Week 4A: Design, Aesthetics and Branding
In this blog post we are talking about design, aesthetics, and branding. All are important to the ultimate goal of getting someone to buy your product, even if that product is just an opinion. Of course everyone has their own idea as to what is "good taste." The people who designed the first 5 sites on Prof. Faulk's list must have thought they looked good, or at least thought the design would help them sell their products.
In this review I will refer to design simply in terms of function. Do the links work? Is the information easy to find? Is it easy enough to read? The aesthetics will refer to the artistic design. Is it in good taste? Does it have beauty? How does it make you feel? Branding is what makes you instantly identifiable as you and how you differ from your competitors.
http://jamilin.com/
Do you ever look at a web site and imagine what the web designer's house looks like? I'd imagine Jami Lin's house to get top billing on a hoarder's reality show.
When this site first popped up I tried to figure out just what it was about. What were they trying to communicate to me? After clicking around a while and being sent to other domain names with every click, each with a new window, I still was having difficulty. For a person selling Feng Shui consultations, she could use a bit of Feng Shui advice herself. I think Jami Lin's chakras are severely out of balance and need some color harmony and hemp oil to straighten her out. I am sorry to say what her branding told me is that she is a new age wacko who is touting every cliched path to enlightenment for the low price of $159 paid through PayPal. At least that link worked when I finally found some of the actual products.
While this type of website is not my cup of tea, I think if I had advice it would be to have a grounded bio on the home page that explains why she has so many varied links to products that supposedly nourish your spirit and/or make you rich. I'd list those products clearly and explain them as rationally as possible, touting the "evidence" and testimonials. I would suggest a single products page with professional pictures. Some things seem so unrelated, it is advisable to eliminate them from her page. Affiliate marketing and ageless skin care and real estate?
After organizing the site and developing a clear message about what "Jami Lin" is all about, I would clean up the site, simplify the colors, expand the central container for easier reading, and develop a logo that encompassed her philosophy, something that looks far more peaceful and uncluttered. Part of that simplicity would be to have a central picture with message to draw the eye.
http://www.pennyjuice.com/
OW! Those colors hurt my eyes. I needed to reach for my sunglasses and Excedrin Migraine after looking at this site. So before anything else, even before putting something on that pitifully empty home page, I would tone down the colors.
After incorporating the retina-sparing color theme, I would change what comes up with the links they provided.... and change the fonts and ALL CAPS while I was at it. "Who is Penny Juice" comes up as testimonials. That belongs on a testimonials link, or at least "Who likes Penny Juice." The link "What is Penny Juice" has potential because it describes the product and its target market of daycares, preschools, and Headstarts. I would bullet the list and not center the text. The centering makes it difficult to read.
Other design suggestions would be to put links to all the pages on each page and design a fresh logo that makes their brand instantly identifiable.
childcare centers, preschools, Head Starts
Interestingly enough, their product sounds very intriguing. 100% juice concentrate that does not require refrigeration, even after opening. That sounds like a great niche market with huge potential.
apple.com
From start to finish Apple's website is classy, professional, and simple. The Apple logo is instantly recognizable which brings a feeling of trust.
It is easy to find what you are looking for with their main products in big pictures on the home page and easy-to-use navigational links. I like that there are no drop down menus, rather a secondary menu appears when you click a product link. Take note that they use only one non-serif font the whole time. The background colors are muted and have a metallic feel to it, so even though they are softer colors, they imply strength.
The graphics are sharp and appealing. They make you want to learn more. Heck, they make you want to buy it. I think Apple has accomplished their mission.
https://www.nps.gov/index.htm
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke signed an order Friday to expand hunting and fishing on public lands, parks, and monuments while enhancing conservation and wildlife management. I learned this and many other things on the National Parks and Recreation website.
The website is geared toward education with even virtual park tours being offered. What I liked about the website is it had a "feel" of being in a forest. It pulls you in and makes you not want to leave - except to maybe visit a park itself. It makes you not want litter because the site feels clean. I keep using the word "feel" because this site is clean enough to let the message of the parks shine through. It creates an emotional appeal, and a desire to get more. Being able to tap into someone's emotions is a powerful thing. Even the color of the buttons evoked verdant thoughts.
