Week 3 Post 1

What I Think These Websites Did Wrong

Analyzing Jamilin.com

    Visiting the website, Jamilin.com, I was immediately shocked by the clutter and confusing navigation. The size of the text throughout the home page is very similar and makes it hard to distinguish the semantics of the page. The navigation bar at the top is too small and unnoticeable. There are a plethora of links, some work, some do not. Ease of Use is a big problem here. The page lacks Hierarchy, as the information is scattered randomly. Depth of Content should be improved as many product listing lack relevant details.

    At first glance, this website does not come across as being professionally made. My first impression is that someone is trying to sell a load of hocus pocus to people having a hard time in their life. I would argue that most products listed do not have a proper description or even a realistic use in life. The text is hard to read. The font size or typography should be adjusted on the home page and sections should be more separated to make groupings more clear with satisfying proximity. The navigation bar on the top of the page should be easier to see and given decoration. The broken links should be fixed. There should be more contrast to help distinguish the different sections. The user should be able to navigate to the different pages using the navigation bar and be greeted with some repetition and consistent structure. The alignment could be improved, as the content only takes up about half of the typical screen width.

Analyzing Gatesnfences.com

    Hopping over to Gatesnfences.com, I was greeted with a long list of links that I didn't want to read through. There is a wall of text, where the sections are lacking space between each other, as well as headlines. The images and text are too small. The navigation bar should not have so many links. 

    The website appears to be professionally built, but could be improved in my opinion. The Typography is basic and the text is too small to read on the top of the page. The Proximity of the sections seems cluttered, and the lack of headlines means having to read through blocks of text. There seems to be no Hierarchy in the content as it is too dense and the sections looks the same. Arranging the content on the page so the user can easily navigate is crucial to a good website. Having clear headings and subheadings for sections of content can help the reader avoid blocks of text irrelevant to their intentions. Easy to read text that is also appealing to the eye can improve the mood of the reader and attitude toward your website. Choosing colors that make certain text stand out more than others can also help make clear headlines.

What I Think These Websites Did Right

Analyzing Artcenter.org

    Artcenter.org appears to have been professionally built and is easily the most aesthetically appealing website on the list. The hero image provides good Contrast, while the black and white theme of the Typography is easy to read and soft on the eyes. The navigation bar is simple and Ease of Use is optimal with the section of clearly described links just under the hero image. Proximity has been made appealing by separating the content effectively. Hierarchy is apparent by the logical structure of the content, and it's aligned well. 

Analyzing Headhunterhairstyling.com

    Headhunterhairstyling.com is a slick website with pleasant Contrast and Typography. The use of a soft font and large text for the headline over the hero image/animation is inviting and easy to read. The colors are cool and calm. The navigation bar is easy to use and there are several main pages with clear and concise content that is placed in good proximity. The Hierarchal structure is apparent throughout. I would say this website is professionally made and kept up with.

Conclusion

    The use of good design techniques and applying aesthetic appeal to websites can drastically change the presentation of the content. A good brand logo can make a business appear more professional and trustworthy. Having a consistent layout through the websites pages can improve readability and navigation through repetition. Appealing typography can change the readers face from a squint and frown to a smile. A navigation bar with links to the different main pages should be clear and easily accessible. Overall, filling a majority, if not all of the screen width will improve aesthetic appeal.