Author: dcvst223

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Review 4

The site I am choosing to compare the final project with is The Mac & Gold Truck. I decided to go with this site because it is the same format as the final project, a food truck that is Pittsburgh inspired. It offers many of the same services, like catering, and the theming is similar. I did not know of this truck or it’s site before the project, so it was a good candidate for discussion. The website is very simple with a black & gold color theme, simple geographic layout, and easy-to-use navigation system. I viewed this site through the desktop browser.

The layout is nothing crazy, with text placed above in a navigation bar and captions on photos that are square or rectangle shaped. The eye line typically goes from left to right, so it is easy to follow along. They included a gallery of photos on the homepage. It is not that engaging which is worth noting due to the flat background and no use of moving graphics. There is no distinctive texture; no use of lines or patterns are present. The logo at the top of the page has some going on, but it is cut-off slightly. As for analyzing their use of color, the black & gold theme is an obvious play on Pittsburgh’s sporting team colors. It is used all throughout their marketing; a plain black background is present on each page with yellow or white typography and brief transition between links. This helps with brand identity as well because guests will be able to connect their theming. A bright color against a dark background makes the text and graphics easy to decipher for online viewing. Overall, the food truck’s website builds a strong brand that directly appeals to the demographic of their location but is in need of some work in the design sector of texture. The usability is slightly affected by their current maintenance period as their social medias are not currently active. By looking at some of the information listed, it seems to not have been updated for quite some time as they are going through some maintenance work.

In comparison to our final project, the sites are very different. Our group’s color scheme is different as we are using deep purples and violet shades to add some personality into the website instead of black. We wanted to avoid heavy backgrounds while still keeping the content light with strong golds and pale yellows. We are trying to keep the typography simple, but not bland. Usability is a big factor in our work. I think our website will stand out due to the use of graphics like our brand logo and unique menu offerings. Mac and Gold’s site gets the point across and information out there, but could greatly benefit from a change in appearance.

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Review 3

For the third review, the two sites I decided to analyze were no9park.com and burgatorybar.com. These two links led to company websites for restaurants. While both establishments are different from the other, the content of restaurant websites can be easily comparable.

No. 9 Park is an up-scale restaurant in Boston, Massachusetts. They have a pretty aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly website. The sections are clearly labeled for easy navigation with simple designs and verbiage to help get their information across. Balance describes how well elements on the webpage go together. This webpage demonstrates symmetrical balance as each section of the site has like elements that pair with one another. For example, the menus tab has three bubbles that take users to different menus they offer. Each is relative to the other; they are of the same size, weight, color, font, and alignment. Unity describes how each element interacts; if they can be recognized as one shape or part, they have achieved unity. I think this site has done a good job at demonstrating this. It is shown in the reservations tab as each new paragraphs moves as one so the text never separates. Emphasis, which is described as drawing attention to one section of the piece, is shown with the different sizes of font in their text. Normally you’d point out artistic elements in this discussion, but as the site is purely for information, the more important sections are in bigger fonts than the rest. Layout can be basic or intricate, and I see this as simple but effective. Each section has the same general layout; scrollable with pictures separating each new bit of information. It implements four of the five important “things” from Krug as it has a clear visual hierarchy in terms of text-to-pictures, page breaks, clickable links, and little noise on the page.

Burgatory is a Pittsburgh restaurant that runs a very appealing website. It is easy to use on both mobile and desktop, which is a plus as both avenues are accessible. Each new section transitions smoothly with no issues of skipping, graphics not loading, or elements bugging. Their design is simple with a black and red color scheme. Balance is demonstrated with the positions of the graphics (in 3s on the homepage, smooth transitions between promotional images). They are in a line or set to transition on their own in ways that are not distracting. Unity is a big part of the site as each sections interacts with the other. It is shown as the top menu bar on the homepage when you hover your mouse over the “Our Spots” tab. There is a drop-down menu that is displayed but doesn’t interrupt anything else on the page. Emphasis can be seen with the menu and catering page. The titles are larger than the body text, which makes it easier to navigate their food selections. They have a simple layout because on each page, there is a centered column for the text and top and bottom links never go away. Each page is also scrollable. From Krug, the site demonstrates a hierarchy in text-to-pictures, page breaks, and clickable toggles.

