Annotated bibliography
As a continuation from my website presentation earlier in the semester, I am going to discuss the websites of several places I frequent in Birmingham. I will briefly describe each site’s content and analyse the verbal and visual features and finally, evaluate each website’s overall effectiveness.
www.woib.co.uk
What’s On In Birmingham?
If you were visiting Birmingham, your first port of call might be an online guide, yet ‘What’s on in Brum?’ is not particularly helpful. I wanted to first begin by analysing a website I disliked. Prior to my website presentation, I’d never used this site and I’m not likely to use it again as it was difficult to navigate and looked juvenile, almost amateur-ish.
I was first struck by the lack of colour, the background is white and the only use of colour is on the ‘What’s on in Brum?’ banner at the top, which is grey. The typography connotes youth culture as the chunky letters appear scattered and grainy; also there is no use of capitalisation which again connotes a ‘care-free’ lifestyle. Though the typography alludes to a trendy youth culture the rest of the site is bland and lacks imagination. There is little consistency as the choice to use lower-case letters in the banner is not continued throughout; instead, the sophisticated red and grey font colour jars with the youthful banner. ‘What’s on this week?’ is immediately below the banner and lists events in the coming seven days. There is no helpful chunking of text, instead the long list requires a lot of scrolling. A horizontal lay out would be more appealing, perhaps Monday to Sunday beneath the banner then with a pop down menu for each day.
What I did like about the website was the information it offered. After clicking on an event from the ‘What’s on this week?’ list, users are redirected to another page and a full summary of the event is given, as well as recommendations for hotels and hostels. The information is clouded by the shoddy, amateurish layout and style of the website. Several ‘Google Ads’ appear down the left hand side of the page, which would immediately put most people off. Again, the use of advertising adds to the amateur nature of the website and dissuades me from visiting again. The information the site conveys is void as the manner in which it is communicated, is poor.
www.bullring.co.uk
Bulling Shopping Centre
The Bullring has been an important market place in Birmingham since the Middle Ages. It has been developed into a shopping centre twice; first in the 1960s, and then in the 2000s.
A Sixties monstrosity in the centre of the city, the renovations were eagerly anticipated. The website is as impressive as the building’s structure; architecturally the Bullring is distinctive yet the website does not include a gallery, thus there is an element of mystery. The website connotes quality and modernity but without photographs of the building, one cannot understand how impressive it is. The shopping centre consists of two main buildings (East and West Mall) which are connected by an underground passage lined with shops. The website includes detailed floor plans for both East and West Mall which is useful. Users can see a list of all shops or they can search within categories, such as ‘Jewellery’ which then lists all the shops that sell jewellery. You can then click on a shop and further information will be shown, as well as a map. The site is easily navigable and by clicking on the word ‘Bullring Birmingham’ in the top left hand corner, you can easily return to the homepage. The opening hours are always listed on the right hand side of each page and this consistency is alluring. The colours grey and purple are used throughout and this connotes sophistication and luxury. The colours do not appear flat, in fact a myriad of shades create a modern and fresh look.
Touch screen computers are located throughout the building, which allows users to search for the location of a certain store or browse a map of the complex. Both the website and the touch screens offer the same browsing capabilities and again, this consistency is reassuring. The website is an extension of the shopping centre, and the impression it gives is positive.
Overall, the website does what it needs to; it provides a comprehensive list of the shops and amenities within the Bullring shopping centre and conveys modernity, assuring the user that the Bullring is worth visiting.
www.selfridges.com
Selfridges Department Store
Selfridges is part of the Bullring shopping centre but as its own department store there is a separate website. There are three Selfridges in the UK, the flagship in London, one in Birmingham and one in Manchester. Perhaps in a bid to differentiate the three stores, the Selfridges website includes pictures of each location, unlike the Bullring website which included an element of mystery.
The aspirational quality of shopping in Selfridges is reflected both in the architecture of the building and the website. The modern look of the store is reflected in the website, clad in 15,000 shiny aluminium discs, Selfridges is a landmark within Birmingham city centre. Organised much the same way as the Bullring website, upon selecting ‘Birmingham,’ a floor map is shown and the ability to search brands, restaurants and services is available. The use of black, white and grey is sophisticated and whilst this limited colour palette looked unappealing on the ‘What’s on in Brum?’ website, the Selfridges website looks modern and expensive.
