WEEK 13: Starter Post of Hierarchy

Establishing a strong visual hierarchy is just as important in web design as it is when designing for your résumés, posters, and magazines. In fact, it’s almost more important. Your opportunity to keep a reader online is limited by attention span and how easy it is to find what users want.

Earlier we talked about Lupton's discussion of the rise of the user in changing how various things are designed for user demands. This week's post ties in with the usability post from two weeks ago, but focus on the structure of the site when writing about why your chosen site works. Point out the dominant elements and how they guide you.

ASSIGNMENT
For this assignment, look at some of the websites you frequent most often and find an example of hierarchy at work – either good or bad – and post a jpeg of the screen shot (Command + Shift + 4 on Macs; print screen key, or other method on PCs).

NOTE: Do not repeat prior sites used by your or classmates of websites. (So Facebook and other popular Web sites used are off limits).

1.Talk about how you are led through the content to the content you're seeking. What assumptions can you make about hierarchy from sizing of page elements.
2. Talk about the hierarchy briefly. What is the most dominant item? Is this also the most useful or just visually pleasing?
3. What is good?
4. What could be improved?