UTZ

http://www.utzsnacks.com/

Utz's website is easy to navigate and easy to read. The logo is locate on the left side in the body area. The navigation is creative with bags as the columns for each pages, although the font within needs to be worked on, keeping the same size and width to keep everything balanced and aligned. 

The left side bar contains three things keeping it simple and to the point, also having a little picture relating to the page helps separate it and helps the view understand where the page will take them.

Herr's

http://www.herrs.com/index.php

Herr's website has a very patriotic theme to it. Using red, white and blue on their entire page.
They don't use a top navigation bar, they only have a side bar with all of the pages/ links on there. Their social media is located in an odd spot, I feel like it would look better and can be easier to find in the bottom right or top right of the website.

Rockstar Energy Drinks

http://rockstarenergy.com/


Rockstar Energy Drink uses a color scheme of grayscale and a pop of bright yellow. The page mostly consists of just having a middle bar that flashes different events and promotions on the page. I think they would benefit from having a side bar that displays all of these pages being shown in the banner, that way someone can locate the page with having to wait for it to show in the middle.

Caribou Coffee

http://www.cariboucoffee.com/

Caribou Coffee uses a burlap bag as their background, tying in the coffee bean bag with the brand. They use their colors of dark brown and light blue throughout their website. Overall this website definitely displays their brand and how branding is important to them.

Starbucks

http://www.starbucks.com/

Starbucks uses an all white background with solid black footer. The header is white with its green logo in the left corner. The navigation seems to be a part of the header's logo. In the top right corner there are  links to sing in, customer service, and one to help you find a store near you.

The site uses a two column set up where the left side is smaller than the right. Using a vertical setting rather than a horizontal like the right side. This helps create difference between each section.

Empire Today

http://www.empiretoday.com/


Empire's website uses a blue gradient background where the top is darker showing off the header with the logo. Creating a nice contrast with the white in the logo. This website uses a side bar with different flooring options. They also have a top navigation with more business related pages. Underneath the sidebar is special coupons and offers located on the site for flooring. The footer is aligned to the right, which is different from other sites that have theirs centered.

Nikon

http://www.nikon.com/

Nikon's website uses an off white color for the background. The yellow in the logo really pops out on the off white background. The search bar is a medium gray, where which ever page you click on turns yellow in the search bar. The site displays a tight side search bar with links referring to the page. The page is clean and sophisticated looking, giving a feel of expensive taste and good quality. Located in the footer is a button that says "back to top" allowing the viewer to read through the page and easily get back to the top without having to worry about scrolling up.
Overall Nikon's page is very nice and connects with the customers and audience they are looking for.

XBOX

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/Xbox360

XBOX's website is clean and uses only green as a color pop on the page. The navigation matches the green in the logo at the top left's header. The right side shows different options you can choose concering logging in, joining, or managing your account.  Each section is separated by a green line, small in width size yet still effective. The footer on the page is an almost black gray. Helping determining when the page ends and separates it from the rest on the page.

Disney Website

http://disney.com/

Disney's website is basic, it is center aligned with a two color background. The darker part of the background is at the top, where the navigation and logo can stand out in white on a darker backdrop. The banner displaying different page on the website contrasts on the dark blue as well. All of the "sections" have distinct separation between them. Allowing any age to navigate through the page simply and quickly. 

COPS

http://www.cops.com/

The show COPS' website is based on the "blue" coloring known to be associated with police. The navigation is simple and easy to read, allowing any age to access the site and view each page/ link. Under the navigation is a rectangle displaying exclusive episodes. Underneath this rectangle are all of the episodes in order. The left side bar displays a count down to the next cops shows. They also show fans feedback, social media sites/ links, and other pages associated with COPS.

AMC TV- Walking Dead

http://www.amctv.com/shows/the-walking-dead

AMC TV's, The Walking Dead, page is dark and spooky in which connects with the theme of the show. This page displays which appears to be two headers. One at the way top of the page and one where a header is under the navigation. I like how the logo for the site is in with the navigation, along with the search bar. 

AE TV

http://www.aetv.com/

AE TV's website displays a logo at the top left of the header, they also have an ad spot located in the header. Having an ad distracts from the website but helps promote the product or company that is being displayed. The company or product probably helps pay towards the website's funding so having ads could be a successful idea. 

