Template for content analysis, filling white space, and layout critiquing

Student names: Antoine Junod, Maoan Zhou, Zhongzhong Ni  (GROUP 5)
Date: 16.05.2007


Content analysis (weight: 10/40)

What are the main content groups found on the current GUI? Please list them below. (5 pt)

- The header, containing the logo / title of the web site and a slogan (but the Logo or the site name is to  small).
- The left menu (too small left menu)
- An area containing the 3 slogans / links  (which is not well aligned)
- The formular to search trips, named Welcome to Click n'eave.com

- The Hottest destinations group

 

To your estimation, what is the percentage of the GUI that is white space? Why is that a problem? (5pt)

- White space seems to represent something like 2/3 of that design.

- It can give to the users the feeling that the website is not maintained or not finished, or that it contains not a lot of information, ie, there are not a lot of destination listed.  For a website that is providing destination ideas, it could be a pity.
- Moreover, having so few content makes the site does not seems so lively. That fact won't attract youg people, for wich this site is destined
- Less functionality of first page. waste of page to communicate with the user.

Content Richness and Completeness (weight: 10/40)

Identify as many elements as you can think of that can be added to the GUI to enrich the content. (5 pt)

- There is no images related to the travel topic. It should be a good idea to include such a picture.

- We could think of content related to the community hosted by the website. For example a login/register box could be put on the left menu. Related to that, we could think of   an area that summerize informations about the community (number of members and so on). Such an information could give a good feeling about the liveness of the website.

- We could also think of an I did it part that could present little stories or feed backs of users having found trips trough the website. In the same idea, a part where we rate proposed trips could be implemented.

- Another part of the page could contain a Get email update box, for example.

- We could also think of the introduction of a forum/blogs or even a chat section to facilitate ideas exchange and opinion debates about destinations or trips.

- The logo don't take enough room. It should be a good idea to enlarge it.
- Our site may collect  all the users' informations, preference, travel history when they use our site.  In the hottest destionation or with a click on "Recommanded trip" , the users can get some recommanded trips related to them. This can save a lot of time of searching when the site's database is very large.
- Recommand the friends also according to the users' travel preference.

From the above list, name the top 3 elements that can particularly help the site achieve its functional (business) goals. You may include some explanations for your solutions. (5 pt)

- To add a feeling of dynamism and liveness to the website.
- the ideas of a membership solution and a forum are certainly the best thing we could add.
- The email update stuff is also an interesting idea. It could avoid loosing potential visitors, once they have visited the website.
- Recommand trips and friends, according to the users' travel preference.

Layout design (weight: 20/40)

With the newly added content, provide a grouping of contents that belong together. (5pt)

- Login, register menu, this belongs to the left menu
- Link to the forum/blogs belongs to the left menu.
- Links to look for trip, and Recommended trip  belong to  left menu
- New added photo of young people belongs to banner area.
- Provide trip  belongs to center area.
- Hottest destination, tourist attraction photos, belong to the center area.

Provide a visual rendering of the new content, paying special attention to layout (proximity, alignment, repetition, contrast, typography)   (15 pt)


- Put the links home, forum, contact on the top of  left menu.
- then a login register menu
- then just below menu of search/provide/recommended
- re-align the three banner, and a photo of young people besides.
- add an area of providing trips besides the searching trips.
- then add to the hottest destinations with four tourist attraction photo with the link.
- align also vertically.

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