Website Research

Introduction

I feel that if I don't do some type of research, that my designs will suffer in several areas. By research, I mean looking at and evaluating current or similar websites to the one that I'm designing for. This includes looking at:

• Commonly used colour schemes
• The type of content appropriate for a city farm website
• Layout style - Is it open, sectioned, artistic?
• Use of typography
• Site features - Increase/decrease type size, flash, change layout colours?

By looking at these things, it will help me create a website that put a focus on the user as opposed to what I think is necessary. What I mean is, by examining and analysing I can gain some insight in to the designers thought process and therefore develop my own thought process while I construct ideas, therefore (hopefully) making me a better designer and a better site for the user.

Current Websites

To start, I simply typed in to google 'City Farm' and viewed some of the results on the first page, as they would be the most relevant. 

Looking at the description that google gives me, I can immediately see that a lot of the blurbs include the words 'Educational', 'Recreational', 'local' and 'family'. Already I can see that a corporate looking website probably isn't what the farm would be looking for, but that's obvious. What those words do tell me however is that the site shouldn't take itself too seriously, indicating that any graphics art I might incorporate shouldn't be too polished, as this will imply a professional standard. It also tell me that the colour scheme should use bright colours and use of darker ones should be minimal, for obvious reasons. Basically, when visiting the site the user must not feel as though they've stepped in to an office or feel as though they are being communicated with in a formal manner. 

First website - Hackney City Farm - www.hackneycityfarm.co.uk

As you can see from the screenshot, it's not the most aesthetically brilliant thing you've ever seen, although it does the job. The website follows a conventional layout, featuring the navbar down the left hand side and the content in the centre. One thing I did notice that is missing from my designs is the Opening time are displayed on the homepage, as well as some shortened text describing the contents of the site under the 'Find out more about' and 'Courses & Workshops'. 

This is something that I feel I should include in my own designs as it saves the page from being overly spacious. It also enhances the users experience as everything they need is more or less on the homepage. Additionally, the manner of the text isn't formal but it isn't too informal, providing a nice balance. Something I should take in to consideration while I'm inputting content. 

Finally, the background and the colour scheme relate well, although not being outstanding in their appearance. The whole site has a little bit of a dated feel that I would like to avoid. Personally I think this is down to the fonts used for the navbar and site header. The fonts used for the content work well but I feel clash with the sans-serif typefaces used. Furthermore, primary use of the colour brown doesn't help the dowdy feel the website has. Something that I've noticed about a lot of these types of website, is the use of green and unfortunately brown as well, which I think is only effective if used correctly. 

Second Website - Kentish Town City Farm - www.ktcityfarm.org.uk

As similar story to the Hackney City Farm website, the website doesn't exactly tick all the boxes in the appearance section. Also, the use of green is present  but not as prevalent as the previous website I looked at. What can really be said? Anything good about this website, i've already said about the Hackney City farm because the layout and presentation is very similar. One thing that I will say about this website is that it's rather boring, the lack of colour and visually uncharacteristic layout don't do it any favours, although that aids functionality while sacrificing appearance. Which I suppose isn't all bad, as I would prefer a website that is usable, over a website that is impossible to navigate but looks pretty. 

Despite that, I think I could do better than this. It's quite unimaginative and a little bit dire, not a website that I would detest using, but not one I would enjoy. 

Third Website - Deen City Farm - www.deencityfarm.co.uk

Finally, a website that looks a little bit more up-to-date and current. This actually looks like it was made by a web designer as opposed to the employees of the farm itself. 

I like the way it's been laid out, with all the content in the centre and a nice amount of spacing in between each element which gives the content an un-crowded and presentable feel. I noticed that the home page features a small introduction to the site, which is good for me because that's what I initially intended for my own designs. Similar to the first website I analysed, there is a news section to the right of the content, although this time, because the page layout is more vertical, there is also a recent images element, newsletter element and some input boxes to sign up for the newsletter. While there is all this extra content, the page doesn't look crowded. 

The simple addition of a solid coloured background works well, although the lack of graphics makes the website look a little more generic than you would initially think when you first look at. I do think that the header and the fonts used could have been a little bit more creative, although I think that in the site's header's case, that was the choice of the farm rather than the designer. I say this because it's a relatively low resolution and doesn't fit with the rest of the website.

That being said this is probably the best website I've seen for a city farm, most of them are generally pretty...well general. Rather un-memorable design, with nothing that seperates them from other websites. Although, it's understandable as a farm website isn't exactly the highest priority on the list. I think most of the websites I've looked at have been designed for functionality as opposed to being made to promote the farm. But why not? Surely there's nothing wrong with gaining exposure as it would only generate more interest and make the name more well known. Whatever the reason, I believe that above all else, functionality is the top priority and therefore I should design around specific features, instead of designing the appearance first and cramming the features in around the design.