The navigation on the page aligns with the bottom text in the logo in the header, this helps the page pull  various things together to create balance and unity. With all the information on this page, they do a decent job putting information on the page and creating a page that flows. 

Pawn Stars

http://www.pawnstars.com/

Pawn Stars website locates its logo in the header/navigation. The navigation located in the header is a great use of space and keeps everything together in one line logo wise and page wise.
The site uses a two column set up where four sections take up the left side, showing different pages. The right side contains a lager display of a special page, showing hierarchy and importance.

M&M's Website

http://www.mymms.com/

The M&M's website is colorful and fun! The header contains a logo in the left corner. Next to the logo there is a coupon for an upcoming "holiday". The navigation is simple and easy to understand. 

The page is mainly taken up by a middle promotion of creating M&Ms for special occasions. Underneath are links to other fun m&M creations. 

Overall a easy and fun website to go through.

Nestle USA

http://www.nestleusa.com/


Nestle's website is simple, clean, and well organized. The header is legible and easy to understand. With just gray coloring on the logo and font. They located their side bar of links and information on the right side of the page were others would normally place that on the left side of the page.
Their footer just contains a link for contacting the company, a site map, and other legal terms and information. I like that the page contains a lot of information, but the layout is easy to read and naviagte through for the viewer.

Fossil Website

http://www.fossil.com/

Fossil uses a simple designed, easy to read side navigation bar. The header is a left aligned logo, which could look better larger to make it more legible. The social media is located underneath the navigation bar to help create an easier way for the viewer to go through the page and connect with outside pages. 

Hair Cuttery

http://carnegieandcompany.com/

Hair Cuttery's website using a scrolling banner at the top of their page, the banner is very large and would look better at a smaller size. The navigation underneath the banner is simple and easy to use. 

The photos used in the circle links use a black and white color scheme that turns into color when holding your mouse over it. The footer uses the same color as header to tie in the page.

Carnegie & Company Inc. Website

http://carnegieandcompany.com/


Carnegie's website is very simple and basic. Their images change with every link you click. Although I think they would benefit having their photos larger and more in the center under the header. The header would be more effective as just text (clean), their type is fuzzy and blurry. If their photos were larger and brightened then the website viewer can see the location in a better light. Also if they could display photos of their hairstylists, the viewer can connect with the company and feel more comfortable entering the salon for the first time.

The color selected for the background is very boring, I think a pale yellow or a color taken from a photo of the location can help drawn in the website and make everything connect and flow.

Pier 1 imports

http://www.pier1.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-pier1_us-Site/default/Default-Start?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=pier%20one&utm_content={K_CREATIVE_HEADLINE}&utm_campaign=Brand&gclid=CP_s_5WU87YCFYHc4AodBzsAkw

Pier 1 uses a green wicker wrapper with a white background. Showing a depth and difference on the page. The logo is placed in the top left where your eyes focus/ start reading first. All of the links to social media are at the top right close to the search bar to help find what you are looking for. The large photo in the middle of the page is a scrolling slideshow that displays different products and specials. 

Ikea Website

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/?cid=us|ps|branded|EST_BR_Core_Other|go|IKEA_online

Ikea's website is an all white background site with plenty of pictures. The navigation is kind of boring and small. Some of the breathing room for the navigation text is way too tight, for example "all" is being crowded by outsides of the box. Some of the photos on the page are poorly placed and some overlap text and other photos on the page. This makes the pictures seem crowded and cluttered. I think spacing the photos out in some kind of table fashion would be better and more organized.

Snicker Doodles Website

http://www.snickrdoodles.com/

This website focuses on reselling used items....well let's just say they need help on their web page. 

The creepy baby photo is very unwelcoming and may turn some people away. They need a better photo of either the business front or a happy family/ child using their services. The main page jumps after awhile to another page without touching any links. It is very annoying and confusing. 

The hierarchy with the typography on the page needs better font chooses and to select one color instead of many. The navigation buttons are also very misplaced for this site they have no connection with the site. 

Build*A*Bear

http://www.buildabear.com/shopping/

Build A Bear Workshop uses a color scheme of primary colors. Using blue as the shingles for the roof, yellow siding, and red for accents on the page like in the logo. They also use a green at the bottom for the grass/ footer.