Overall, I think both websites are equal in usability and succeeded in the incorporation of proper design elements. Personally, I think the Burgatory website is a bit more interesting because of the color scheme and pictures of patrons enjoying the restaurant. They are able to convey a lively atmosphere through their design choices.

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Dea Vezio – Review 2

For review number two, we were to analyze a continuous scrolling webpage taken from https://onepagelove.com/. Within this site, I chose to analyze “The Nifty Portal.” It promotes cryptocurrency and NFTs, which have been in the news a lot lately. I have to admit I still have very little concept of what NFTs are; It still pulled me in. This site has users navigate with up-and-down scrolling with minimal clicks to other pages.

This immediately jumped out at me because the preview looked almost like a video game or science fiction movie. The dark colors of the background images give it a movie poster feel, and the large, pale block fonts make the titles stick out. Every time you scroll, the font appearing next loads in exactly like an old video game loading page which I love. The use of the moving fonts make your eyes jump on to the next quickly. The typography element of this site made it super easy to decipher. A few of the graphics in the tab dividers went across the page from left to right. Some of the graphics flashed a few times before the mouse hovered over them, but it wasn’t anything too jarring. I wouldn’t count this as a negative because it added to the ambiance, but I still wanted to make note of it. The background graphics had a perspective zoom effect to them, so when you scrolled it either zoomed in or out with the direction of your scroll (up/down).

If a user needs to move on to a different part of the website, you either scroll up-and-down or click on a graphic that takes you elsewhere. The other places were links to social media profiles and legal documents like Terms & Conditions.

I think this is a very well done site because I was engaged the whole time. No clicking in between other tabs or looking track of the information, but wanting to know what was coming next. It was organized well in that each new segment was sectioned off with the proper tabs and new text boxes. It wasn’t jumbled up when you moved downward which some of the continuous scrolling sites have issues with. I mentioned above that I loved the colors and fonts the most.

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Dea Vezio – Review 1

For the first review assignment, I decided to look at Target’s online webpage as I visit both the brick-and-mortar store and online shop frequently.

Right off the bat, this website is super appealing and pulls visitors in with their classic color scheme and graphics. Target is known for their red and white elements, so much so that their store credit card is called “Target RedCard.” At the top of the page, the categories listed are: Categories, Deals, What’s New, Pick-up and Delivery, and a search bar. Each one of these has a drop-down menu that includes an extensive list of subgroups that narrow down each section. This makes it easier for the site visitor to navigate their way around the page. Their graphics are simple, yet make a statement. They are placed in a geometric setting, with each new section placed in a rectangular box. Towards the bottom of the page, all of the available contacts, social media accounts, and customer service options are listed. This was worth mentioning because everything is labeled clearly. There is very little room for confusion on this site as everything is very descriptive, but uses easy to read language.

After analyzing the homepage, I decided to “shop around” on the site for a bit. As Target is a large retailer that has product ranging from clothing and personal hygiene to groceries and home decor, I narrowed my search down to their book section. I used their very handy “Categories” heading to select “Movies, Movies & Books.” This was very easy to navigate as it broke down their book selection into age group then into genre. I picked the first result on the page. There was a quick-add button, which I used, or a more detailed page with descriptions and reviews if you click on the image. The book is titled “People We Meet on Vacation” by Emily Henry (the paperback edition). After you add something into your cart, a pop-up appears on your screen to ask if you want to continue shopping or check out. I like this feature as it gives an approximate total for your items and some recommendations based on your items. The cart function is very simple and easy to follow along as the next steps are listed so you know what is expected of you, the consumer.

Overall, I think Target runs a great website. It is both user-friendly and visually appealing. The constant branding of that specific red shade reinforces brand loyalty, while also keeping engagement high with their geographic style ads.

www.target.com