Site map for our end of year show. 1.1

Student graduate website from El Paso Texas USA

http://www.nietodickensdesigner.com/
 Overview and aims


This is a student graduate website, from the Texas, USA. It showcases the design students work in an innovative way, using the retro apple icons as a visual focus. It is set out like a CPU desktop, with the main  navigation icons spread out in a kind of random way. This is a novel way to attract people to delve deeper into the website. I would guess this website is a tool for getting an internship or work experience, or possibly a starting point for showing off their digital portfolio to potential clients.
There are elements I admire about the execution of the overall look. The clock on the homepage is fitting, even the personal logo is in sync aesthetically with the layout. I arrived at the website by 'googling' student portfolios, then skipping to page 10. I found the University of El Paso graduate website addresses. Then this one caught my eye.







Content & Structure


The content is set out into five simple selections. The portfolio section is nicely divided up into the five disciplines that were studied. Completed works are set out in a flow of photographs, detailing the project outline and further developments leading into the completed work. There is a PDF link to his resume, which is well laid out and visually interesting. Slight criticism in that on the contact page you cannot click on the email address or copy it to your email address bar. No twitter or Facebook link on that page either, although there is a Facebook link on another part of the website.

Navigation


The use of old style image links is the key to this websites navigation. There is a good flow to the website, with elements easily accessed from most parts of the website. The use of windows within the structure makes it easy to go back to the previous window and not get lost in the depth.

Web site analysis - Ahoy! Design agency in Manchester

http://www.ahoycreative.co.uk/
Overview & aims
The primary focus of the home screen is to attract clients to the digital design company. It outlines the key design disciplines they employ, also displays their skills as an online company.
It looks as if the website is fairly standard layout, built in Flash, with a constant and simplistic grid layout.

I arrived at the website by a simple Google search under the terms Manchester Design Agency, so they have managed to raise quite a high profile in the Google rankings.
I like the section profiling the members of the team and their ethos as a company. The subtle use of motion in the site adds a visual interest to the look of the pages.
Branding for Ahoy is strong, and the continuity throughout is well positioned for the type of work the are courting. The logo is a type based design, with the word ahoy is a nautical term for exclamation of approaching land or something significant. This could signify awareness and insight, or the first to be informed of an approaching issue or development.

Content

The list of previous clients is impressive, with big branding work for Barburrito in Manchester one I recognised straight away.
There is a work bio for the members of the team, but the blog links next to them are not always recently updated. It looks a bit out of date, but is quite a common feature I have noticed when exploring other design agencies websites.





I love the contact page (find us) motion graphic, it's probably my favorite thing on the site. It's a shame the graphics on the homepage do not match the level of this one, which is tucked away toward the back end of the site.




Structure

The work is arranged into project thumbnails, outlining web, branding & print separately. This depth makes for an easy flow to the structure of previous clients work.

There is a constant and intuitive site map, with the main icons for navigation to the site easily accessed, and do not move or alter in size when navigating the pages.

Navigation 

There are text and image links within the structure of the site. The menus have multi-directional moving sub-menus, often with slick little moving banners revealing information or links.
This leads to an un-cluttered move visual dynamic, involving the site user to browse images before committing to reading the text information.
I cannot find any links to Facebook or Twitter on the site, also I have searched for them using my FB and Twitter but could not find any presence. Although these mediums are flooded with tweets and updates that no one reads, it is a cheap in time and money.

Visual design

The content is presented simply and concisely on the home page, with a mission statement and some motion graphics to balance the visual interest. there is an un-pretentious and informal feel the the language used, emphasising a friendly approach to client contact.
The typography has been kept san-serif and uniform typeface throughout. Possibly Impact or one of the modern Helvetica fonts.
A theme to the visual side of this website are the engaging motion graphics. They add an interactive and modern feel to the use-ability of the site.
There is consistancy in the layout, with a non rigid grid structure to some pages, and a more free use of white space on others.

Ahoy's website is easy to use, has clear direction for users and represents the business well to potential clients.