From the research that I’ve done, I can conclude that single page websites are a great way to get information out there and do it in a way that is both aesthetically pleasing and enjoyable to navigate. The site that I have chosen to review is for Think Green Meeting at thinkgreenmeeting.com. I consider this particular site a success, with its visually pleasing transitions from page to page and it’s excellent use of color and texture.

Navigating this site is relatively enjoyable. First of all, the navigation is in a very recognizable place, listed vertically along the left side of the page, below the logo. This is a great use of conventions, as described in Steve Krug’s “Don’t Make Me Think Revisited.” Also described in the aforementioned reading, is the importance of making all things “clickable” look, well, “clickable.” The site successfully does exactly that, with its distinct bold, all capital letters that in turn highlight with a rectangular shape when active. The navigation remains static, while the content moves around it in interesting ways. All navigating is done through the navigation bar; the scroll bar is not present. The landing page is definitely worth mentioning as it incorporates an interactive way of explaining this particular company’s mission statement. From there, as you click on the individual navigation links, the page takes you to that particular defined space by way of a sliding motion. There are several instances where the page slides vertically down, and even one where it slides down and then horizontally to the right, and back again. This particular approach is a good way of keeping things organized and separated as needed, which is also important in effective web design as described in Krug’s book.

The colors used in this site make it aesthetically pleasing. In chapter two of “The Principles of Beautiful Web Design,” it is explained that the philosophy associated with certain colors can create an emotional connection. The use of yellow-green in the logo and other visual elements combined with the neutral light and dark browns of the background and corresponding text really evoke the natural feel of a “green” company. In my opinion, this is the perfect pallet of colors for a company of this association. Also, explained in the aforementioned chapter is the distinction between warm and cool colors, and in what combination they can create the biggest impact. The use of the warm, yellow-green color against that neutral beige background makes it really stand out and look important, as with the darker brown color of the text against the muted beige background.

In association with color, the subtle texture also ads to the appeal of this site. The obvious use of texture in this site resides in its background. It almost has a natural canvas-like quality to it. As described in chapter three of “The Principles of Beautiful Web Design,” “Texture is anything that gives a distinctive appearance or feel to the surface of a design or object.” Another effective example of texture in this particular site can be found in the use of line between transitions, it really captures the feeling of movement and fluidity. The chapter also states that rounded corners on shapes can create a more organic essence as compared to the, almost, mechanical feel of square corners. This site incorporates the use of shapes with rounded corners, and I could not agree more with the statement in the reading, it really makes the shapes look more organic; this bodes well for the “green” subject at hand.

This single page website is a great example of effective web design. I love the use of animation, by way of sliding and the fact that it is interactive; I can see how that would be very appealing in this technological era. The use of color and texture were well thought out by the designer, considering the natural colors and forms that have been integrated. In conclusion, the site is easy to use, doesn’t require much thought to operate and has a very aesthetic appeal. It’s a great site.