Web page

The address to my web page is http://www.oregonstate.edu/~storkean/

Link

Here is the link to my website so all can visit: Click Here

Working - done

So I worked the other night on the css of my website for about 4 hours and really got a lot accomplished. In class I was having issues with my images and my link bar. I figured out a way to solve the image issue by putting all three images into 1 image document. This way I could line them up horizontal within Photoshop instead of trying to figure out how to line 3 separate images in css. For my link bar I added what is called piping inbetween each link because these are common elements that people are familar with seeing in link bars. And it added some extra color.

Overall I am really happy with how my website turned out. Although it is simple, it is clean and everything works. It's also very easy to navigate.

I did run into a problem putting up my site on my onid account. When I put it up the css and images weren't working, which was odd because everything was linked right and it worked within dreamweaver. I figured out with the help of fellow classmates that the security and permissions were what was messing it up and I had to go in and change these settings. But now my site is up and running. And I really like how it looks!

Site Map

I am mainly trying with this site to keep it simple. I have a home page and then from there you can link to each of the website critiques, plus an extra information page which contains the information given to us called Windows & Mirrors. I have split this information up a little so it is easier to read and then also relate it back to the websites I reviewed. Each of the 3 sections link back to one of the websites. 

Every page will also contain a home link, and links to the other critique pages not being visited at the time. Hopefully this will work out!

Design Directions

Design #3


Design #2


Design #1

These are 3 possible design directions. It was a little hard to create these, because I am not exactly sure yet what will be going on the page, what links, and stuff. But I tried to keep the design pretty simple so that it wouldn't clash with the designs of the websites I am critiquing. I also used colors that were used in the other websites, to try to tie them together a little better. Right now I am liking the top design, design 3. The colors really compliment the websites, it has a fun feel to it, and it is still pretty simple.

Site Critique #3

Stenkat.com

Navigation:

The site is a little tricky at first to figure out, but once you realize where the navigation bar is, it becomes easier. The site acts as once page, and the animations and info just change with on it. The navigation bar is on the right side hidden under rectangular bars. The text appears when you hover over the area and you can then click to bring that info up. The designer uses few metaphors. The rectangular bars act a little like buttons, an x in a box is used for "close", and arrows are used to go to the next page. These are visual metaphors.

Information Architecture:

The information on the site sort of makes sense. Once I figure out where the menu is, I can access the content easily, all though I am not really sure what I am looking out. When I am directed to the pages other than home, I am not really sure at first how to look at the images bigger, but realize soon that I just click. The content is organized categorically. The visual and content hierarchy allows me to decently understand and access the information presented.

Usability:

The site is a little hard to use. The site does not use many metaphors that cue the viewer what to do or where to go. The menu is a little hard to find and it takes some guess and check t

o figure out how to look at the artists work. Overall, the site sustains my interest and engagement from the animations that appear whenever I click on a menu item. 

Meaning-Making:

Meaning is not really made through using metaphors. There is not much of a narrative or story, but as you click on menu items, things seem to unfold. They are non-linear however. 

Reflection of the User:

There is a reflection of me, as the user, on this site. I recieve mouse feedback as I move around the site. When on certain pages, things move and numbers change according to the mouse movement. The site does not change according to my specific visit and does not seem to store any of my choices. I am engaged though in the site. I like clicking on the different menu

 items and watching the animation unfold, but after watching the animations I get a little bored. I don't like having to click on every image to look at it larger because it take time to load. So after looking at one or two images I move on. The site is in the middle of being transparent and opaque. The menu is not obvious but is not exactly hidden. There are visual cues that lead to it. I pay more attention to the design of the site because of the lack of transparency though. The lack of transparency makes some sense with what the site is intending to do. It is a portfolio site, so it should be more artsy and grab the viewers attention with interactivity and graphics, but it should also elevate the artists work (images), and this site is lacking in that area. 

Screen Shots:

Site Critique #2

Masa.com.ve

Navigation:

It is a little confusing at first to navigate. I was u

nsure at first what to do, but once I figured it out it was easy. You are led by the site, first by entering, then there is a drop-down menu that only comes up when your mouse is over it. You can then select where you want to go. And click to be directed to that page. The drop-down menu is always there at the bottom, but you have to hover over the area for it to come up. There are not many visual clues given to how you are to interact, you just kind of have to hover over things, and if they change color then you k

now they are a link. The designer didn't use too many metaphors. The only ones I see are arrows that exist as visual metaphors. 

Information Architecture:

The information in the site makes sense. I get that it is an artists site and it shows their work. I can access the content I want easily once I find the drop-down menu hidden at the bottom. I only have to click and the link changes color wh

en I hover over it. The content is organized by category. Once I find the drop-down menu I understand pretty easily how to access the information presented, but there doesn't seem to be much visual hierarchy that allow me to do this. I am just presented with large moving images that take up the whole screen.

Usability:

The site takes a few minutes to figure out, but then it is easy to use. The drop-down menu that comes up when I hover with the different catego

ries makes the site easy to use. The lack of metaphors however make it 

hard to tell what is a link or not until you hover over them. The site sustains my interest though, because I want to figure out what is link and explore. I also am interested when I go to certain pages how the im

age just move automatically when my mouse moves. 

Meaning-Making:

The fact that the site uses limited metaphors makes the experience with the site a little more difficult to use because we are use to them being there. I want there to be a back button thats an arrow instead of just their logo to go back

 to the home page. There is exactly a narrative o

r story that unfolds but there are images that pop up on the screen and change ev

ery few seconds that seem to progress and then start over.

Reflection of the User:

The user is definitely reflected on the site by all the roll overs and color changes. Also on certain pages where the images move as your mouse moves like a touch screen. The site does not change according to my specific visit and does not store any of my choices. I am very engaged in the site, trying to see what are links and what happens when I roll over certain things. 

The design of the site leads me to pay more attenti

on to the design. The design feels more opaque as it has the viewer puzzle out how to navigate the site, but I am also interested in the content of the site, at least the work by this artist on the pages where I move my mouse and the images follow. The design makes se

nse with what the 

site is intending to do because it is an artistic site that will be explored by other artists and interested people who are most likely not looking for specific information.

Screen Shots: