Interactive Design · Exercise 1 & 2

24/4/2024 - 1/5/2024 / Week 1- Week 2 
Yang Zhi Ching (Chelsea) / 0365154
Interactive Design / Bachelors of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Exercise 1 & 2 · Web Analysis & Web Replication

Instruction

Doc 1.1 MIB of the module

We were tasked to choose 2 websites from the websites given, analysis the design, layout  content, and functionality, then analysis the strengths and weaknesses of website and how they impact the user experience.

The websites given are:
2 of my chosen websites are Site of the Day Awards and Awwwards.

Exercise 1 - Web Analysis 

Website 1 - Site of the Day Awards
Website 2 - Awwwards

Purpose and Goals |

· Website 1 - Site of the Day Awards

Upon visiting this website, my attention was immediately drawn to a series of images. Initially, I found it difficult to ascertain the website's purpose. However, upon noticing the name "CSSwinner" in the top left corner, I decerned the website's name, Despite this, the purpose of the website remained unclear to me until I noticed the option to "Submit Website."I inferred that it was related to website awards. Clicking on the images, I discovered that they were linked to various websites, each accompanied by a score and basic details. Further exploration of the site revealed additional images.

Fig 1.1 Home Page of Web 1, Week 2
 
Fig 1.2 Content Page, Week 2

· Website 2 - Awwwards

In contrast to the aforementioned website, my experience upon entering this platform was notably different. Immediately, I was greeted by a clear and conspicuous title, "Menu Inspiration," supplemented by relevant subtitles, which facilitated an understanding of the website's purpose – sharing website designs. Furthermore, the navigation was streamlined, with the search bar prominently positioned for convenient access. Notably, upon directing my attention to the upper right corner, I encountered the prominently featured "Be Pro" button and the user account login system. This arrangement, rather than overtly soliciting engagement in a sales-oriented manner, provided a seamless and intuitive guidance through the navigation systems.

Fig 1.3 Home Page of Web 2, Week 2

Visual Design and Layout |

· Website 1 - Site of the Day Awards

The predominant use of orange-red color in the header immediately catches the eye upon visiting the website. The homepage features a display of various websites, each showcasing diverse color themes. However, the choice of red as the header color may pose a challenge as it could clash with the colors present in the content of these websites, potentially causing discomfort for users due to visual overwhelm.

Fig 2.1 Conflict between theme color and content color, Week 2

· Website 2 - Awwwards

In contrast, this website adopts a minimalist approach with a predominant black and white color scheme. This choice of color palette lends a sense of simplicity and clarity to the interface, ensuring that it does not compete with or overshadow the colors present in the content of showcased websites.

Fig 2.2 Relatively integrated theme color and content color, Week 2

Functionality and Usability |

· Website 1 - Site of the Day Awards

The search bar on this website isn't prominently featured, but the inclusion of filters for categories, tags, and colors is a thoughtful design choice. Users can easily narrow down their search criteria to find the desired style. However, inconsistencies in color usage are noted, particularly in the 'submit website' section where the form fields feature colors like yellow and light green, while the submit button transitions to black upon scrolling up. This lack of color consistency may impact user experience. Additionally, the use of sharp-cornered rectangular buttons throughout the site facilitates navigation, and the ability to click on images to access content adds convenience and interest.

Fig 2.3 The searching bar and filter function, Week 2

Fig 2.4 Various colors in 'Submit Website' form, Week 2

Fig 2.5 The bottom of form site (show the inconsistent colors), Week 2

· Website 2 - Awwwards

This website excels in clarity and user accessibility. Clear headers guide users effectively, and the prominently placed search bar and filter options adjacent to it enhance the ease of finding desired content. The placement of the login system and subscription button in the top right corner, alongside the search bar, is intuitive and unobtrusive. The consistent black-and-white color scheme contributes to a user-friendly interface, ensuring easy adaptation and content discovery. Interactive features, such as clicking on images to access content, further enhance usability. Moreover, the smooth transition upon entering content and the clear presentation of information contribute to a seamless user experience.

Fig 2.6 The searching bar of Web 2, Week 2

Fig 2.7 The navigation system of Web 2, Week 2

Fig 2.8 The subscription page of Web 2, Week 2


Content Quality and Relevance |

· Website 1 - Site of the Day Awards

Upon initial assessment, it's evident that the content on this website is regularly updated, as indicated by the presence of upload dates on almost every piece of content. This ensures timely relevance for users. Additionally, the inclusion of a "like" function for each work enhances user interaction, while providing author information and region details adds credibility and context to the content. The feature allowing users to access the author's personal profile and website fosters transparency and facilitates potential collaborations. However, the layout of the author's interface appears lacking in distinct features and somewhat disorganized, particularly with content separation on the left and right sides, which may hinder readability and focus.

Fig 3.1 Content page and the 'Like' button on right side, Week 2
Fig 3.2 The author page of Web 1, Week 2

Fig 3.3 Turning to author's personal website after clicking author's name, Week 2


· Website 2 - Awwwards

In contrast, the absence of appearance dates for content on this website poses a challenge in assessing its timeliness. Nonetheless, the use of animation on the content display page enhances user engagement and reference accessibility. Clear links to designers and additional related content upon scrolling contribute to a seamless browsing experience. The interface employs concise and user-friendly language, such as "Also, you can view more Elements below...", fostering a sense of involvement and ease of navigation. Notably, the author user interface offers richer content compared to the previous website, with a structured layout presenting concise author details, diverse works, color palettes, and descriptions. The inclusion of a real-name scoring system further bolsters content credibility and reference value, enhancing the overall user experience.

