Web 236 - Website Plan: Graphics, Images, Accessibility, and Content

Website Plan: Graphics, Images, Accessibility, and Content - Week 3

WEB/236

May 16, 2011

Mary Paquet

Website Plan: Graphics, Images, Accessibility, and Content - Week Three

During the previous two papers, the topics of discussion included the purpose of the site, the target audience, and structural elements (layout and navigation). This paper will concentrate on those elements involving the website's "look and feel."

"Elements of Look and Feel"

When one thinks of "look and feel," the concept seems to be self-descriptive. Look would relate to how a website appeals to the viewer; such visual design aspects as type-size, and page layout. Feel, on the other hand can be elusive. More than the look component, feel is more subjective because it deals with the viewers cognitive skills. Faiola (2005) "Multiple studies in the areas of cross-cultural behavioral and cognitive psychology continue to uncover significant differences in the way people behave, think, assign value, and engage others" (Introduction, para. 3). In other words, the viewer should find the website friendly, formal, helpful, and not confusing. In a since, the feel of a site could relate to ergonomics, is the site a good fit between the viewer's goal and how the website works to meet that need? The feel of a site can also refer to the site's usability.

Several combination of factors contribute to the look and feel of a website, such as navigation, content architecture, writing style (tone), layout, typography (style and appearance of printed matter), color, and imagery. For this paper, the discussion will focus on media formats and plug-ins, graphics, content, and usability in site design.

Media formats and plug-ins

Different media types exist, Adobe Flash®, and Windows Media Player® to name two. How one uses media in a website depends on two key considerations. The first consideration is the purpose of the website. The second consideration is the targeted audience. This latter factor had a bearing on the use of media in the individual project website. Used was the marquee function of Dreamweaver® on the home page to display the Preamble to the AMVETS Constitution. When the viewer lands on the page, the words to the preamble are scrolling. However, the incorporation of provisions allowing the viewer to start or stop the display provides the ability for the viewer to stop the display if it is distractive and to stop any part of it for longer viewing.

Use of graphics

Combining text, color, and graphics provides the sparkle of the website; it is what catches the eye of the viewer. During week three, the class studied the various formats available for imaging. The three most popular for website uses are Graphic Interchange Format (GIF), Joint Photographic Expert Groups (JPEG), and Portable Network Graphics (PNG). The two formats used in the AMVETS site