However, I feel the Birmingham portion of the website is lacking. While Selfridges the brand is conveyed well, the information about each of the three stores is not particularly comprehensive. There is no way to search specific items, simply shops within Selfridges.
www.purnellsrestaurant.com
Purnell’s Restaurant
Initially I wasn’t going to include this website, but after visiting the site again I noticed something I’d ignored previously, a virtual tour called the ‘Purnell’s Experience.’ Upon entering the site the user is offered 3 options; ‘Purnell’s Experience,’ ‘Main menu with intro’ and ‘Main menu without intro.’ The element of choice allows users to dictate their understanding of the website. The ‘Purnell’s Experience’ makes ample use of graphics as it includes a virtual tour of the restaurant starting at the bar, followed by a pop-up about the wine menu. A further click to the right takes you into the restaurant which again produces a pop-up with information about the food.
To enter the main site, the user can click on the ‘P’ in the top left hand corner, a convention used frequently. The website uses a grey palette, making the food appear more colourful and appetising in contrast. Several images are displayed on the homepage; the restaurant, a plate of food, Glyn Purnell cooking, each fading subtly into one another. The sense of calm is again reinforced by the grey colour palette and the sophisticated typography.
Horizontally beneath the images are several drop down menus; home, menu, private dining, the team, news, gallery, careers, contact and links. When the mouse is placed over one of these options, the grey background colour changes to a lighter shade in order to highlight. Subtle tactics like this help to create a sense of sophistication, no doubt encouraging people to eat at Purnell’s.
The images in the gallery are high quality and connote expense. The food is photographed well and looks appetising.
www.factoryclub.co.uk
Factory at The Custard Factory
The look of the Factory website is industrious and modern. Grey concrete breeze blocks appear graffitied with the neon-pink Factory logo. Upon entering the site, through clicking on the ‘O’ in FactOry, a main menu is displayed. The typography looks like scrawled messy handwriting, which suggests a laid back approach. To the left there are three tabs; homepage, what’s on and newsletter. The tabs again look like graffiti, this time in black; their smudged, messy appearance is conducive to the rest of the website which connotes an urban, industrious feel. The Custard Factory was formerly Bird’s custard factory; hence the industrious feel the website alludes to is inspired by the building’s structure.
The website is a means of promotion effectively; so the sleek, trendy look is appealing to a young audience. In the main menu, scrawled in messy handwriting is a list of options, such as ‘nights,’ ‘buy tickets,’ ‘how to find us’ and ‘gallery.’ The ‘nights’ page loads quickly and displays thirteen colourful posters, each representing a different night the club hosts. By hovering the mouse above the poster, a large version is produced. Each poster is colourful and vibrant and simply states the name of the event, ‘Spectrum’ for example. Double clicking on the poster produces a small text box that lists the type of music played and past live performances affiliation with the night. With thirteen different nights, the website offers something for everybody.
The website is easy to navigate and loads quickly, instilling trust in the user (thus encouraging people to wait in line, pay cover and come dance!)
www.thehareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk
Hare and Hounds Pub
Similar to the Factory website, this website with its quality images and sophisticated colour scheme is aimed at a specific audience. Mainly black and white, with the use of green as an accent colour, the feel is almost vintage. The Hare and Hounds is a Victorian pub that was recently refurbished. The original wall and floor tiles have been restored and the previously dark walls have been painted a neutral cream colour. The renovations have rejuvenated the space and changed the pub’s clientele; the existence of a website is testament to the change in clientele.
