ARTM2210 Intro to Web Design

Just another Intro to… site

Monthly Review 2

The website http://photoshopetiquette.com/ is very interesting to look at.  The design is very simple and easy to navigate through.  The entire page just scrolls down and each section are in bold font, so it stands out against the subtitles.  Although the site is split into different sections as one scrolls down, there is unity throughout the page.  For example, the font is the same typeface throughout, but the sizes of the subheadings are smaller than the headings.  This shows visual hierarchy between the different sizes of font.  Furthermore, the colors are all the same tint.  The rule of thirds was used effectively in the website because all of the information is formatted in the middle, and there is equal negative space on either side.  Therefore, the site is very balanced.  Repetition is used a great amount throughout the page, as well.  For instance, there is a dotted line that is repeated throughout the entire site.  Also, there is emphasis on the heading for each section with the dotted line, which makes them look isolated.

Next, the colors of the Photoshop Etiquette page flow very well and go together effectively.  When the page is first open, the first section is very monochromatic, but as one scrolls down through the website, the colors begin to change into a triadic color scheme.  The first part of the page that is seen when the site is open is different blues and white.  The color blue makes the reader feel at ease, while as if the designer would have made the first page red, the user would have felt alarmed or cautioned.  Moreover, the white title on the first section of the page is the dominant color and shows power against the subtitle in light blue underneath it.  The background color changes from light to dark and back to light throughout the page, which is a subtle texture.  This effectively gives the site depth as the reader scrolls through it.  In addition, when the background switches color, the text changes color.  The changing colors helps make each section isolated from the others.

Not only are the colors helping make the page successful, the recognizable shapes before each section show the reader what they will be looking at next.  For example, the picture before the images section is a picture of the icon for pictures.  There are icons on the left side of each subsection to read the information for that section, along with a twitter button below to “re-tweet” that section for others to see.

As a whole, this website works and is visually appealing.  It has a large amount of information within it, and it is not busy.  The creator keeps the design simple and uses triadic and monochromatic colors to emphasize depth and separate each section.  The familiar shapes enhance the site and preview what information will be in the sections.  The typeface is easy to read, and the format of the site is well organized.  Overall, this website efficiently follows all of the design principles in an attractive way.