OIM3690 - Web Technologies

Web Page and Website Design

Group Discussion #1 (10 mins)

• Identify 5 do's and 5 don'ts when designing a website
• Rank them in order of importance
• Notice:
  • Don't google what experts say.
  • This is a highly subjective exercise.
  • There are no right or wrong answers.

Key Visual Elements

• Layout
• Color
• Graphics
• Typography
• Content
• White Space
• Iconography
• Animation and Interactivity
• Visual design rules you can safely follow every time

User-friendly Design Elements

• Navigation
• Mobile-responsive
• Search
• Easy accessibility
• Well-formatted content
• Loading Indicator
• Feedback
• Intruitive and consistent layout and functionality

Web Design Recent Trends

• Responsive design
• Fixed header bars
• Large photo backgrounds
• Typography
• Dark mode
• Single page website
• Popular design philosophies:
  • Minimalism
  • Flat design
  • ...

How do we evaluate a website?

• Group acitiviy (15 mins)
  • on Google docs - Web Tech Playground
  • Rank the websites on multiple factors
  • Rank the websites in genearl
• We will be back to discuss

Rank COLLEGE Websites

    www.babson.edu 
    www.bentley.edu 
    www.bc.edu 
    www.bu.edu 

• Visual Appeal (e.g. overall design, use of graphics, color scheme, etc.)
• Help in deciding whether to apply, for a prospective undergraduate student
• Help in deciding whether to apply, for a softball athlete student
• Ease of finding campus map
• Ease in making a donation
• Ease of finding academic calendar for the next semester
• Other factor(s) you think is important: ___

Rank DEPARTMENT STORE Websites

    www.macys.com  
    www.bloomingdales.com
    www.neimanmarcus.com
    www.nordstrom.com 

• Visual Appeal (e.g. overall design, use of graphics, color scheme, etc.)
• Ease of finding a product you want in a given price range
• Ease of finding a store location
• Determining if you can return item bought on web at a store
• Ease of creating a wedding gift registry
• Ease of determining shipping price
• Other factor(s) you think is important: ___

Rank CITY GOVERNMENT Websites

    www.cityofboston.gov 
    www.lacity.org 
    www.nyc.gov 
    www.sf.gov

• Visual Appeal (e.g. overall design, use of graphics, color scheme, etc.)
• Ease of finding latest local news
• Ease of finding things for a tourist to do
• Ease of finding how to get a parking permit
• Ease of dealing reporting a missed trash collection
• Ease of determining what permits I need to open a restaurant
• Other factor(s) you think is important: ___

Questions?