In this review I will refer to design simply in terms of function. Do the links work? Is the information easy to find? Is it easy enough to read? The aesthetics will refer to the artistic design. Is it in good taste? Does it have beauty? How does it make you feel? Branding is what makes you instantly identifiable as you and how you differ from your competitors.
http://jamilin.com/
Do you ever look at a web site and imagine what the web designer's house looks like? I'd imagine Jami Lin's house to get top billing on a hoarder's reality show.
When this site first popped up I tried to figure out just what it was about. What were they trying to communicate to me? After clicking around a while and being sent to other domain names with every click, each with a new window, I still was having difficulty. For a person selling Feng Shui consultations, she could use a bit of Feng Shui advice herself. I think Jami Lin's chakras are severely out of balance and need some color harmony and hemp oil to straighten her out. I am sorry to say what her branding told me is that she is a new age wacko who is touting every cliched path to enlightenment for the low price of $159 paid through PayPal. At least that link worked when I finally found some of the actual products.
While this type of website is not my cup of tea, I think if I had advice it would be to have a grounded bio on the home page that explains why she has so many varied links to products that supposedly nourish your spirit and/or make you rich. I'd list those products clearly and explain them as rationally as possible, touting the "evidence" and testimonials. I would suggest a single products page with professional pictures. Some things seem so unrelated, it is advisable to eliminate them from her page. Affiliate marketing and ageless skin care and real estate?
After organizing the site and developing a clear message about what "Jami Lin" is all about, I would clean up the site, simplify the colors, expand the central container for easier reading, and develop a logo that encompassed her philosophy, something that looks far more peaceful and uncluttered. Part of that simplicity would be to have a central picture with message to draw the eye.
http://www.pennyjuice.com/
OW! Those colors hurt my eyes. I needed to reach for my sunglasses and Excedrin Migraine after looking at this site. So before anything else, even before putting something on that pitifully empty home page, I would tone down the colors.
After incorporating the retina-sparing color theme, I would change what comes up with the links they provided.... and change the fonts and ALL CAPS while I was at it. "Who is Penny Juice" comes up as testimonials. That belongs on a testimonials link, or at least "Who likes Penny Juice." The link "What is Penny Juice" has potential because it describes the product and its target market of daycares, preschools, and Headstarts. I would bullet the list and not center the text. The centering makes it difficult to read.
Other design suggestions would be to put links to all the pages on each page and design a fresh logo that makes their brand instantly identifiable.
childcare centers, preschools, Head Starts
Interestingly enough, their product sounds very intriguing. 100% juice concentrate that does not require refrigeration, even after opening. That sounds like a great niche market with huge potential.
apple.com
From start to finish Apple's website is classy, professional, and simple. The Apple logo is instantly recognizable which brings a feeling of trust.
It is easy to find what you are looking for with their main products in big pictures on the home page and easy-to-use navigational links. I like that there are no drop down menus, rather a secondary menu appears when you click a product link. Take note that they use only one non-serif font the whole time. The background colors are muted and have a metallic feel to it, so even though they are softer colors, they imply strength.
The graphics are sharp and appealing. They make you want to learn more. Heck, they make you want to buy it. I think Apple has accomplished their mission.
https://www.nps.gov/index.htm
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke signed an order Friday to expand hunting and fishing on public lands, parks, and monuments while enhancing conservation and wildlife management. I learned this and many other things on the National Parks and Recreation website.
The website is geared toward education with even virtual park tours being offered. What I liked about the website is it had a "feel" of being in a forest. It pulls you in and makes you not want to leave - except to maybe visit a park itself. It makes you not want litter because the site feels clean. I keep using the word "feel" because this site is clean enough to let the message of the parks shine through. It creates an emotional appeal, and a desire to get more. Being able to tap into someone's emotions is a powerful thing. Even the color of the buttons evoked verdant thoughts.
Hi Janet. I think your right on with your reviews! You did a great job explaining your views and how it made you feel. Kept me reading. It's very interesting to see how we've come along with websites and what reaches people!
ReplyDeleteJanet,
ReplyDeleteGreat job on your reviews. You went above and beyond with your findings. Very detailed reviews and analyzes. I agree with you.
-Jasmin