Now entertaining a younger crowd, the website is indulgent in its use of artistic photographs and promotion of live bands. The homepage displays a calendar of events on the left hand side. Enclosed within a small text box, only half a dozen events that are visible, to see more, the user must scroll down. This is a more effective use of space, and does not create the ‘wall of text’ that so many of us dislike. On the right hand side there are several links: Line-up, food, private hire, promoters, contact and gallery. The links are placed haphazardly on the page, and do not look tidy or uniform. This quirky placing of text is appealing and connotes youth. Each link takes the user to another page; in order to return to the homepage users must click the ornate shield in the top left hand corner that reads “Hare and Hounds Kings Heath.” The colour scheme is kept consistent throughout, the use of grey, black, white and green. The vintage feel of the pub is transferred to the website and successfully conveys new ownership and renovation.
www.ikon-gallery.co.uk
Ikon Gallery
The Ikon gallery website uses a modern, white and light grey colour scheme. The limited use of colour reflects the gallery as an exhibitor. The current programme displays the work of Victor Man, a collection entitled “Attebasile.” A brief description of the collection is given; the text is chunked for the readers ease. The content explains a little about Man and his work as a painter and sculptor. An example of Man’s work from the collection takes up the majority of the homepage; an extreme close up of a male profile, who appears to be smoking. The painting is dark, shadowy, and obscure; in order to display Man’s work well, the mainly white background is apt.
I found the website difficult to navigate; the tool bar is at the bottom of the page and unless you scroll all the way down, (which the website does not encourage as it uses a horizontal navigation) it is easy to miss. Websites for art galleries on the whole are rather elusive, it is not within their interests to show an entire art collection to internet users, instead they need to encourage people to visit the gallery. Yet, the Ikon gallery website is bland and I am left uninspired. With no personal manifesto, I know too little about the gallery and what it offers to want to visit.
www.bmag.org.uk
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
Having decided to evaluate the Ikon gallery’s website, I thought I ought to evaluate an older, more established art gallery. The BG&M logo in the top left hand corner uses an ornate, calligraphy inspired font. This alludes to a more traditional art gallery than the Ikon (whose logo was simply IKON in a strong black font type.) The white BG&M logo is set on a festive, red banner; snowflakes fall down the banner, suggesting movement. The nod to the Christmas period is cute, and indicates the website is being regularly updated and maintained. This instils trust in the user.
Beneath the fest banner, is a small grey tool bar; home, about the museum, for visitors, what’s on, learning, contact and help. The toolbar is simple but effective. The about the museum section is helpful and lists opening times, the address, contact details and admission costs. A link to a map is also included. The page also includes several photographs of impressive one hundred and twenty year old exterior. On the same page, the museum’s history is included and further details about the sorts of exhibitions on offer are displayed.
The expense is apparent. A traditional well-established museum and art gallery, the website is appropriate. Unlike the Ikon website, the BG&M website provides users with a wealth of information about the gallery and others within Birmingham; which would be useful for tourists. Perhaps a smaller independent gallery like Ikon is less inclined reveal too much as it hopes to encourage attendance.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Annotated bibliography
As a continuation from my website presentation earlier in the semester, I am going to discuss the websites of several places I frequent in Birmingham. I will briefly describe each site’s content and analyse the verbal and visual features and finally, evaluate each website’s overall effectiveness.
www.woib.co.uk
What’s On In Birmingham?
If you were visiting Birmingham, your first port of call might be an online guide, yet ‘What’s on in Brum?’ is not particularly helpful. I wanted to first begin by analysing a website I disliked. Prior to my website presentation, I’d never used this site and I’m not likely to use it again as it was difficult to navigate and looked juvenile, almost amateur-ish.
I was first struck by the lack of colour, the background is white and the only use of colour is on the ‘What’s on in Brum?’ banner at the top, which is grey. The typography connotes youth culture as the chunky letters appear scattered and grainy; also there is no use of capitalisation which again connotes a ‘care-free’ lifestyle. Though the typography alludes to a trendy youth culture the rest of the site is bland and lacks imagination. There is little consistency as the choice to use lower-case letters in the banner is not continued throughout; instead, the sophisticated red and grey font colour jars with the youthful banner. ‘What’s on this week?’ is immediately below the banner and lists events in the coming seven days. There is no helpful chunking of text, instead the long list requires a lot of scrolling. A horizontal lay out would be more appealing, perhaps Monday to Sunday beneath the banner then with a pop down menu for each day.
