Worst of the Web
Classes 1, 2, 3
Due Monday, January 30, 2006

We've all seen them-- web pages that defy all logical design or structure. The design might be beautiful, but you can't find what you're looking for or don't understand what the site is about. The site can be a fine art work or a commercial site selling sneakers - that's not the point. What does matter is that the site is accessible and holds the viewer's attention.

What are some of the biggest web site design and architecture mistakes? By reviewing some really bad sites, we will outline what are the pitfalls of bad web design and how they can be addressed. Keep in mind that this first assignment will focus primarily on commercial web design, however, most of these same issues can be applied to a fine art web site. Your main goal as a networked media artist is to keep your viewer's attention. You don't want them to leave your site out of frustration.

Assignment
In class we will discuss what makes for bad web design. Your first assignment will be to pick a "really bad, poorly designed web site" (either fine art or commercial) and present it to class on Monday, January, 16th. Be ready to tell us what doesn't work in the web site you will be presenting. The following week, you be expected to present a redesigned homepage of the "really bad web site" you presented. Your redesign doesn't need to be fully functional -it can be a still Photoshop layout of the homepage - BUT it must address the issues you pointed out as not working in the original "bad" design presentation. You have complete freedom to TOTALLY redesign the look and feel of your chosen site (that includes all graphics, content, type, layout, and navigation.) This is not about a subtle "tweaking" of existing material - this is a COMPLETE redesign. You should also include a flowchart for your proposed navigation structute.

Deadlines
January 23 - Present your "bad" web site example
January 30 - Present your redesign of the "bad" web site homepage
Final presentation must include:
• Redesigned homepage with content. (If homepage is exclusively navigation, then you must also include a sample content page)
• Flowchart of site navigation (Use Inspiration or OmniGraffle for your flowchart.)

Student Original URL Revised Design
Devin http://www.heavenswings.com/ http://www2.mfaca.sva.edu/~tewen/heaven/
Helen http://www1.shore.net/~straub/wpr.htm http://www2.mfaca.sva.edu/~huilun/redesign/enterpage.html
Rachel http://www.humanesociety.com http://sva.hyalinestudios.com/interface/badwebsite2.html
Charlene http://www.centralcoastcinemas.com/ http://www2.mfaca.sva.edu/~shumei/Interface/worstweb/p1.html
Joe http://www.idenatech.com http://www2.mfaca.sva.edu/~edwardf/interface_design/proj_1/interface_0.jpg
Jinyoung http://www.exoticplants.com http://www2.sva.edu/~jinyoung/id
Jessica http://www.callaghansltd.com/ http://www.evehandbags.com/home_cal.html
Chia-Chien    
SuHong http://www2.mfaca.sva.edu/~suhong/images/BBBoriginal.png http://www2.mfaca.sva.edu/~suhong/images/BBB_renew.jpg



Some Mistakes to Look for:

Purpose of Web site -- What is the web site about?
Navigation Failure
The Purpose of Text
Confusing Design
Misusing Flash
Misunderstanding Graphics
Optimization


Resources for Worst of the Web:

Pages That Suck: The Daily Sucker
http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com/dailysucker

The Biggest Web Mistakes of 2004
http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com/biggest-web-design-mistakes-in-2004.html

World's Worst Web
http://www.angelfire.com/super/badwebs/main.htm

Interface Design
"practical tips for commercial sites"
see links on this site for other resources
http://www.edtech.vt.edu/edtech/id/interface/

MarketShare
Global Web Statistics by OS and browser type
http://marketshare.hitslink.com

W3Schools
General Web Stats (platform, browser, color, flash, javascript)
http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_stats.asp

Flash Usage Stats
Adobe (formerly Macromedia)
http://www.macromedia.com/software/player_census/flashplayer/version_penetration.html



Neilsen, Jakob + Marie Tahir. Homepage Usability: 50 Websites Deconstructed, Berkeley, CA: New Riders Publishing, 2002.
This is a fairly didactic book with a one size fits all approach. That said, it does have some very good site architecture info. It is clearly anti-design, so read with caution. Personally, I think there is a balance between Neilsen's hard line anti-design approach and the overly obtuse designer sites he blasts.

Wiedemann, Julius, Ed. Web Design: Portfolios, Cologne, Germany: Taschen, 2005.A good collection of "design focused" site.


Case Studies:
Time permitting, we will discuss the pros and cons of each site below:

Information Sites
• Promo/Marketing
Digital Kitchen - Flash site for a motion graphics firm
Camille Utterback - This is a simple (non-Flash) artist promo site
John Coltrane - Clean Design in a Flash interface for a jazz musician.
Dunun - a design promo site within a flash animation interface
• Community
Ecotonoha.com
Rhizome
• Research/Search
Yahoo - Cluttered? We will look at how the design of this site has evolved. (See hand out.)
Google - classic/clean search
Wikipedia - Research and community

Shopping
amazon.com- We will look at how the design of this site has evolved. (See hand out.)
apple.com - shopping, info and community

Entertainment
• Fine Art
Typorganism - Flash art site by Gicheol Lee (SVA Alum)
American Penguin Project - Flash art site by Minki Park (SVA Alum)
Rhizome Artbase - Resource site for Net Art
• TV/Games
Cartoon Network
Also, check out net artists' take on gaming in this exhibition:
Breaking and Entering: Art + the Video Game at Pace Wildenstein Gallery, 545 W. 22nd Street (Thru 1/28.)
• Entertainment for Political Purposes
MailorderChickens.org (a parody site about trade injustice created by Pressureworks, a British political organization.