Main Task: Charity Website Analysis

This is the website of PETA, the website against animal cruelty. I have decided to base the website i am making on this charity and so i analysed it. This is because it for a good cause, i like the work the charity does and the layout meets a lot of conventions.
I also analysed the chairty i have chosen, it does meet a lot of conventions like the logo beingin the top left corner, which is next to PETA's logo. Also, the navigation bar is at the top, making it easy to get around the web site, and lastly, PETA's address and contact information is at the bottom of the page. By having all this it meets a lot of conventions for web design, and makes it easy and simple to get around the site.

Evaluation of Preliminary website

(The smiley face is a link to my blog.)

This is the website i made for a primary school called Fosse Way Primary School. I think that the layout of my website shows the conventions of webpages because my navigation bar is going down the left side of the page, the logo is at the top left corner and the name of the school is at the top.

I also like the logo because it is simple, uses the same colours as the website and ties in with the name of the school. To make the School look better and to show more information on my website i have included the awards my School has earned, therefore making the School look better and so childrens parents would want to send their kids there.

However, if i made this website again i might change the background colour of purple to a different shade of blue or black. This is because the connotations of the colour purple are often linked to and represent that of a femenine nature.

When i make my own website i would take my own pictures, or make my own video for Fosse Way Primary School's website i used pictures from the actual Fosse Way School website.

Media Diary Post

I drew a simple line drawing using black pen of what I want my web site to look like. I then scanned these drawings in and opened them on Photoshop. Once they were open on Photoshop, I then coloured them using the paint tool.

These drawings will help me when I come to create my own web site as I will know where key items such as the logo will go and also what photographs I will have to include and where.

Preliminary website page designs

Here are my designs for my website. I scanned my black and white drawings onto Adobe photoshop elements and then put colours on to show what my website may look like.

Media Diary Post

I have just created a basic design using Photoshop by using the shape tool and the paint tool to create a colour theme and also where things such as the schools logo will go. I have then labelled my work so the viewer can see the navigation bar and logo is.

This will really help me when I come to create my web site as I will then be able to follow the colour scheme and follow where things such as the navigation bar will go.

website storyboard

This is my basic design of what my website would look like. There is a theme throughout my web pages and i have labelled the different parts on each page i have got. As i am doing a primary schools webpage i have used bright, bold colours which would attract them to the website.

Media Diary Post

I have just finished the work I have done on web conventions. I looked in to why conventions are useful and I also found my own examples of web conventions and examples of people breaking the conventions.

An example of a web site which bends the conventions of web design is river islands clothing web site as the navigation bar is above the name of the shop. This is very unusual however, the navigation bar is still at the top of the page which is why the convention has not been broken. Little details such as this is what makes a web site different to others, I could use this idea when I come to create my own web site as it will then look individual and will show that web sites can look good even though a convention has been broken.

I understand web conventions really well now and when I go onto different web site I analyse what conventions the creator has broken or followed which is really interesting to know.

Web Conventions

What is a convention?
A convention is a set of agreed, stipulated or generally accepted standards, norms, social norms or criteria, often taking the form of a custom.


Why are they useful?
Conventions are useful because they ensure that websites keep to the same layout to avoid confusion of internet users. Conventions also make it easier for the designer to make the website.

Do we have to use them all the time?
Website makers do not have to follow web conventions strictly otherwise all websites would look the same. They sound like rules but you can bend the rules or break them if u wish. However, its best to try and avoid not using good conventions otherwise the website could be too confusing for users, but obviously websites would need to have their personal touch.

What examples of conventions are found in webdesign?
A convention like the logo of the page is usually at the top left of every page. If the logo was to be situated somewhere else it would take the users more time to locate something as little as the logo. Also, the navigation bar is either on the left or at the top on most websites. Links to other pages are usually in a different colour to normal text, which makes it less confusing for the user. Plus, the name of the website is always at the top, which tells you what website it is straight away. There is usually a picture underneath the navigation bar too, this convention isnt as important as the others but its commonly used. Links at the bottom of the page are very common on websites, helps users get around to certain pages quicker.

