Team 1
Effective Elements:
1. The image of the oak leaf and ink pot on the homepage was effective because it created a positive experience because it helped frame the viewers mindset that they were entering a creative atmosphere.
2. The search bar was effective because I was able to quickly find article types that I was searching for.
3. The hyperlinked headings such as “issues” and “submissions” navigated the user to the appropriate page and were easy to read.
4. The “take a tour button” on the “about page” is effective because it gives the user some background information on Greenspring Campus that the user may not have if they have never been to the campus.
5. The Facebook window at the bottom of each page was effective because it updates the viewer with goings on that are specific to the organization and the day. The user can receive information about the living organization and their day to day programs while exploring the work that the organization has already completed.
Needs to be improved:
1. The book border on the side needs to be improved because it makes the pages look cluttered and distracts the eye from the other material on the page.
2. The event countdown on the front page could be improved so that the user can easily see it. As it is right now, it is a dark color which does not draw attention to the box and users may skip past it when they are scrolling.
3. The submissions guidelines page could be improved by formatting the information on the page a different way. The site could offer a pdf file which contains submission guidelines that the user could download, save on their personal device, print out and/or refer to multiple times on their own without having to bring up the site each time.
4. The about page could feature the picture of the editors in more business casual clothing rather than the relaxed wear they are currently in.
5. The Greenspring picture on the homepage is unable to be enlarged. User experience could be improved by allowing the picture to be enlarge so that those with bad eyesight could more easily see the photo close.
Team 2
Effective Elements
1. The logo and title on the Home page are large and vibrant. Provides for positive User Experience because the user knows exactly where they are visiting the minute they are on the site.
2. Positive user experience is created through the display of featured works on the home page. It gives the user a sense of what the site is all about.
3. The submission page offers a place in which users can visit and submit their work on that page. It makes it so that the user does not have to worry about an email or other link they must visit.
4. The about page includes quotes from the editors. This shows the user that the editors have an artistic and diverse side to them that speaks to the nature of the magazine.
5. The Archives link takes the user right to the page and when clicking on the link for the older magazine the user is transported to the 2016 “old” issue.
Needs to be improved:
1. The featured works on the home page only allow the user to click on the link for the type of work that the featured work is to be led to the page with that work. It does not allow for the user to click on the work and have it enlarged or click on the work and get taken to a page that includes more works of the same nature. This is poor user interface- the user wants to click on the work but cannot.
2. The issues are not in chronological order. Instead they are in order based on type of work and then according to year. This makes it difficult to see all the items from each year as they are published.
3. The “contact us” section includes too many words. With all the words the email address gets lost. The lack of a phone number is also noticeable.
4. Only providing one drop down menu tends to be a bit confusing. Only having the one menu causes the subtitles to look uneven.
5. The “share this” box needs to incorporate links to other social media sites such as Instagram and Snapchat.
Team 3
Effective Elements
1. The cream background is a relaxing element for the user’s eyes. It does not detract from ay of the information on the page.
2. The issues page uses plain text that does not detract from the pictures representing the information that will be contained in the issues they represent.
3. The submissions/guidelines page gives a form that users may fill out to submit their work on the site. This is a great feature because it eliminates the fear of user error and lost emails when having to email submissions.
4. The Facebook sidebar is an effective element because it gives the user an update as to what is going on with the editors of the magazine, the magazine itself, and events that the club may be throwing.
5. The about page provides professional looking photos of the editors. The format of the pictures allows for the user to see who the editors are without taking too much attention away from the body and purpose of the page.
Needs to be improved:
1. The color of the font does not fit in with the color of the school, organization, or magazine. It is its own theme.
2. The theme of the site does not show that it is affiliated with Greenspring or Stevenson University. This makes it difficult for the user to remember who the review is representing.
3. The submissions/guidelines page gives very little instruction on how to make a submission and what the guidelines of the site are. This can prove troublesome because someone may not have enough information on the medium, they want to submit.
4. The picture of the typewrite on the homepage causes the user to think that the review is mainly focused on writing. While writing is part of the review it is not the whole purpose and should not be given such a large feature on the homepage.
5. The video on the site detracts from the focus of the user. Although it is nice to have a video it does not have an explanation as to why it is on the side and may confuse users.