What I did like about the website was the information it offered. After clicking on an event from the ‘What’s on this week?’ list, users are redirected to another page and a full summary of the event is given, as well as recommendations for hotels and hostels. The information is clouded by the shoddy, amateurish layout and style of the website. Several ‘Google Ads’ appear down the left hand side of the page, which would immediately put most people off. Again, the use of advertising adds to the amateur nature of the website and dissuades me from visiting again. The information the site conveys is void as the manner in which it is communicated, is poor.
www.bullring.co.uk
Bulling Shopping Centre
The Bullring has been an important market place in Birmingham since the Middle Ages. It has been developed into a shopping centre twice; first in the 1960s, and then in the 2000s.
A Sixties monstrosity in the centre of the city, the renovations were eagerly anticipated. The website is as impressive as the building’s structure; architecturally the Bullring is distinctive yet the website does not include a gallery, thus there is an element of mystery. The website connotes quality and modernity but without photographs of the building, one cannot understand how impressive it is. The shopping centre consists of two main buildings (East and West Mall) which are connected by an underground passage lined with shops. The website includes detailed floor plans for both East and West Mall which is useful. Users can see a list of all shops or they can search within categories, such as ‘Jewellery’ which then lists all the shops that sell jewellery. You can then click on a shop and further information will be shown, as well as a map. The site is easily navigable and by clicking on the word ‘Bullring Birmingham’ in the top left hand corner, you can easily return to the homepage. The opening hours are always listed on the right hand side of each page and this consistency is alluring. The colours grey and purple are used throughout and this connotes sophistication and luxury. The colours do not appear flat, in fact a myriad of shades create a modern and fresh look.
Touch screen computers are located throughout the building, which allows users to search for the location of a certain store or browse a map of the complex. Both the website and the touch screens offer the same browsing capabilities and again, this consistency is reassuring. The website is an extension of the shopping centre, and the impression it gives is positive.
Overall, the website does what it needs to; it provides a comprehensive list of the shops and amenities within the Bullring shopping centre and conveys modernity, assuring the user that the Bullring is worth visiting.
www.selfridges.com
Selfridges Department Store
Selfridges is part of the Bullring shopping centre but as its own department store there is a separate website. There are three Selfridges in the UK, the flagship in London, one in Birmingham and one in Manchester. Perhaps in a bid to differentiate the three stores, the Selfridges website includes pictures of each location, unlike the Bullring website which included an element of mystery.
The aspirational quality of shopping in Selfridges is reflected both in the architecture of the building and the website. The modern look of the store is reflected in the website, clad in 15,000 shiny aluminium discs, Selfridges is a landmark within Birmingham city centre. Organised much the same way as the Bullring website, upon selecting ‘Birmingham,’ a floor map is shown and the ability to search brands, restaurants and services is available. The use of black, white and grey is sophisticated and whilst this limited colour palette looked unappealing on the ‘What’s on in Brum?’ website, the Selfridges website looks modern and expensive.
However, I feel the Birmingham portion of the website is lacking. While Selfridges the brand is conveyed well, the information about each of the three stores is not particularly comprehensive. There is no way to search specific items, simply shops within Selfridges.
www.purnellsrestaurant.com
Purnell’s Restaurant
Initially I wasn’t going to include this website, but after visiting the site again I noticed something I’d ignored previously, a virtual tour called the ‘Purnell’s Experience.’ Upon entering the site the user is offered 3 options; ‘Purnell’s Experience,’ ‘Main menu with intro’ and ‘Main menu without intro.’ The element of choice allows users to dictate their understanding of the website. The ‘Purnell’s Experience’ makes ample use of graphics as it includes a virtual tour of the restaurant starting at the bar, followed by a pop-up about the wine menu. A further click to the right takes you into the restaurant which again produces a pop-up with information about the food.
To enter the main site, the user can click on the ‘P’ in the top left hand corner, a convention used frequently. The website uses a grey palette, making the food appear more colourful and appetising in contrast. Several images are displayed on the homepage; the restaurant, a plate of food, Glyn Purnell cooking, each fading subtly into one another. The sense of calm is again reinforced by the grey colour palette and the sophisticated typography.
