Writing for the Web

This initial build has a basic description and two very generic links.

It needs to develop:

• depth;
• personality;
• structure.

The second build adds in the list of favorites but does not attempt to order the space in anyway.

By putting the favorites in a horizontal table the site begins to develop a visual structure.

But the long lines of text are hard to read.

The simple color scheme and a vertical two column structure provides clearly defined spaces for different content elements.

The links have become more specific adding a greater depth to the information.

A picture is added which provides a more personalised sense of web presence. But the text wrap-around disturbs the clear linear structure of the two columns.

Placing the picture in a third, left-hand sidebar creates a new sense of structure to the site.

A quote is added to take advantage of the space provided in the new three column structure.

If we substitute a list of academic publications for the favorites list the tone of the site changes from a mix of personal and professional to a more academic oriented site.

The current page:

• is too dense
• is poorly organised
• information is not prioritised

although the linking text does provide some "scanability".

One easy fix is to take better advantage of the three column design and move the FAQ and the Contacts from the middle of the text - where they are lost - to the sidebar.

The new text is more concise.

It is ordered under three clear headings and lists help "scanability".

Features such as the links to Southside News are eliminated because they have their own place in the deeper website structure.

Hard decisions have to be made such as cutting the reference to the graduate winner of the Olle Scholarship but she could be better featured in the graduate profiles section.