturally drawn to pictures and that gratuitous graphics can distract users from critical content. It involves the use of images that communicate the purpose or objective of the website. In the Sixtiespress website: a) The image used as the banner or logo hardly communicates the message of a website. b) It distracts the visitor and looks unattractive. c) The combination of the graphics is irrelevant to the main purpose of the website. d) The pictures used to list the catalogue are not uniform in size making the website aesthetically poor. e) The positioning of the pictures makes the website content long and wastes a lot of space on the page. f) All the images on the website do not help the user to navigate the website. g) There is a missing graphic at the bottom of the page. h) The images also do not have alternate labels. The image above is a screenshot of the graphics. The letters refer to points above. 2.2 Use of Colour The intention of colour in web design is to create ideas, convey message, invoke feelings of a visitor and accentuate areas of interest to readers. Verma (2007) argues that too much colour can be disturbing and chaotic, whereas too little can be boring. The Sixtiespress website: a) Mix of colours both on text and the text background looks chaotic. b) Colour design doesn’t consider on the feel and perception of the visitor. c) The colours make the website look unattractive and distracting for the visitor. d) The colours cannot make the user perceive or feel welcome, comfortable and relaxed. e) Some of the text colour resembles the background rendering the text unreadable. 2.3 Navigation a) The website uses links that will lead the visitor out of the website. Placing such a link very close to crucial menu like home link will draw the visitors to leave the website. b) The colour used for the links is not uniform and resembles some of the non-link texts making it difficult for the user to differentiate links from normal text. c) The links are not changing the colour for visited links. Thus, visitor cannot know which link they have visited or not. d) There is no use of breadcrumbs or other forms of showing the visitor their present and past location. e) The website also lacks a site map that would guide lost users when trying to navigate. 2.4 Content a) The home page content of the website including links is crowded and disorganized in a manner that will confuse the website users. b) The information at far left presents Tebbs however below it is a list of different publication by different authors. c) The text content is inconsistent. In some pages text like poetry Leeds the text is large while in featured articles it is small. d) Text is crowded against the left edge in some pages like featured articles. e) Some text stretches all the way across the page like that in the archives page. f) Some content is type in capital letters, bold, and highlighted all at once. g) There is no interactive page or a contact page for the website content. 2.5 Contrast According to Cannon (2012), Contrast reduces eyestrain and focuses user attention by clearly dividing elements on a page. a) The website doesn’t effectively use contrast in both the background and the text colour. b) The designer selected colour schemes for some text and their background that may lead to eye strain and distract user’s attention. c) The contrast is poor that it hinders the readability of the content. d) Contrast in text size is also not balanced and lacks hierarchy. 2.6 Readability a) The website’s font colour and size are not organized thus making it difficult to read. b) The archives page has a lot of text on one paragraph making it look boring. c) The designer blending of colours renders some of the text unreadable because it contrasts with the background. 3.0 Part 2: Recommendations The following recommendation should be implemented to improve the website. 3.1 Graphics a) The image used at the home page should be designed to communicate the purpose of the website. b) All the images should use alternate text in case the user wants to disable images. c) The images should hyperlink pages and support navigation. d) Missing images should be replaced. e) The images sizes and quality should be improved to enhance an organized website. 3.2 Colour a) The colour scheme should be used to make the site appealing and attractive. b) The colour selection should focus on colour themes like neutral or cool colours that will enhance the website’s objective. c) The fore colour and the background colours should contrast. d) The text colour should not distract user but one that considers colour blind users. 3.3 Navigation a) The design should place external links separate from internal links to avoid leading the users from the website b) The change of colour of already visited links and not visited links should be implemented so that visitors recognize already visited pages. c) The links should be harmonized, organized and presented uniformly. d) The website should have a site map, bread cramps or both. 3.4 Content a) The home page content should have well defined layout that enhances usability of the website. b) The proportion of the pages should be optimized to present the content attractively. c) The titles used should be stimulating and focus on catching the visitor’s interest. d) Large and long paragraphs should be reduced to look attractive and readable. e) The size of text used should be consistent. f) Interactive content should be introduced to avoid making the website boring. 3.5 Contrast a) The designer should select colour theme for the website that will dictate type of contrast. b) The colour used should be neutral to avoid eye strain and increase attention of user. c) Contrast in text size should be balanced and improve hierarchy in the website content. 3.6 Readability a) Uniform font size should be applied in the web pages with colour carefully selected. b) The paragraphs should be paraphrased to support lest text to make it easy to read and maintain the user’s attention. c) Graphics should be used in all pages to enhance readability and increase user perception and interest. d) The website’s font colour and size should be uniform and organized in hierarchy. 3.7 Story board LOGO Accessibility [Where am I?] Introduction to the website. Navigation or Links The footer and copyright and contact us details 4.0 Conclusion In conclusion, website design involves critical factors that were not appropriately considered when developing the www.sixtiespress.co.uk website. The contrast used, images, the content layout, text sizes and colours and use of links were not effectively used. The critical analysis has revealed the flaws and how they negatively affect the website. These mistakes make the website not to deliver its intended purpose. The recommendation, if implemented through redesign of the website will enhance readability, accessibility, appealing and attract the user or visitors to the website. 5.0 Bibliography Verma, V., (2007, Oct 29). The Importance of Color Theory. Retrieved Nov 19, 2012, from Web Design Library: http://www.webdesign.org/web-design-basics/color-theory/the-importance-of-color-in-web-designing.12437.html Nielson, J., (2003, Nov 10). The Ten Most Violated Homepage Design Guidelines. Retrieved Nov 19, 2012, from Use-it: http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20031110.html Cannon, T., (2012, Sep 12). An Introduction to Color Theory for Web Designers. Retrieved Nov 19, 2012, from Web Design Tuts: http://www.webdesign.org/web-design-basics/color-theory/the-importance-of-color-in-web-designing.12437.html 6.0 Appendix 6.1 Prototype: Home page LOGO Home Poetry Featured Articles Reviews Publications [Menu Links] [Quote or information describing website] [Search box] Review Sixties Press Publishing And Authors The footer and copyright and contact us details 6.2 Prototype other pages LOGO Home Poetry Featured Articles Reviews Publications [Menu Links] Sixties Press Publishing And Authors The footer and copyright and contact us details Read More