Design Critique vs. LIS Jill Goldstein Prof. Gilok Choi Chana Ziegler Brian McMains Suki Park

Introduction Our focus: Critique of Home and Issue pages based on three principles... Info Design Interaction Design Visual Design

Information Design Obama Homepage Message: Change Clear campaign theme featured prominently on website McCain Homepage Message: Country First... Reform*Prosperity*Peace Unclear what this means; ambiguous

Information Design (cont'd)‏ Obama Homepage Text heavy Requires scrolling and scanning of info Deep website McCain Homepage Less text Straight simple talk; geared toward the masses Style but less substance

Interaction Design Obama Homepage: Excels at interactive technology (web 2.0, video, text links)‏ Appeals to younger generation (core of his base)‏ Multiple ways to volunteer and become involved To broaden base, we recommend simplifying page (move store to new page)‏ McCain Homepage: Limited interaction with audience (playing catch up late in campaign)‏ Appeals more to older demographic (not necessarily computer savvy)‏

Obama Homepage

Visual Design Obama Homepage Modern layout Can be confusing Overwhelming (due to number of items)‏ Lack of search feature Good use of logo (personalization)‏ McCain Homepage Designed like a patriotic billboard (red, white and blue)‏ Good use of white space User friendly; easy navigation Poor location for search feature (bottom of page)

Visual Design (cont'd)‏ Obama Homepage Logo more visual and symbolic Clever logo personalization for various audiences McCain Homepage Logo not as attention grabbing

McCain Homepage White space

Critique of Issue Page

Obama - Pros Targets specific audiences better Utilizes direct quotes more often Higher sophistication level Consistent structure of content

Critique of Issue Page (cont'd)‏ Obama - Cons Lack of search feature Text heavy Navigation requires excessive scrolling Graphics and font are monochromatic, not as engaging

Critique of Issue Page (cont'd)‏ McCain – Pros Superior layout, structural organization Better use of graphics, could be smaller Graphics more colorful, convey meaning McCain – Cons Search feature needs to be moved to top of page Issues generalized, could use focus

Obama Redesign Obama Add search feature, top right Move issues to more central location Smaller amount of text Add color to graphics

Obama Redesign

Comparison

Questions