Horizontally beneath the images are several drop down menus; home, menu, private dining, the team, news, gallery, careers, contact and links. When the mouse is placed over one of these options, the grey background colour changes to a lighter shade in order to highlight. Subtle tactics like this help to create a sense of sophistication, no doubt encouraging people to eat at Purnell’s.
The images in the gallery are high quality and connote expense. The food is photographed well and looks appetising.
www.factoryclub.co.uk
Factory at The Custard Factory
The look of the Factory website is industrious and modern. Grey concrete breeze blocks appear graffitied with the neon-pink Factory logo. Upon entering the site, through clicking on the ‘O’ in FactOry, a main menu is displayed. The typography looks like scrawled messy handwriting, which suggests a laid back approach. To the left there are three tabs; homepage, what’s on and newsletter. The tabs again look like graffiti, this time in black; their smudged, messy appearance is conducive to the rest of the website which connotes an urban, industrious feel. The Custard Factory was formerly Bird’s custard factory; hence the industrious feel the website alludes to is inspired by the building’s structure.
The website is a means of promotion effectively; so the sleek, trendy look is appealing to a young audience. In the main menu, scrawled in messy handwriting is a list of options, such as ‘nights,’ ‘buy tickets,’ ‘how to find us’ and ‘gallery.’ The ‘nights’ page loads quickly and displays thirteen colourful posters, each representing a different night the club hosts. By hovering the mouse above the poster, a large version is produced. Each poster is colourful and vibrant and simply states the name of the event, ‘Spectrum’ for example. Double clicking on the poster produces a small text box that lists the type of music played and past live performances affiliation with the night. With thirteen different nights, the website offers something for everybody.
The website is easy to navigate and loads quickly, instilling trust in the user (thus encouraging people to wait in line, pay cover and come dance!)
www.thehareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk
Hare and Hounds Pub
Similar to the Factory website, this website with its quality images and sophisticated colour scheme is aimed at a specific audience. Mainly black and white, with the use of green as an accent colour, the feel is almost vintage. The Hare and Hounds is a Victorian pub that was recently refurbished. The original wall and floor tiles have been restored and the previously dark walls have been painted a neutral cream colour. The renovations have rejuvenated the space and changed the pub’s clientele; the existence of a website is testament to the change in clientele.
Now entertaining a younger crowd, the website is indulgent in its use of artistic photographs and promotion of live bands. The homepage displays a calendar of events on the left hand side. Enclosed within a small text box, only half a dozen events that are visible, to see more, the user must scroll down. This is a more effective use of space, and does not create the ‘wall of text’ that so many of us dislike. On the right hand side there are several links: Line-up, food, private hire, promoters, contact and gallery. The links are placed haphazardly on the page, and do not look tidy or uniform. This quirky placing of text is appealing and connotes youth. Each link takes the user to another page; in order to return to the homepage users must click the ornate shield in the top left hand corner that reads “Hare and Hounds Kings Heath.” The colour scheme is kept consistent throughout, the use of grey, black, white and green. The vintage feel of the pub is transferred to the website and successfully conveys new ownership and renovation.
www.ikon-gallery.co.uk
Ikon Gallery
The Ikon gallery website uses a modern, white and light grey colour scheme. The limited use of colour reflects the gallery as an exhibitor. The current programme displays the work of Victor Man, a collection entitled “Attebasile.” A brief description of the collection is given; the text is chunked for the readers ease. The content explains a little about Man and his work as a painter and sculptor. An example of Man’s work from the collection takes up the majority of the homepage; an extreme close up of a male profile, who appears to be smoking. The painting is dark, shadowy, and obscure; in order to display Man’s work well, the mainly white background is apt.
