Website Review

-5 Interesting Websites-

By: Vittoria DiMeglio

1. Word Press

When first confronted with WordPress.org, the display is pretty saturated with blue. There are simple, centered texts. Once you scroll down, a photo is placed with inconspicuous edges. I appreciate the way this photo blends with the white background. Then, a very appealing effect is enacted while you scroll further. It is as if the page is vanishing to reveal another page underneath it (with a calouge) that then becomes covered again by the original white main page. With further downward scrolling, I find a series of icons that aren't interative but, serve the purpose of displaying the features of the website graphically. The button to start using the website is placed centered at the bottom of the home page. This is an interesting choice, as it forces the viewer to look at the entire page.

2. Sublime with Rome

http://www.sublimewithrome.com/

The Sublime with Rome website instantly plays a video of their latest song. I think this is a creative and effective way of engaging and capturing the viewers attention while publicizing their newest music. There is a cenetered phrase "Continue to Website" that once selected, brings us to their homepage. The homepage has a beautiful floral design in the top corners that coincides with the unique design of the type that is centered beneath and says "Sublime with Rome". A nice faded scroll effect brings you to the list of tour dates. The date, venue, and location is listed on the right and two boxes with "RSVP" and "Tickets" align with this information on the right. Each tour date is seperated by a horizontal line.

3. Big Apple Circus

https://bigapplecircus.com/

The Big Apple Circus website opens to a huge rotating video and picture feature. The top panel with the website's alternate pages remains as you scroll. This panel features their name and logo in the center. It extends past the top panel to create a nice emphasis on the name. I also like how underneath the video there is another strip of color that has rotating comments by well known newpapers in the center. The color pallete is fun and fits the subject matter well.

4. Spell and the Gypsy

https://shop.spelldesigns.com.au/

This website is an online shopping site. The design of the page alludes greatly to a magazine. I enjoy the dainty type choice for the options (shop, swim, blog, etc.).The huge photos with bold type overlayed gives off a really modern feel. The color pallete is determined by the pictures, that take up the full screen horizontally so that once you scroll, the next set of pictures determines the mood for that collection. There are two distict layouts for the pictures: 2 pictures side by side with no break, and 3 pictures with the center one largest and the two outer ones close-ups of the models and seperated by white space. Further down, they have a horizontal line with text breaking that line. Underneath is a series of pictures that scrolls horizontally allowing the viewer to shop easily.

5. Hopes Fire Fantasies

https://www.hopesfirefantasies.com/

This website is very elaborate. The common rotating pictures and video thread is played when first opened. Then a video plays underneath the continued content. It is a cool effect but, a little too busy for the eye. A series of oval selections categorize their photos. They are centered and easy to accidently click on. I don't like how all of the type is italicized. Overall, this is a flashy and cool website but, it has too much going on at once and too many interacting portions that make it easy to get side-tracked.