CSULB ART 366 • MEDIA DESIGN: Web & Interactive Design

Syllabus | Projects | Exercises | Site Analysis

SITE ANALYSIS (15 reviews)

GOOD SITE/BAD SITE

How do you determine if a site is good or bad? Search the web for one well designed, functional, usable web site and one that is not. Write down the url for each good and bad site you have chosen. Present in class on due date in the Roeper and Ebert fashion of ”at the movies.” The following information may help in your search:

Use different browsers (IE, Firefox, Safari) to see if there are any differences. If you are working on a Mac, also check the site out on a Windows PC.

Write a two to three paragraph analysis for each site design. Your analysis should include the following information:

• What type of site is it (personal, organization, commercial or entertainment)?  

• What is the purpose of the site?  

• Does it hit the target market? If so, How?  

• Who is the intended audience for the site?  

• Describe the visual elements on the home page - What caught your eye first?  

• How does the visual design (balance, color, etc) communicate the content?  

Describe the navigation

• Does the site look like all the pages are related when you navigate through it?  

• How consistent are fonts and font sizes? In what ways do the text styles vary?  

• How well does the layout of the page help viewers understand the site content?  

• Are elements repeated on other pages? Does the repetition help or hinder the overall purpose of the website?  

• Do any of the links not work?  

• Are the elements relevant to the site?  

• Is it too cluttered?  

• Can you get the info you need from the site?  

• Are there contact information and an email included?  

• Is there a copyright notice?  

• Can you navigate the site well? If not, why?  

• Did it load quickly?  

• What color are most links?  

• Are there any rollovers and what color are they or do they have any animation?  

• Did you run across a page that told you something was missing and you wouldn’t be able to see the game or animation?  

Your analysis should utilize course vocabulary, and should be written using correct spelling and grammar. Post your website analysis to your site.

Due Dates

T 2/2/10 - Good site/Bad site Presentation (counts as two reviews)

T 2/9/10 - Sports site (FYI Winter Olympics begins 2/12/10)

T 2/16/10 - Dating site

T 2/23/10 - Foreign site

T 3/2/10 - Academic site

T 3/9/10 - Non Profit site

T 3/16/10 - Green site

T 3/23/10 - Travel site

T 4/6/10 - Artist, Designer, Illustrator, Photographer or similar site

T 4/13/10 - Financial Site

T 4/20/10 - Pizza site

T 4/27/10 - Retail site

T 5/4/10 - Automotive site

T 5/11/10 - Fellow Student Portfolio site (to be assigned)