I found the website difficult to navigate; the tool bar is at the bottom of the page and unless you scroll all the way down, (which the website does not encourage as it uses a horizontal navigation) it is easy to miss. Websites for art galleries on the whole are rather elusive, it is not within their interests to show an entire art collection to internet users, instead they need to encourage people to visit the gallery. Yet, the Ikon gallery website is bland and I am left uninspired. With no personal manifesto, I know too little about the gallery and what it offers to want to visit.
www.bmag.org.uk
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
Having decided to evaluate the Ikon gallery’s website, I thought I ought to evaluate an older, more established art gallery. The BG&M logo in the top left hand corner uses an ornate, calligraphy inspired font. This alludes to a more traditional art gallery than the Ikon (whose logo was simply IKON in a strong black font type.) The white BG&M logo is set on a festive, red banner; snowflakes fall down the banner, suggesting movement. The nod to the Christmas period is cute, and indicates the website is being regularly updated and maintained. This instils trust in the user.
Beneath the fest banner, is a small grey tool bar; home, about the museum, for visitors, what’s on, learning, contact and help. The toolbar is simple but effective. The about the museum section is helpful and lists opening times, the address, contact details and admission costs. A link to a map is also included. The page also includes several photographs of impressive one hundred and twenty year old exterior. On the same page, the museum’s history is included and further details about the sorts of exhibitions on offer are displayed.
The expense is apparent. A traditional well-established museum and art gallery, the website is appropriate. Unlike the Ikon website, the BG&M website provides users with a wealth of information about the gallery and others within Birmingham; which would be useful for tourists. Perhaps a smaller independent gallery like Ikon is less inclined reveal too much as it hopes to encourage attendance.
As a continuation from my website presentation earlier in the semester, I am going to discuss the websites of several places I frequent in Birmingham. I will briefly describe each site’s content and analyse the verbal and visual features and finally, evaluate each website’s overall effectiveness.
www.woib.co.uk
What’s On In Birmingham?
If you were visiting Birmingham, your first port of call might be an online guide, yet ‘What’s on in Brum?’ is not particularly helpful. I wanted to first begin by analysing a website I disliked. Prior to my website presentation, I’d never used this site and I’m not likely to use it again as it was difficult to navigate and looked juvenile, almost amateur-ish.
I was first struck by the lack of colour, the background is white and the only use of colour is on the ‘What’s on in Brum?’ banner at the top, which is grey. The typography connotes youth culture as the chunky letters appear scattered and grainy; also there is no use of capitalisation which again connotes a ‘care-free’ lifestyle. Though the typography alludes to a trendy youth culture the rest of the site is bland and lacks imagination. There is little consistency as the choice to use lower-case letters in the banner is not continued throughout; instead, the sophisticated red and grey font colour jars with the youthful banner. ‘What’s on this week?’ is immediately below the banner and lists events in the coming seven days. There is no helpful chunking of text, instead the long list requires a lot of scrolling. A horizontal lay out would be more appealing, perhaps Monday to Sunday beneath the banner then with a pop down menu for each day.
What I did like about the website was the information it offered. After clicking on an event from the ‘What’s on this week?’ list, users are redirected to another page and a full summary of the event is given, as well as recommendations for hotels and hostels. The information is clouded by the shoddy, amateurish layout and style of the website. Several ‘Google Ads’ appear down the left hand side of the page, which would immediately put most people off. Again, the use of advertising adds to the amateur nature of the website and dissuades me from visiting again. The information the site conveys is void as the manner in which it is communicated, is poor.
www.bullring.co.uk
Bulling Shopping Centre
The Bullring has been an important market place in Birmingham since the Middle Ages. It has been developed into a shopping centre twice; first in the 1960s, and then in the 2000s.
A Sixties monstrosity in the centre of the city, the renovations were eagerly anticipated. The website is as impressive as the building’s structure; architecturally the Bullring is distinctive yet the website does not include a gallery, thus there is an element of mystery. The website connotes quality and modernity but without photographs of the building, one cannot understand how impressive it is. The shopping centre consists of two main buildings (East and West Mall) which are connected by an underground passage lined with shops. The website includes detailed floor plans for both East and West Mall which is useful. Users can see a list of all shops or they can search within categories, such as ‘Jewellery’ which then lists all the shops that sell jewellery. You can then click on a shop and further information will be shown, as well as a map. The site is easily navigable and by clicking on the word ‘Bullring Birmingham’ in the top left hand corner, you can easily return to the homepage. The opening hours are always listed on the right hand side of each page and this consistency is alluring. The colours grey and purple are used throughout and this connotes sophistication and luxury. The colours do not appear flat, in fact a myriad of shades create a modern and fresh look.
