lovehistory.net

This week I will be critiquing my classmate David’s design assignment, Santa Anna Goes to Washington. I’m excited that I get to work with David’s assignment, as he’s quite adept with both code and design and I’m always learning (and “borrowing”) from him.

So first, positive:

• I’ll state simply that you’ve nailed CARP. I really love the way you’ve used the different borders and colors to create interesting boxes on your page that almost mimic a flag. The color scheme is quite nice – the blue really adds a lively pop, especially when contrasted with the yellows in your logo.
• I think you’ve done well going for the period look. Part of this achievement is the aforementioned color scheme, and the addition of the historical map and figure in your logo. But the font choices, both in your logo and the serif in your body copy, are excellent. The choice of font color contrasted with the background really looks like ink on aged paper, but because of the strong blue and red, and the crisp logo image, your site avoids looking cliche and instead looks like quite lively.
• I’m just going to say that I really am still quite impressed that you’ve managed to draw together such a complex color scheme and detailed logo image in such a way that still looks simple and usable over all.
• Small point, but I actually really like the way you’ve used your footer to include the about you information. It’s well styled, and it’s a good use of the space. I may have to mimic you when I’m working on fixing my own design.

Areas for improvement:

• Ah, that ornament. It is a great ornament. But I’m still not quite sure it works. It is okay on the main page, but when you start clicking into the meat of your site, which I’m sure isn’t finished yet, it looks very awkward just hanging out at the top all by itself. Maybe try making it smaller? Its size may be one reason it’s so jarring. Also, in this case we only see it once – there’s no repetition. If you choose to leave it in, you might find it becomes less clunky and awkward if it’s quite obviously part of a “scheme.” It would have shown up more than once in a document, yes? And also, it’s not the right color. Turn that black into one of the browns in your font, the darker one from your headers. Then it will look like everything was printed in the same ink on the same page. Right now it stands out as an image, especially because there is still some white around the edges I think – it’s not entirely transparent. I am rooting for the ornament, I really am, but you may have to let it go. Or maybe it’s that particular ornament? Anyway, I am eager to see what you can do. Trying to make it look more natural will probably help some of the issues.
• Let me stop and talk about the content of your main page. I was praising you for the simplicity, and that is one reason the page really, really works, but at the same time, almost all of my attention is drawn to that logo and the content of the page itself comes as an afterthought. This is both in terms of the design and the actual body copy. What is there to pull my eye down? The ornament is the only visually interesting element. I assume each of your sections will be replete with images – perhaps pull one image from each section and make a small thumbnail graphic, then put it next to each link in the list, like a bulleted list but with icons? If they are very simple they could serve to draw attention down to the nav in your body and also, by virtue of your content, instantly inform the user just a little bit about each section’s content. Also, spice up the actual text a bit. I know things sometimes work better short and sweet on the web, but I’m not sure you’ve provided enough impetus here to get people clicking based on that teeny tiny paragraph at the beginning. You know why your project is cool and exciting, and so do we (your classmates), but have you communicated that coolness and excitement to other audiences? Who is your audience?
• In terms of that horizontal nav bar, it looks great, but I might consider listing “Background” before “Meet the Travelers.” I think I can guess at your original design choice – you want to highlight the travelers, get your user to engage with their personalities, and use those things to pull the user into the story itself. But every time I looked at it the order just bothered me. Maybe find another word for “Background,” one that’s more exciting? That is a tall order. But I would seriously ponder the order of links here, or the descriptive words you choose, as this is part of your narrative arc.
• I’m going to make some comments about the inside pages of your site, and I’m aware you may not have finished styling them yet, but on I go nevertheless. In terms of the navigation inside the website, once you get into the archive, it looks quite awkward. For example, when you’re clicking through the travelers and all their names are just hanging out up there at the top. Is there a way to move those around? Perhaps make them a left nav so they don’t get confused with your navigation at the top, or simply lost? I know you’re working with Omeka, so your choices may be limited. But when I first clicked through your site I was terribly confused by the sudden changes in navigation. It may simply be a case of a styled front page vs. an as-yet unstyled archive, and if so, I apologize.
• Also, I see in your one completed biography of Santa Anna his picture is at the bottom of the page. Again, I’m not sure the limitations you’re up against when working with Omeka, but I would try to put all of your images above the fold, especially when they’re of people. Also, make sure all your images are facing into the text.

Okay, this is what I see at first glance. I think you’ve got a very impressive start. I really is a lovely site to look at, and I can see what you’re building toward. I am eager to see and interact with the finished product. It’s been very fun watching this idea develop over these past two semesters.