I like how Saul Bass manages to integrate the entire branding process and strategy, answer questions of naysayers, and intrigue me while still conveying how changing the Bell System logo will help the company appear more spirited and technology forward.
Having had to pitch to clients and classmates before, you never know quite what to tell them when you’re showing your work and your process. With lots of clients, I say one design jargon word like “serif” or “motion tracking” and lose my connection with them. In class, sometimes I feel like I’m stating the obvious and appearing pretentious. Then there are times when you just finish a job or assignment and just want to say, “this is it.”
Overall the site for Dr. James Formaker DDS uses a template provided by a web design vendor that caters to dentists and other health care professionals.
- The Grid - the site uses a simple grid. From page to page, the main content is aligned with the header and footer. The images appear to be inline content and do not consistently appear in the same places on the page. Inserting columns on specific grid points could present the site more clearly and make the dense content easier to read.
- Color Palette - the site uses a palette with full blue palette from dark blue to light blue, beiges, and black text. I feel that overall the palette is pleasant and “beachy” though not necessarily evoking a dentist office.
- Navigation - the site has consistent navigation in the header. If anything, I feel that I could streamline some of the navigation: topics like Our Practice and Our Technology could be included under the About Us category. The Links category doesn’t really relate to the practice specifically and seems to be able to be incorporated more into the FAQs section and into the overall web page. I feel that some of the content on the site is embedded a couple of layers down in a lot of unnecessary and hard to read text.
- Design Principles - the site could have a more asymmetrical grid. The Flash in the site header seems to be busy. You could use gallery images of actual patients perhaps. Some elements, again beaches don’t make me think of dentists. Perhaps this is to reduce anxiety potential clients might have about dentists? I have a hard time determining a hierarchy sometimes.
- Typography - the site uses primarily a Times or Serif type font. While readable, adding headings with a Sans-Serif font would break up the dense content and make it easier to read.
Competitive analysis of the dental industry shows me that many template sites are already out there for dentists. However, updated designs do not always appear to be the most important part of these designs.
1. Arthur Weiss, DDS
This site looks like it was thought out in terms of SEO, design, and information architecture.
The Header with its rotating images, seems friendly and inviting to me. I also like the color scheme. However, these colors remind me more of a living room than a dentist’s office. I imagine this might be intentional because of the fears that many have about dentists. My biggest criticism, is that there are so many categories in the navigation. Also, there is a lot of content below the fold. I wonder how much of this information a prospective patient might read.
2. Toluca Dental Arts uses a two-column website. I like that they link their reviews and testimonials at the top, but the non-site buttons seem garish against the more sedate tan and brown color scheme. The Navigation is clear. I would advise against the use of script fonts and would try to incorporate the color scheme in the Dental Arts Toluca Lake Logo more. This is a nice logo and color scheme. I feel like there’s a missed opportunity to include that overall theme in their website.
3. Moorpark Family Medicine seems to use template designed on a two column grid. The green color scheme seems to convey corporate more than medical/dental. I feel like their content is the most concise and web-friendly of the three sites. I feel like the overall design isn’t really adding much to the site. I might either go with a more minimalistic theme or have a more inviting color scheme for potential patients.
- What is the name of the website you’d like to redesign for your final project? James E. Foremaker, DDS
- Please provide the URL (web address)
http://www.jamesformakerdds.com/ - Why do you want to redesign this website?
This website seems to have a lot of potential. However, overall, it seems dated and also incorporates multiple font styles. Also, the tan and blue color scheme while a favorite of mine as well, seems to convey a beach hotel more than a dentist office.
- Who is the target audience? Prospective and current dental patients in the Hollywood, Burbank and Studio City area are the target audience.
- What did you learn from critiquing your group members’ work? And how was the feedback you received from your peers helpful to you?
Critiquing my group member’s work forced me to concentrate on the specific criteria were considering. By having this set of guidelines, I could focus on ways that they could improve their sites or what they already did well.
Revision One of Monday May Design Home Page
- What is “Grid Theory” and why is it important to web design?
Grid theory is originally a technique employed by print designers. Based on the Golden Ratio of 1:~1.62, the Grid Theory helps create pleasing compositions that are visually balanced by employing some other artistic and design techniques. The Rule of Thirds is a classical guideline from art that helps you create areas of interest in compositions by placing design elements you want to focus. You use this technique by diving the vertical and horizontal parts of a composition with two lines vertically and two lines horizontally. Where the lines intersect guide you where to place content.
These intersections encourage asymmetrical balance, which helps create a hierarchy for the Web site. Also, they help divide navigation from the content of the web site.
- In addition to “balance,” what are the other design principles important also to Web design?
Aside from balancing the content of a Web site unity and emphasis are two other design principles important to Web design. Unity refers to the proximity of design elements to each other. By using repetition of design elements, you group common elements together such as navigation guides or content. With this cohesiveness, you help guide site users to the information they’re seeking.
Emphasis comes from the placement of different design elements. Also, making different design elements contrast from each other, you continue to create a hierarchy for the information you are presenting. Using this hierarchy through your site creates consistency that links your information together logically. Finally, using isolation, you can emphasize specific information that you want the user to focus on, such as a call to action or a contact number to initiate contact with a service or product.
- What are the “Bread and Butter Layouts” in web design?
Bread and Butter Layouts are common layouts used in web design. They’re proven paradigms that can effectively guide users to the resources they want. Some bread and butter layouts are left-column, right-column and three column navigation.
Bryan Zilar
323-823-6851
bzilar (at) gmail (dot) com
Demo Reel
