PARC ASSIGNMENT
| Proximity The Communications Arts Web site makes good use of the proximity technique. Information is sorted on a grid format and grouped based on theme: design interact, creative hotlist, Communication Arts features, Communication Arts Store. Use of proximity assists the reader in navigating the Web site and easily finding the information that interests them. The grouping together of similar information on a grid format creates an organized and memorable page. The Web site borders on making a common proximity mistake: filling up all available space. There is very little open space left on the page, which puts it in danger of appearing cluttered, which is a quick turnoff to visitors.
Alignment |
Repetition
The visitor can see the repetition technique in use on the
Communications Arts Web site in the use of the four rectangular columns
containing information. There is a repetition in shades of gray, light
blue and white colors. There also is repetition when it comes to the fonts
used on the page, as well of the size of headlines and size of text under
headlines.
Contrast
On the Communication Arts Web site, the use of contrast is most
clearly evident in terms of color. While the site does repeatedly use
shades of gray, light blue, and white, the placement of these colors on the page
creates contrasts. The rectangular tables of information alternate in
their background color - light blue, dark gray, white, and light gray.
Additionally, text color is used to create contrast. In the light blue
column, white and a shade of blue are used for the caption, while black is used
as the text color for the bulk of the information. On the dark gray column
the headlines are in white with secondary information are in an orange color.
In the white column, the headline and most of the text is in black, while the
light gray column uses dark blue headlines and white secondary text to create
contrast and attract the eye and attention of the visitor. This use of
contrasts assists the visitor in understanding the organization of the page and
finding information.
PARC
The Communication Arts Web site is a good example of how design
techniques, when used properly, combine to create an image or message in which
the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. In this case, the
techniques of proximity, alignment, repetition and contrast combine to create a
visually appealing, user friendly, well organized, easy to navigate page.
The page provides the visitor with a great deal of information, but the way that
information is organized - four aligned columns, using repetitive shades of
background colors and contrasting shades of text - makes it easy for visitors to
navigate through that information.