Project:SPARC: Spark of Potential: Artists Reflect on Creativity

URL:http://www.arches.uga.edu/~fay/projects/SPARC/index.html

What an excellent project, Robin!

You may not need crits but I decided to go through projects on your STUDIO website and give my crits to folks who's done great job.

It is very artistic and beautiful all around. I know you are kind of tired of hearing compliments by now…so here are a few minor crits.

Overall, I found it somewhat difficult to see the menus and navigate. I think it is because font sizes are too small and/or not eye-catching enough in comparison to everything else on a page.

On the main navigation, I literally had to roll the mouse over to see what it says…maybe it's my eye sight.

I don't know the whole purpose of this website…you can tell I didn't read your project management site. But it would be great if you provide some sort of introduction on what it's about on the main page or somewhere obvious. I was confused and still am somewhat wondering what it is about.

On the “art slideshow” page, “main page” link disappears from the main navigation bar.

I really liked the way you did the slideshow! Brilliant!

On the “about the artists” page, on the bottom…there are some blocks of purple bars or blocks or whatever you call it laying there… I just wasn't sure what they were about. It seems like decoration…but nowhere else has them.

About the main navigation, I know you used CSS for it…it would be better if I can tell which page I currently am by just looking at the main navigation bar or somewhere. I was confused where I am.

These are all nit-picky things and I loved your project! You are very creative.

Good luck!

11/18/2005

Project:CES 3rd Grade Team Webpage

URL:http://www.arches.uga.edu/~efoster3/edit6190project/teamhomepage.htm

Hi Elizabeth,

I'm not sure you needed a desk crit but I decided to go through STUDIO webpage to fulfill my desk crit requirements…hope you don't mind.

Very warm and friendly looking website and I like the calm tone of colors.

Since it looks like you are not done, here are only a couple of comments.

You may want to rethink about the table layouts and showing/hiding borders of tables. I'm not sure if you are still working on it or not, but currently, it looks incomplete in terms of the table layout. There is a big space in the middle with nothing on it…

Another is that the background….it is very cute graphic but it is very distracting.

You may want to tone it down or make it blurry…or you may want to change colors of your main objects to stand out more…whichever you prefer.

Hope you find it helpful and good luck!

Project:A Quilt Review

URL: http://www.arches.uga.edu/~maryrob/studiotemplate-no_frames/finalproject.htm

Hi Mary,

I like your project a lot since I'm interested in quilting. I've done three quilting projects myself…of course, very basic stuff.

I know you are not done with it yet and there still are quite a few images obviously missing. Overall, it looks great. Here are a few comments.

Since you've done it in Flash, it would look so much better if you make the main part (Flash part) in a fixed size and change the background color different from the html background. As it is looks fine though.

On the Gallery page, you may want to put the title of each quilt on top of the quilt image instead of the bottom because it is where my cursor happens to be and I had to move the mouse to see what it says. The location of the title or label (whatever you call it) of each quilt is different each time…it would look neat if you have a fixed place where the title gets displayed.

The similar issue with Glossary page, the description for each unit moves up, down, left and right…if you set a fixed location for it, it would look so much neater.

I loved the quilt block game! But why don't you make the page a little bit colorful since quilt is also about coloring too? When you move each block on the stage, why don't you have the each block drops in within the square box perfectly so that users don't have to try extremely hard to make it fit perfectly. If you try, it is not too easy to make it fit perfectly in a square.

Another thing is that there is no feedback on this game…What are you supposed to do with this section? Since there would be no right or wrong answers, maybe you could make it printable??? I don't know… Maybe you shouldn't call the page, “game”…because people think of rules, feedback and winning or losing.

Overall, I love the project and looking forward to seeing the final project. I'd like to learn about it through your project.

Good luck.

Project:Interactive web site for Seonhee's Family

URL: http://hsan615.cafe24.com/

Hi Hyoseon,

Such a cute picture of children! I like the verse on top too…does it change each day or something?

Overall, you did great job with using more challenging (?) pieces for your project.

Here are some comments.

I like the special effects that you added on the main picture…but I'm not sure about the final feeling that another layer of semi-opaque thing is covering the image. I'm not too graphically savvy, so can't explain what it is…sorry.

Once you click on your project link from your project management site, the main page comes up but there is a pop-up window with the list of messages. I don't it is such a good idea to have a separate pop-up window automatically pop up when people come to a website because some people have pop-up blockers and it usually doesn't work as intended most of times. You may add a link or menu on the homepage to the message board.

What is the message board that pops up when you click on “ ???? ”?

I was not sure what it is and what it is for…you should just have it as a link and have it opened within the same window just like “Family Diary”.

Is there anyway you could change font, font size, and font color of the message boards? They just don't fit perfectly with your theme of colors and fonts etc.

In my opinion, I don't think it is such a good idea to make almost all menus link to message boards…I know they are different message boards but don't think it is necessary to have that many (?) different message boards within a small website.

When you roll your mouse over to the menus, the menu moves quite a bit and I found it quite distracting.

It would look better if you can add some pages with your own creative contents or objects rather than the message boards all over the place…they look all the same.

I do hope for you the best!

