I have started my research by sifting through a large number of websites, looking at the initial ones that caught my eye. I have began thinking about the type of trends and websites that were discussed in the initial module briefing.
The first webpage that I found was 'eone', a watch design specialist. I tried to think of the initial words I associated the page with, before looking into the website further.
Initial Words: - Classic, Timeless
- Simplistic
- Minimal
- Gridded
After delving deeper into the site, I found these initial words pretty much summed up the design and aim of the website. I found the initial homepage stylish which instantly grabbed my attention to look on the website further, even though I had no interest in watches. Once the website loaded, and to say it had a large amount of imagery, it took no time at all. I found it was a single page website however it had a navigation towards the top of the site, which on selection, took you to the section you wanted to look at - making it so you did not have to trawl through the site if you did not want to. I found this to be a key element in the navigation as it gives the viewer options rather than restricted to look at all the information. This is something I will consider if it came to me designing a single page website. The site itself was very minimal and clean, this made the webpages breathable so the viewer does not feel overwhelmed. The colour scheme is again reflecting the simplistic style with the use of greys and blues, which I feel reflects the nature of the silver, minimalistic style of the watch itself. I like the use of bleeding imagery which is something to consider on my website:
This is another single page website I found interesting. The initial words I came up for this webpage were as followed:
Although I find the website aesthetically pleasing, the navigation was not as effective as the previous 'eone' one. As this was a single page website, which did look overall appealing, you had to scroll down all the page to get to the information you wanted. I feel as apposed to the previous this is not as successful, as at least with 'eone' the navigation allowed for drop down selection - which automatically took you to the information you wanted. I feel this is the websites flaw. However in saying that the overall look works, I like how there is continuations all through the page which both combines the pages together while still looking like individual sections. The use of the grid is highly effective in how they have used shapes to separate the content. This is also done by use of colour and imagery. I find that they have not overwhelmed the website with tons of body copy which makes for the website being less chaotic. The imagery is also what makes the website too. I think how the imagery of the second page has been divided and gridded makes for a instant gallery that shows what the business is about. I like the iconography towards the bottom of the webpage, however feel the colour choice of purple is not suited. Although there is purple in the logo which makes this link back, feel it does not follow on from the heavy use of green that is continued in the rest of the site:
Interesting use of shapes to section the different types of information:
Another single page website, I found 'factory forty's' website very easy to navigate. Again like 'eone' even though it is a single page website, the navigation across the top takes you automatically to the information you are looking for. I find the websites that I have been looking at tend to have the navigation towards the top of the website. I find this is the most suitable as my eye is naturally drawn to the top, this is something I need to think about when designing my webpage. I am not overly keen on the colour scheme for this website as I can't see the correlation the colour has to the purpose of the website. However I do like the idea of the block colour been overlaid on top of imagery, as this creates extra depth to the homepage. I think the fonts used work well with one another, the use of script on some of the pages with the clean sans-serif creates a link of informality as well as structure:
The reason I feel this website is so successful is again due to the nature of the navigation. It is a multipage website, however each section is a single-page. The mix of the two creates a unique take on mixing the two ideas together. Easy to use as well as interesting, the fifty-three webpage uses the ideas of the single page website to deconstruct its products. As the viewer scrolls down, each section of the pencil is removed, explaining the detail and workings of this new product. This not only makes it interactive but informative too. The clean-cut nature of the website is reflected in the imagery and sans serif type. As I have been looking into websites, I have noticed the ones that have caught my eye the most have been the website that have the use of bleeding imagery. I feel it creates more interest to the page, making it have a more appealing layout. I am not sure this would be suitable for my designs, however it is something to consider:
I have now moved on into looking at multipage websites as apposed to ones that use a single page. I have also looked into the responsive designs for these websites, to get an idea in how sites change and adapt for different screens.
Here I have looked at design agency 'nudge' a simple and minimal website with an effective grid system. I like how they have shown there portfolio through the use of a grid straight away on the homepage, showing instantaneously there work and what they are about. Although it seem clean-cut, is it slightly boring? It seems slightly dull compared to other previous ones I have been looking at. However if this websites purpose is to showcase its work then why would it need all the technological advances like the previous ones have? It is simple and straightforward and so I guess it is achieving its purpose.
I have looked into the responsive designs for 'nudge', which do not look to have been considered and thought about effectively enough. The navigation has now been moved to the left under the logo, which is easily accessible, but the imagery and how it is stacked loses its appeal of the grid system that made the work look so appealing on desktop:
I feel the responsive design for 'elmwood' works really well. The sections are stacked and squared, which perfectly fits in with the devices screen. It loses none of its appeal as a website no matter what device the viewer is on. As for the overall aesthetic I am unsure on the website. Although I love elmwood's work, its typeface for the navigation and slogan I do not feel works. Although it is well suited with the type from the logo, which I like, I can't help but feel it does not need to be italic.
The buffalo website is a small web design agency that is well known for building easy to use and well designed webpages. Because of this I was intrigued in seeing what there overall web aesthetic was. I find the interesting use of the hexagons to showcase work is a refreshing touch compared to the other websites I have look at. I think it creates a easy navigation to look into the companies work. Even though the hexagons are what draws your attention first, there is still a separate navigation at the top, giving the viewer both options into how they use the website. I think the contrasting colours on blue and orange showing an informal and exciting element to the website, intriguing the viewer the interact with the site.
Buffalo have definitely thought about the use of responsive design. They have used a stacking system to order both the navigation and the imagery. Despite having to lose the hexagon shapes, the block imagery still work due to the block colours used.
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