Claire Hanley Art

I chose to redesign the concept for http://www.cafebizou.com/ because although I love this little restaurant, I think their website is a perfect example of something that is not effectively communicating to their target audience. The site itself is a little all over the place. There are a lot of links, icons, moving pictures and not a lot of clarity. The grid is in place, but not really working effectively to make the site seem organized and thought out. I don’t like the color scheme at all, being that the background is black, it makes it difficult to look at and read. The yellow, black and red color scheme is unappetizing to me, which is a big problem to have for a site that is advertising a restaurant. The typography isn’t bad, it is clean and simple, yet the black background with the white font makes it all look a little fuzzy. After completing my competitive analysis, where I looked at other restaurant’s sites that were working, I came to the conclusion that simplistic sites with aesthetically pleasing color schemes were important in communicating to the group of people who might be interested in dining at a French cafe. Clear and beautiful photographs are also very important in communicating great quality. Usually, the audience is made up of people that have a little extra spending money to go out to eat. They are social and also aware of the Los Angeles food scene and what the competition is. It is important for restaurants to hold up against their competition on all levels, especially in the design of their website. Most people, when looking for new places to eat, the first thing they are going to see is a website. So, first impression is everything.

Competitive analysis is the process of analyzing other websites in order to accurately critique your own sites effectiveness. This process is important because it allows you to see your own site through the eyes of your target audience. 

For my final project, I chose these three sites to analyze, because I feel that they are achieving the look and design I am aiming for with my site. 

1. http://www.noerestaurant.com/

I chose this restaurant’s site because I feel that this establishment is communicating to the same sort of audience that my site needs to reach. I really like the simple design of this site, along with the simple use of font and images. It produces a clean and stylish first impression, which, in my opinion, is very important for any design associated with a place that serves food. The site’s navigation works very well, and it is easy to find the information you need, like the current menu. Along with extras, such as press and events.  The only real con I see with this site is that maybe there are a few too many links, which can be slightly overwhelming at times. I am also not completely enthralled with the homepage for the Los Angeles location.

2. http://www.pastapomodoro.com/

I chose Pomodoro’s site because I wanted to show an example of a more corporate company’s site and what works for them, considering they are a larger chain and usually places like this hire the best of the best when it comes to web designers. I really like this site, because it immediately communicates rustic, wholesome and fresh ingredients. The site makes me want to eat some of their food, which is obviously, crucial.  They must be doing something right! I really like the layout, and they do a great job in executing the use of the grid. I think that the navigation works very well for them as well. 

3. http://www.figarobistrot.com/bistrot/home.html

I chose Figaro Bistro for my analysis because I think this restaurant is the same size, scale and audience of my fictitious Cafe Oui. It is a small, family run French restaurant, that prides itself on great food and atmosphere. This site has a nice color scheme, and a nice photograph that illustrates the quaint atmosphere of the establishment. The main problem I have with this site is that the navigation bar is below “the fold” which makes it hard for the reader to navigate the site initially. You must scroll before you even see the navigation links. 

Monday May Design Comp

1. Grid Theory is an important concept and general rule of thumb that is constantly applied to all design. In general, compositions that are divided into proportionate sections are said to be more aesthetically pleasing. If you place a grid over a composition as you are still designing a layout, it helps to ensure balance, symmetry and a cohesiveness that is important to any design. 

2. There are principles to always keep in mind when you are designing. Balance, whether it’s asymmetrical or symmetrical, is always a key component to a solid design. Unity is also important because it helps to keep the design looking like one complete idea. A great way to achieve unity in a layout is through the proximity of elements to one another and also repetition of certain elements (color, graphics, lines) to group things together in a unified way. Another great tool to use when designing is emphasis. This helps to create a focus on whatever you want the viewer to focus on. Creating an important focal point is extremely useful  and there are several different ways to do so such as with proportion, contrast, continuance, isolation and knowing the right placement.

3. “Bread and Butter Layouts” of web design are the basic design layout concepts that always seem to make sense. One of these is the left column navigation layout that places the navigation block on the left hand side of the screen. Since most of us read left to right, this gives the reader the navigational information of the site immediately. Another “Bread and Butter” layout is just the opposite, the right column navigation, which places the block on the right hand side. Some companies might prefer this because it allows the viewer to receive the main page content first, before even looking at the navigation bar.  The last layout is the three-column navigation, which means that the layout is broken into three columns. The middle column is usually wide, and the two columns on the side are thinner and serve more as navigational tools. 

1. http://www.timburton.com/

I love this website, mainly because I love Tim Burton but also because the layout and design effectively communicate the goals of the website. The goal of this site is to display Tim Burton’s work through a quirky , artistic and interesting layout. I find this site very interesting because it is illustrative, yet informative and the viewer gets a feel for this artist’s personality immediately without having to navigate too far into the site. This is a personal page, demonstrating the accomplishments of a single person.

2. http://www.etsy.com/

I am obsessed with Etsy. I love the design concept and I think this site is really shopper friendly. One of my favorite aspects of this site is that the web designers use artist’s work as part of the design. The homepage is always changing, using different color schemes and combinations of items for sale to create an overall look which also changes. Sometimes they are trying to achieve a retro, hip look and other times its a calm and collected look… which really shows the power of color. This website is a commercial website, but also highlights the work of independent small businesses and artists. I would say the audience varies in age, but is always interested in handmade goods and art. 

3. https://www.susiecakes.com/

I think Susie Cakes website is a great example of an effective layout for a small businesses website. It’s easy to navigate, while staying consistent with their overall design, color scheme and feel. I love the vintage graphics, fonts and colors and I think the site really displays the fun atmosphere of a cake company. Cakes are for celebrations! This site makes me want to throw a party, just so I can buy a custom cake. This is a commercial site, that clearly displays their services, prices and locations.