Hi Candi,

Thank you for your crit and here is my crit on your project.

It looks very good!

1. Overall color theme seems a little bit too bright that my eyes are not comfortable looking at the screens for a enough time period.

You may want to tone down somewhat to make it comfortable to read.

2. The main image on the top portion, it might well be special effects that you chose to use...but it is somewhat harsh to my eyes.

The photos are great though. In my opinion, it is important for visitors to feel physically comfortable so that they can stay around longer.

3. The background color of navigation bars and the image ("333") are different from the main background...I don't know if you intentionally did this or not. If you want to make your pages a little bit more seamless, you may want to set background colors of all objects to the same color as your main background if any.

4. Is the Calendar dynamic? Just curious. Anyways, it's good as long as someone could keep it up-to-date.

5. After click on "Calendar" and select a month, there is no other way to move to one month to another but click on "Calendar" again.

You may want to add buttons/links to previous and next month...just a thought.

6. Again, the bright yellow background color for each month calendar is a little bit too harsh for my eyes.

7. On each month calendar page, there is a number displayed ("6" below the main navigation).

8. I'm not sure the purpose of "Sponsor" button since it led me to some kind of church website???

9. You need to add " The content and opinions expressed on this Website do not necessarily reflect the views of
nor are they endorsed by the University of Georgia or the University System of Georgia" on each page of your website if you were to put your website on your UGA arches account.

10. The "quote" line is too close to the main content that it makes me think it is a part of the main content.

You may want to add a row (if it is structured with a table) or something.

I know you are still working on it and it is not complete. You did great job so far!

Looking forward to seeing your final product.

Hi Jina,
I thought your project looks really good. I like
the use of kid friendly primary colors and the
blocky shapes. Maybe it's because my eyes are
tired today, but it seems like the yellow text on
the red was a little hard to read. I was a little
bit confused about which part of the navigation
was yours (even having read your message), but I
don't think that is avoidable as this site is
obviously meant to integrate in with the current
content (which I think it does admirably well.)

Robin Fay

11/17/2005 

Hi, Jina.
What a great site!  I wish I could give you some feedback to help you make it better but I could not find anything I thought you should change.  I did not have any navigation problems.  The color and graphics were perfectly matched to the topic. The "Customized report" function was really great and I am sure people will find it very helpful. I was wondering if you were going to add a "test your knowledge" section to the "Where can I go for help" part. That would be my only suggestion to improve the site. EXCELLENT EXCELLENT job!

Mary

Usability testing for Child Care:

My comments:

Before I critique this project let me say that I like the project overall. Its very professionally done and has a good look and feel. Good job Jina! Below are some of my observations. Please incorporate the ones you feel can help better the project.

Some suggestions to improve:

•  Once the objective is played, there is no way to go back to it but to replay the introduction. There should be a link to go to the project at any time

•  The glossary link is also seen in the home page. I feel there should be a link to access it at any time

•  There is a small scroll in the home page. Reducing the Red masthead a little can remove this and the user may have the full view of the homepage without worrying about using the scroll ( think you have already taken care of this)

•  “Ask an expert”, “Extension agent”, “state Staff” links under “Questions” are not working…oh I think this does not fall under your work..!!!

•  Since the principle way a person navigates is through coming back to key questions. A link to take to key questions can also be given on the top. My suggestion is that you are using the “Child care quality matter” graphic. That could be made clickable to return to the key questions. Or you can make a small icon below it.

What I liked:

Interface is very well designed. Fonts, graphics are tastefully done.

Everything else mentioned there is acceptable.

No problem. Here's what I wrote...

Date Reviewed: 11.7.05
Project:Childcare Quality Matters!
Creator:Jina Tollett
URL: http://www.cfr.uga.edu/~jina/ccqm/index.php

Your introduction goes a little too fast. I couldn't read all
of the info before it went on to the next screen. I know the
user has an option to replay the intro, but even when
replaying it I couldn't read it fast enough.

The yellow, red, and blue color scheme in the title "Childcare
Quality Matters" is a bit too overwhelming. Maybe either the
three blocks (1. childcare 2. quality 3. matters) can all be
the same color scheme, or a three color scheme that isn't
quite so bright could be used. I like the first block
(childcare), I think it's the second two (quality, matters)
that are too bright.

I really liked the roll-over for the key questions. It's
helpful and well-done. I'm very impressed with how thorough
your information is. I think my project dulls in comparison in
terms of the amount of content information!

Your site is very attractive. The choice of colors with your photos is very appealing to the eye. I like the way the kids are the center of the opening page. This is a poetic way of representing that the kids are what is at the center of the site's information as well. I know that you are not finished and that all the links on your horizontal navigation bar will eventually be active, however, I went straight to them when the page opened. ( didn't read the entire email before I started) Your “Enter” button was slower to load and I had already dived in to find information from the links. Since the vast majority are not active I found this frustrating. I thought all of the info. was going to be located here. It wasn't until much clicking had taken place before I noticed the “Enter” button. Once I found it I thought the site was great. The use of flash is engaging and informative. You might consider moving the horizontal navigation bar to the bottom of the page so that it is less prominent. You may also want to make the “enter” button more prominent.

Keep up the good work.

Candi