Michael's Art 328 Process

ScreenShot:


Navigation:
Is it easy to navigate or difficult?
It's easy to navigate with the simple text-link navigation at the top

How are you led through the site?
II am led through the site with text links at the top and color header bars in the main content area. Also I see text bleeding below the fold so I am led to believe there is more content beneath.

What visual clues are given to tell you how to interact?
The clues are the color and the mouse over color changing effects on the links. The links are also separated from the main content with a background bar to highlight the link area. There are also small arrows on the top left corners of the news items along with icons at the base of each news item.

Does the designer use a metaphors to get you to move through the website?
Yes

What Kind of metaphors are used? Organizational Metaphors = (organized by type, kind etc…); Functional Metaphors = performs a “real world” function (in Photoshop you can figuratively “cut” and “paste”) or Visual Metaphors (common graphic elements familiar to most – the traditional “play”, “fast-forward”, “rewind” buttons found on CD players)
Icons are used as metaphors to show the user what the icon-link will do for them. In this case there is a small tv, envelope, and word bubble to illustrate that you can watch, email and comment respectively.

Information Architecture:
Does the information in the site make sense?
Yes it makes sense. It's clear that it is a site for showcasing Bl:d's work.

Can you access the content you want easily?
Yes, quite easily.

How is the content organized? (By location, alphabet, timeline, category, etc? )
It is organized chronologically and in subsections of the site it can be user organized either alphabetically or chronologically.

Is there visual and content hierarchy that allows you to easily understand and access the information presented to you?
IcYes via the black, white and teal color scheme. The black areas tend to be informational areas or places where you find main navigational links whereas the white ares denote where you will find content and the teal areas highlight the headers for content sections.

Usability
Is this site easy to use?
Yes it's easy to use.

How do the above two concepts, navigation and information architecture, work in terms of making the site usable or not? Do the metaphors make sense with the content?
YesThe navigation is simple and in plain site while the architecture is also simple and supports the simplistic theme. The two together work well to show content and navigational elements without being overbearing to the user.

Overall- does the site sustain your interest and engagement?
Yes, it brings me in with the cool top graphic and titles that engage me to learn more. Also the content itself is quite interesting to watch and learn from.

Meaning-Making: (Narrative and Metaphoric Structures)
In what way is the designer creating meaning in this site?
The designer creates meaning with engaging content. There are questions posed that solve problems and images to show solutions.

Are they using metaphor? (Remember, metaphor is very common in our experience with computers, sometimes so common we don’t even realize we are using it, i.e. the desktop, cutting and pasting, file systems, buttons, etc.).
There is slight use of metaphors in the use of icons for call to action areas at the bottom of content sections. They are as I previously described: tv, envelope and word bubble.

Is there a narrative, story or event that unfolds over time?
The narrative is a chonological discovery of their work and about them as a company. There are also micro narratives in their motion work. When you click on the TV icon to watch a piece of content a story unfolds of their solution.

Is this narrative linear, non-linear, or multi-linear?
The narrative is quite linear but you can jump around within the linear sequence.

Reflection of the User:
Is there a reflection of you, as the user, on this site?
In small amounts.

Does it change according to your specific visit?
No.

Do you receive mouse feedback? text feedback?
Yes when you mouse over links they change. There text feedback occurs after you comment or email something.

Does the site store any choices you have made?
Yes, the site stored information about the choices I made when contacting them.

Are you engaged enough in the site to linger and explore?
Yes because the substance of the content and the simple design that allows quick and easy access to most of their content.

Transparency of Design:
Does the design of the site lead you to pay more attention to the content or to the design itself?
At first the design has my attention from the radical top graphic but then is quickly diminished by the content. So overall the content is what I pay attention to the most.

Does the design feel transparent or “natural”, leading you to focus on the content
and forget the design completely? Or – Is attention called more to the design itself?
The design is to call attention to itself only for a short time so that you understand the company knows a thing or too about design. But the lasting impression is to understand how good they are through their work.

Does the transparency or lack of transparency of the design make sense with what the site is intending to do?
Yes the transparency works well with the intended meaning.