For this project you will need to be able to evaluate the design of a web site to determine what aspects are good and which are not. This will increase skills in identifying design issues with a site both for evaluation and in your own designs.
Part 1: Research and Evaluation
You need to identify 3 web sites that are good examples of well designed sites. Then 2 sites that are poorly designed. One site must be for each of the following five categories: (each site 1 page of written report and screenshots to show examples)
1. Major (National brand) retail site that sells through their web site,
2. local photographer or artist,
3. Individual or small business online sales site,
4. News site,
5. and a persons blog (should be commercial related, ie, product reviews for example)
Once the sites have been chosen, you will need to evaluate the sites to the best of your ability based on design factors and write out a review on each site. It should include topics on:
– Design principles: use of hierarchy and flow of visuals, use of color, use of text
– Communication of message – how well the site is to understand the information offered
– How easy it is to use and follow the navigation
Once your evaluations are finished, they need to be written up in a report. The report needs to be well written and organized. As this is a visual design class, be sure to use visuals. Include screen captures of the sites to help illustrate what you are discussing in the copy.
Part 2: Redesign (drawn sketched only)
Once you have completed your evaluations of the five sites, you need to redesign the two you chose for your poorly designed sites. Reread what you wrote about the good sites and see how you can apply some of those thoughts to the new designs. This will be done on paper only. You will create numerous thumbnail designs for the new sites. Once you have some good ideas, you will sketch some comps for your new sites. These comps will be one per page. You will have one home page and one interior page for each of the two sites. Remember: a good comp is clean and well-drawn with only one page per sheet of paper.
The redesign comps will be scanned in or photographed and added into the report. The thumbnail development designs do not need to be turned in, just the single page comps.
NOTE:
These are the key sections and point values of the report:
– Well written and prepared report. Including following directions and organization
– Thoroughness of evaluations, including details and opinions regarding design and usefulness
– Redesign sketches/development and drawings of 2 final comps (the poorly designed websites)
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