Examples of web conventions

• http://www.arcticmonkeys.com/

Although this website looks very creative it follows the basic web conventions, like the navigation bar being at the top for easy use around the site, which is underneath the name of the website. It also has the small links at the bottom of the page which all websites have to get around the website.

• http://www.gio-goi.com/

This website is also very creative, and it does follow alot fo the web conventions. Like the name of the site and logo at the top left corner. There is also the interactive picture in the middle of the page which is seen quite alot in other websites.

Examples of websites that bend or break the conventions

• http://xml.riverisland.com/flash/content.php

This website does bend some web conventions. For example, the name of the website is underneath the navigation bar. There is no small links at the bottom, its almost like another navigation bar at the bottom of the page.

• http://www.rollingstones.com/home.php

This website is different to normal, conventional websites. This is because the name of the site is actually in the middle next to the bands logo. This works very well with this site becuase where the name and logo is, it is very eyecatching when the page loads. Also, the navigation bar is situated at the top, but, it is in dull writing and doesnt stand out to the users like a normal navigation bar would.

• http://www.banksy.co.uk/

This website does break alot of conventions. When i first clicked on the page, the only thing that came up was a quote by pablo picasso. It took me a lot of time to get onto his homepage. I clicked the elephant at the bottom. It came up with another quote so i clicked on the elephant again to get to his homepage. It's a good idea which makes people think about the qoutes and why he used them but it was very confusing on how to get to his homepage. His homepage also breaks conventions. Just putting 'Banksy' in the middle of the page and then a small navigation bar on the side does actually look good and is easy to navigate around each page.

Media Diary Post

I have recently been given the web site preliminary exercise. I then created a post title 'research and planning' which I will refer back to whenever I need reminding about the purpose of creating the web site; the audience I am creating the web site for; what the web site communicates and the personality of the web site.

I chose to create an informal web site as this appeals to the children more than the adults, which will make the children look at the web site often and they may also learn from it. I have also stated that I would include photographs of awards the school has, this makes the school look very good to parents with children attending the school and also parent who are choosing which school their child would like to go to.

Next, I am going to look into web conventions in much more detail than when I analysed the conventions of three different schools. This will show that I am learning about what does and what does not look good on a web site and why.

Research and Planning- preliminary task designing

What is the websites purpose?
The purpose of this website is to inform people of the school and also make a good first impression for parents and pupils who would like to attend the school.

Who are the audience of the website?
This website is for primary school children and therefore will have bright colours and large fonts, there will also be a section for parents so they can find out information about new events and information on the school.

What does the website have to communicate?
This website has to show how good it is, they can show this by including the awards they have been given and also show upcoming events which are happening at the school.

What will the personality of the website be?
This website would be quite informal becuase i would like it to appeal more to the kids than adults. It would be quite fun looking to attract the kids but also show the primary school can teach kids things by making the marents area a bit more formal and show more information.

Website Preliminary exercise

A new homepage for a school/college.

This should include a photo of the institution, buttons to provide easy navigation to other areas of the site and appropriate welcomingtext. There should also be a working hyperlink to a media department page, also with a photo.The task aims to demonstrate understanding of the software and of webpage conventions.

Media Diary Post

I have just analysed two different schools, one was called The College and the other was Fosse Way School. I wrote about what conventions the schools have stuck to on their websites such as the school logo being at the top, left of the web page an the navigation bar is located at the top of the web site page. By analyzing the two web sites, it will help me to know what layout is right and wrong on a web site and shows the typical layout schools use for their web sites. As I am creating a school web site, I can follow these conventions or break them, and create my own, unusual web site.

Preliminary Task: Research and Analysis of existing websites

My analysis of The college's school website

My analysis of North Kesteven's School website

My analysis of Fosseway Schools' website

After looking at school website i have noticed the conventions in them, they all follow a similar layout. For example, the navigation bar is located at the top of the school website's above. They all also have a large picture at the top so when you click onto the sight the first thing you see is a nice picture. They also all have their school logo at the top of their page so users of the websites can recognise who the school are.

When i make my website i would incorperate some of the conventions from these websites into my own website because these websites are effective. I I would use a large picture at the top of my website to make it eyecatching and would also put the name of my website at the top like the schools have put their school name at the top.

Finished website address

http://portal.nkschool.lincs.sch.uk/media/92sf13/