Week Four - Post Two

https://www.sdicbsa.org/.  

One website I visit almost daily is the San Diego-Imperial Council for Boy Scouts.  I visit this as I serve as Advancement Chair for my son’s scout troop so I need to stay up on what is going on.  I mostly like the web design as it is informative, easy to navigate and I can usually find what I need.   Specifically, I find the site has a good use of visual elements but iis not too crowded.   The site also uses contract very well, with contrast from icons, text and headings making it easy to navigate. 

I would, however, improve somewhat the amount of information on each page.  For example, the first page has eleven separate events and/or announcements which make the site visually busy and creates the need to scroll down to see all that is there. 

http://jcsphoenixlearningcenter.weebly.com/

A second site I also visit daily is the website for Phoenix Learning Center, a charter school in Encinitas.  I visit this site a lot as it’s my son’s school and I have to check in to see the calendar and his homework. Unfortunately, this site is not very well done and comes across relatively amateurish.   The site is not well formatted so text does not always line up. 

Additionally, the links at the top of the page are not all live, or link to outdated information or to a page other than what it states.  For example, linking to staff for middle school takes one to the calendar and homework page for middle school, rather than information on the staff.  This page should be redesigned to make it more exciting, easy to read, and with up to date information.

Week Three Post 1

http://gatesnfences.com/

                The website for Gates N Fences has a number of problems that make it very difficult for visitors. First, the site is extremely busy, there is too much content on one page.  The text is very small and there is quite a lot of it.  It is an immediate turn off as it would be difficult to find what a visitor is looking for on this page. Going down the left side are a number of links, opening other pages that are equally busy and difficult to read.  The page itself is not aesthetically pleasing.    Finally, even the main introduction/title to the page is not grammatically correct, with various words capitalized.  This page should be re-written extensively, with less text and larger type.  The page should focus on just a few main products with links to additional information if needed.

https://jamilin.com/

                This website also has some significant problems.  First, even after reviewing it, it is very difficult to tell what the site is even for.  The site is very busy and not reader friendly.  One of the first things I see is the note that a plug in was vulnerable and needs to be updated.   There are also a number of other ads that are confusing.  The page as a whole is difficult to read and I would be afraid to click on many of the links.  This page should be updated to focus on a clear goal or product, with far less links.  Any plug-ins should be eliminated and all other media should be checked to make sure it works.

 
https://artcenter.org

                I liked the site of California Center for the Arts as it was clear and easy to read. At the very top is a clear brand to know what site I was visiting. It had some nice links to calendar and upcoming events.  The site did a good use of icons, in addition to labels, for its links which made it easy to navigate.  Where there is text, the text was good size, readable, and spaced so it was not difficult to read.

            

http://apple.com

            

         Finally, the site for Apple is well done as well.  The site is bright and colorful with great photos showing all the products.  The text in the site is clear, good size and includes bolded headings, making it easy to read.  A brief glance at the page shows the various products that are available, with some specific “sound bites” of information for each product.  A visitor could then drill down on what they wanted to peruse and link to either a page with more information or the ability to purchase on site.