Comparing Sites
Blog assignment #2. How fun.Kristian Olsen Art & Design vs. Chapters Indigo.
Let me compare these sites based on the four main categories discussed in class. These traits include: utility, consistency, coherence and visual appeal. The Kristian Olsen site is simple and effective. The site's layout is not only attractive in its design, highlighting the creative artwork, but is simple in its design. The flash slide show cycles through Olsen's various artwork and puts it front-in-centre of the page. While your eyes are first drawn to the artwork flashing at you, little squares are located to the left. These squares represent the different prints and entice the visitor to click on them. Different designs of Olsen's portfolio are hidden within each thumbnail and link to a larger sized version of the design. The new page allows the visitor to zoom in on the print to get a better visual on the interesting details of the design. The essential parts to the site, like the navigation bar at the top and the shopping cart, are placed intrusively and fit into the site's overall appeal. This simple yet visual appealing site works as a portfolio perfectly and is well designed.
Chapters Indigo main page is a good example of a typical online store site. The book retailer, who also sells music, DVDs and small gifts on this site, use a basic design that many sites use to showcase their merchandise. Overall the site looks professional and well organized. The navigation bar at the top is easy to use and highlights the different pages on the site well. The only problem I find is the large advertisement in the middle of the page. It distracts the visitor from the rest of the site and focuses them on the ad other than the content of the site. This ad is located in that very spot to get more attention and, therefore, the advertisers pay more to have it. Either way, I find it very distracting. The menus found on both left and right of the page are used to break up different categories and aid in the navigation. Content found down the middle of the page highlight the current deals the company has to offer. Overall, it is easy to find what one is looking for with this navigational design but could use a facelift in visual appeal. Sure it's a simple site, designed to be general tone but a little spunk would help it have more appeal.
When both these sites are put side by side, the differences stick out like a sore thumb. The Olsen site was designed to attract the visitor to the artwork and so it uses a more artsy approach to the design. The Chapters Indigo site, on the other hand, is simple and designed around practical navigational needs. Both sites however share in the practicality. They are both easy to navigate, even though there is more to the Chapters Indigo site. Overall, both sites work for what they have tried to accomplish and succeed in making the visit enjoyable.
Michael Ciuffini
posted by Ciuffini @ 10:20 AM
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