Web Critique::::Hyde Park Art Center

Www.hydeparkart.org/

Content:
I think that the Hyde Park Art center should follow in the Art Institute's lead and put their address and phone info on the left colomn where there is less information...also we read from left to right. But I know this is new because I used to always have to scroll to the bottom to get the address and/or phone number....so I'm happy it is moving on up! There is a lot of content on the front that I believe to be unnecessary and distracting. I enjoyed the hole in the wall story :)...and just realized my teacher bio is on there and it is way outdated and I haven't given an art pic to the art center to put with it!!! Who do I speak with about that?
I think the staff info or a link to staff should be on the front page...I would always have a difficult time finding it. I mean it seems obvious...but it would be great if a link were on the front.

Design:
I actually really like the design. I think it is easy to read...and the opening picture really pulls me in...makes me want to know more about the art center. The tabs are easy to see and read and are well placed.
The font is interesting...yet easy to read. The color scheme is relaxed. The design is orderly, artistic...but doesn't quite represent the funkyness that I love about the art center....hmmm....if I knew more about web design I could give a suggestion here. I guess I would like some roughness...layering almost like by clicking on a link on the main page you are peeling away a piece of a collage and revealing the inside of the art center???? hmmmmm

Visability:
The tabs and links are very easy to read. I do think that the address information and transportation info should be the first thing we see. I think the images before each topic on the front page are fitting but I think that they could be used as buttons to click on to lead to different areas to add some interest to the search of info.

Week 1: Web Critique

www.cps.edu/pages/home.aspx
Content:Content is clear and consise leading the viewer to other windows for more in depth detail.
Design: Rather boring. The colors are not very exciting, but they are easy on the eyes...relaxing. The design is a great
improvement to the last CPS website therefore it is difficult to really see the negative.
Visability: Everything is easy to read...although I do believe that it would be helpful if the area that most people would go to to
seek answers to questions could use more contrast to excel visability. The area that visually pops is the current
news stories...although important...might not be the most important thing to see first...especially when a viewer is
trying to quickly find answers.

www.artic.edu/aic/
Content: All necessary content is clear to the viewer immediately. All most important content is available to view on the
opening web page.
Design: Design is easy to follow but not very interesting...was a safe design. All items of interest in boxes clearly sectioned
off.
Visability: Everything is completely visable. Although I feel that it could be even more clear to have the museum's address up
near the days and hours. The modern wing's blue stands out the most...so my eye is first drawn towards that
section although the sections the museum probably wants you to notice first are the current exhibitions.

www.naea-reston.org
Content: So much..too much content on an opening page. It looks so exciting...all the fonts and words...but not easy to look
through at a quick glance.
Design: The design seems appropriate for NAEA...alive with color...interesting visuals...just too much info
Visability: Everything is easy to see and read if you are looking at it piece by piece...but it is a difficult site to find what you
need becuase there are too many options on the front page of the site.

THINGS ABOUT ME:

Basic Stuff:
*I'm from Indianapolis...but have lived in Chicago off and on for many years
*I have a bachelor's degree: sculpture focus from Loyola Chicago
*I have a second bachelor's degree in art education from Herron School of Art and Design
*I have been teaching since I was 15(I love it!)
*I have been fortunate to teach in both private and public schools...including Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired(which definitely changed my life)
*I love teaching at Hyde Park Art Center in the summertime*
*I want to eventually be a college professor
Random Stuff and Some Stuff I Shouldn't Admit:
*I get to eat freshly baked blondies every day
*I like watching gossip girl to check out the fashion
*I feel at home in cemetaries...and finally learned why some tombstones are tree trunks!
*I'm obsessed with the -idea- of playing scrabble
*I used to be a foreign film snob...now I like watching vengence movies like death wish
*I don't have any Chicago friends to watch horror films with me and I don't like to watch them alone
*I sell things on ebay that I should probably keep
*I enjoy making jingles about EVERYTHING...I also enjoy teaching in this manner