Fig 3.4 Content page of Web 2, Week 2

Fig 3.5 Friendly introductory captions, Week 2

Fig 3.6 Enter author's profile, Week 2

Fig 3.7 Author's colour pallettes, Week 2

Fig 3.8 Author's description column, Week 2

Fig 3.9 Scoring system, Week 2

Performance |

· Website 1 - Site of the Day Awards v.s. Website 2 - Awwwards

I used the website PageSpeed Insights and Pingdom Website Speed Test to test the speed. The following is a screenshot of the results.

PageSpeed Insight
 
Fig 4.1 Results in PageSpeed Insights, (Left: Web 1; Right: Web 2)

Overall, the values are similar. The only big difference is Interactive to Next Paint. Web 1 is 28ms, while Web 2 is 96ms.

Pingdom Website Speed
 
Fig 4.2 Results in PageSpeed Insights, (Left: Web 1; Right: Web 2)

We can see more intuitively that the grade of Web 1 is grade B, while Web 2 is grade C.
 
After that, i make an assessing the website's responsiveness entails evaluating its ability to adapt and perform consistently across a spectrum of devices and screen sizes. This analysis involves conducting thorough testing across various platforms, including desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones, to ascertain a seamless user experience regardless of the device used.

Below are the different performance of Web 1 and Web 2 in each device (Desktop, Iphone, Ipad) and chrome (Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge in Desktop).

Difference Between Devices

Desktop
Web 1 v.s. Web 2 

 

Iphone
Web 1 v.s. Web 2 

 
 

Ipad
Web 1 v.s. Web 2 


 




Difference Between Chromes

Google Chrome
Web 1 v.s. Web 2 

 

Microsoft Chrome
Web 1 v.s. Web 2 

 


Strenth and Weakness |

· Website 1 - Site of the Day Awards

Web 1 excels in its fast server response time, contributing to a seamless user experience. However, it suffers from inconsistencies in color usage and a cluttered layout in the author's interface, potentially hindering user engagement and readability.

· Website 2 - Awwwards

On the other hand, while Web 2 may lag in server response time, it compensates with clear language and engaging animations. Nonetheless, the absence of appearance dates for content and the lack of clear section delineation pose usability challenges that need addressing for optimal performance.


| Conclusion |


The report evaluates two websites: "Site of the Day Awards" (Web 1) and "Awwwards" (Web 2). The analysis focuses on various aspects, including the purpose and goals, visual design and layout, functionality and usability, content quality and relevance, performance, and strengths and weaknesses.

Purpose and Goals:
Web 1 initially lacked clarity in communicating its purpose, while Web 2 had a clear focus on sharing website designs.

Visual Design and Layout:
Web 1 used a vibrant color scheme but lacked consistency, while Web 2 adopted a minimalist approach with a clear and simple design.

Functionality and Usability:
Both websites offered functional search bars and filters, but Web 1 had inconsistencies in color usage, while Web 2 provided a more intuitive user experience.

Content Quality and Relevance:
Web 1 featured regularly updated content with interactive elements, but its layout was disorganized. Web 2 lacked appearance dates for content but offered richer and more structured information.

Performance:
Web 1 showed faster server response time compared to Web 2, but both websites had similar overall performance grades.

Strengths and Weaknesses:
Web 1 excelled in server response time but suffered from color inconsistencies and a cluttered layout. Web 2 compensated with clear language and animations but lacked appearance dates for content and clear section delineation.

In conclusion, both websites have their strengths and weaknesses. Web 1 prioritizes speed but needs improvement in design consistency, while Web 2 offers clarity and richness in content but lacks certain usability features. By addressing these aspects, both websites can enhance their overall user experience and effectiveness.
(727 words)


Exercise 2 - Web Replication

Instruction |

  • Objective: Improve design skills using Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator. 
  • Requirements: 
    • Follow the exact dimensions (width and height) of the original website. 
    • Use any stock images or free stock icons as replacements for original images. 
    • Focus on: 
      • Layout 
      • Type style 
      • Color style 
  • Tips: 
    • Download similar typefaces/fonts from Google Fonts. 
    • Use screengrabs of the website as a reference for replication. 
Process |
The 2 websites I chose are Bandit Running and Ocean Health.

The original screengrab from website Bandit Running.

Fig 5.1 Screengrab from Bandit Website, Week 3

The original screengrab from website Ocean Health.

Fig 5.2 Screengrab from Ocean Health, Week 3

Fig 5.3 Set original image as template, Week 3

Fig 5.4 Process when doing Typing, Week 3


Final Outcome |

1. Bandit Running
Fig 6.1 Final of Web #1 ,Week 4

Doc 2.1 Final Web #1

2. Ocean Health Index

Fig 6.2 Final of Web #2 ,Week 4

Doc 2.2 Final Web #2

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