Touch screen computers are located throughout the building, which allows users to search for the location of a certain store or browse a map of the complex. Both the website and the touch screens offer the same browsing capabilities and again, this consistency is reassuring. The website is an extension of the shopping centre, and the impression it gives is positive.
Overall, the website does what it needs to; it provides a comprehensive list of the shops and amenities within the Bullring shopping centre and conveys modernity, assuring the user that the Bullring is worth visiting.
www.selfridges.com
Selfridges Department Store
Selfridges is part of the Bullring shopping centre but as its own department store there is a separate website. There are three Selfridges in the UK, the flagship in London, one in Birmingham and one in Manchester. Perhaps in a bid to differentiate the three stores, the Selfridges website includes pictures of each location, unlike the Bullring website which included an element of mystery.
The aspirational quality of shopping in Selfridges is reflected both in the architecture of the building and the website. The modern look of the store is reflected in the website, clad in 15,000 shiny aluminium discs, Selfridges is a landmark within Birmingham city centre. Organised much the same way as the Bullring website, upon selecting ‘Birmingham,’ a floor map is shown and the ability to search brands, restaurants and services is available. The use of black, white and grey is sophisticated and whilst this limited colour palette looked unappealing on the ‘What’s on in Brum?’ website, the Selfridges website looks modern and expensive.
However, I feel the Birmingham portion of the website is lacking. While Selfridges the brand is conveyed well, the information about each of the three stores is not particularly comprehensive. There is no way to search specific items, simply shops within Selfridges.
www.purnellsrestaurant.com
Purnell’s Restaurant
Initially I wasn’t going to include this website, but after visiting the site again I noticed something I’d ignored previously, a virtual tour called the ‘Purnell’s Experience.’ Upon entering the site the user is offered 3 options; ‘Purnell’s Experience,’ ‘Main menu with intro’ and ‘Main menu without intro.’ The element of choice allows users to dictate their understanding of the website. The ‘Purnell’s Experience’ makes ample use of graphics as it includes a virtual tour of the restaurant starting at the bar, followed by a pop-up about the wine menu. A further click to the right takes you into the restaurant which again produces a pop-up with information about the food.
To enter the main site, the user can click on the ‘P’ in the top left hand corner, a convention used frequently. The website uses a grey palette, making the food appear more colourful and appetising in contrast. Several images are displayed on the homepage; the restaurant, a plate of food, Glyn Purnell cooking, each fading subtly into one another. The sense of calm is again reinforced by the grey colour palette and the sophisticated typography.
Horizontally beneath the images are several drop down menus; home, menu, private dining, the team, news, gallery, careers, contact and links. When the mouse is placed over one of these options, the grey background colour changes to a lighter shade in order to highlight. Subtle tactics like this help to create a sense of sophistication, no doubt encouraging people to eat at Purnell’s.
The images in the gallery are high quality and connote expense. The food is photographed well and looks appetising.
www.factoryclub.co.uk
Factory at The Custard Factory
The look of the Factory website is industrious and modern. Grey concrete breeze blocks appear graffitied with the neon-pink Factory logo. Upon entering the site, through clicking on the ‘O’ in FactOry, a main menu is displayed. The typography looks like scrawled messy handwriting, which suggests a laid back approach. To the left there are three tabs; homepage, what’s on and newsletter. The tabs again look like graffiti, this time in black; their smudged, messy appearance is conducive to the rest of the website which connotes an urban, industrious feel. The Custard Factory was formerly Bird’s custard factory; hence the industrious feel the website alludes to is inspired by the building’s structure.
The website is a means of promotion effectively; so the sleek, trendy look is appealing to a young audience. In the main menu, scrawled in messy handwriting is a list of options, such as ‘nights,’ ‘buy tickets,’ ‘how to find us’ and ‘gallery.’ The ‘nights’ page loads quickly and displays thirteen colourful posters, each representing a different night the club hosts. By hovering the mouse above the poster, a large version is produced. Each poster is colourful and vibrant and simply states the name of the event, ‘Spectrum’ for example. Double clicking on the poster produces a small text box that lists the type of music played and past live performances affiliation with the night. With thirteen different nights, the website offers something for everybody.
The website is easy to navigate and loads quickly, instilling trust in the user (thus encouraging people to wait in line, pay cover and come dance!)
www.thehareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk
Hare and Hounds Pub
Similar to the Factory website, this website with its quality images and sophisticated colour scheme is aimed at a specific audience. Mainly black and white, with the use of green as an accent colour, the feel is almost vintage. The Hare and Hounds is a Victorian pub that was recently refurbished. The original wall and floor tiles have been restored and the previously dark walls have been painted a neutral cream colour. The renovations have rejuvenated the space and changed the pub’s clientele; the existence of a website is testament to the change in clientele.
Now entertaining a younger crowd, the website is indulgent in its use of artistic photographs and promotion of live bands. The homepage displays a calendar of events on the left hand side. Enclosed within a small text box, only half a dozen events that are visible, to see more, the user must scroll down. This is a more effective use of space, and does not create the ‘wall of text’ that so many of us dislike. On the right hand side there are several links: Line-up, food, private hire, promoters, contact and gallery. The links are placed haphazardly on the page, and do not look tidy or uniform. This quirky placing of text is appealing and connotes youth. Each link takes the user to another page; in order to return to the homepage users must click the ornate shield in the top left hand corner that reads “Hare and Hounds Kings Heath.” The colour scheme is kept consistent throughout, the use of grey, black, white and green. The vintage feel of the pub is transferred to the website and successfully conveys new ownership and renovation.
www.ikon-gallery.co.uk
Ikon Gallery
The Ikon gallery website uses a modern, white and light grey colour scheme. The limited use of colour reflects the gallery as an exhibitor. The current programme displays the work of Victor Man, a collection entitled “Attebasile.” A brief description of the collection is given; the text is chunked for the readers ease. The content explains a little about Man and his work as a painter and sculptor. An example of Man’s work from the collection takes up the majority of the homepage; an extreme close up of a male profile, who appears to be smoking. The painting is dark, shadowy, and obscure; in order to display Man’s work well, the mainly white background is apt.
I found the website difficult to navigate; the tool bar is at the bottom of the page and unless you scroll all the way down, (which the website does not encourage as it uses a horizontal navigation) it is easy to miss. Websites for art galleries on the whole are rather elusive, it is not within their interests to show an entire art collection to internet users, instead they need to encourage people to visit the gallery. Yet, the Ikon gallery website is bland and I am left uninspired. With no personal manifesto, I know too little about the gallery and what it offers to want to visit.
www.bmag.org.uk
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
Having decided to evaluate the Ikon gallery’s website, I thought I ought to evaluate an older, more established art gallery. The BG&M logo in the top left hand corner uses an ornate, calligraphy inspired font. This alludes to a more traditional art gallery than the Ikon (whose logo was simply IKON in a strong black font type.) The white BG&M logo is set on a festive, red banner; snowflakes fall down the banner, suggesting movement. The nod to the Christmas period is cute, and indicates the website is being regularly updated and maintained. This instils trust in the user.
Beneath the fest banner, is a small grey tool bar; home, about the museum, for visitors, what’s on, learning, contact and help. The toolbar is simple but effective. The about the museum section is helpful and lists opening times, the address, contact details and admission costs. A link to a map is also included. The page also includes several photographs of impressive one hundred and twenty year old exterior. On the same page, the museum’s history is included and further details about the sorts of exhibitions on offer are displayed.
The expense is apparent. A traditional well-established museum and art gallery, the website is appropriate. Unlike the Ikon website, the BG&M website provides users with a wealth of information about the gallery and others within Birmingham; which would be useful for tourists. Perhaps a smaller independent gallery like Ikon is less inclined reveal too much as it hopes to encourage attendance.
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