The site is easy to navigate, showing all of the newer products on the main page in a slideshow banner and underneath allowing you to click on. I like how the shopping cart "your basket", is a different color than the other items on the navigation bar.

I think they could change up the layout of the page a little, having less on the main page to highlight important products and information.

Janis Annesley Photography Website

http://www.janisannesleyphotography.com/mp_includes/index.asp

This website for her photography is lacking in showing off her photos. Her navigation is on the right side of the page which is different. The navigation could also be larger to be less straining on the viewer's eyes. Less photos on the main page would be less distracting, larger photos will also help the viewer appreciate the work this photographer is trying to display.  

Ruby's Photography Website

http://rubysphoto.com/


This website for "Ruby's Photography" needs some loving touches. Her header is stretched and became blurry in the process. Her navigation font size is very small and can use an adjustment in leading. She also has another navigation/ links above the centered photos. The "back" and "next" links should stand out more than they currently do with having them lower cased. The search bar on the bottom left is very unclear as to what purpose it contains. At first I thought it was a random rectangle put on by accident. But I then saw that I could type inside of the bar. It needs to have some kind of recognition that it can be used to search for photos. 

Remembrance Studios Website

http://www.remembrancestudios.com/

This website for a photographer/ DJ is uninviting and lacking in any kind of creativity. If I were to stumble upon his page when looking for a photographer, I would laugh and look elsewhere for help. The photo that he chose for his main page is a very busy and does not display any kind of photography skill. Using an average photo as a main page photo really draws people away from your site and services. If he were to display a better photo of a person or beautiful landscape area then viewers will want to click through his pictures and become interested in his services.
As for being a "DJ" as well there are no photos showing his equipment or him dj-ing. If I were wanting his services I would like to see some photos of how he presents himself and how his equipment looks.

For the website itself, the website is very basic and boring. The background color is an off white, which is an okay choice for displaying photos but his photos should be larger to be able to see all of the details. I would also have an more inviting header or image to grab the attention of the viewer as soon as they load your page.

Izard Photo Website

http://www.izardphoto.com/

This photography website needs to be reorganized. It's set up is overwhelming and cluttered. The balance of her photos verses navigation is lacking. There needs to be less photos on the front page or have a system to show a slideshow or a way to click a thumbnail and make it larger. The navigation for the site is scattered in with all of the photos. Each navigation link is tossed and unplanned in this website.
I would keep the navigation at the top of the page and have the photos underneath the header. I don't mind the coloring of the typography on this page but the hierarchy needs to be addressed in this website.

All White

This all white webpage gives of a sense of cleanliness, professionalism, and simplicity.  Reminding you also of sketch book paper and how that is also a bright white. The image helps tie in the page to being a art portfolio site. With grey and black text the information is easy to read and viewer friendly on their eyes. The site all together is a little simple but for its purpose seems to work just fine. I would add some kind of contact information on the bar at the bottom to give the view some kind of human connection. 

Green in Web

This website uses green in a successful way. When some websites over use green they seem to give off a "nature" based site or a "go green" vibe. This green at the way top doesn't cripple you into thinking this site is all about nature. Having a long box in the center helps break up the page from the header to the body area of information. The image gives off a grungy feel and makes the viewer question what this site is about.

Dark Crimson

This website uses red affectively in its design. The darkness of the red is friendly and inviting to the viewer's eyes. The viewer does not need to strain when viewing this read, unlike the red used in "Target's" website. 

The change between dark and lighter red gives a great contrast to the page and helps separate information and tables boxes in the site. 

Color Scheme Designer

http://colorschemedesigner.com/

Color Scheme Designer is displayed on dark grey background. A good way to display each color to its fullest potential. This site gives you web friendly color choice that can help you create web pages or help you brainstorm color schemes for upcoming works. 

The website is a very user friendly site where the navigation is aligned to the right side of the page after the header and logo. i would make some of the more important options text a little bolder than it currently is to help them stand out on the page.

Surfer

http://www.surfermag.com/

This website uses a large photo as it's backdrop. The image is very nicely used as a background. The darker saturation of the photo helps to not distract the viewer from the important information provided. The important information is display in white boxes with black text. A very easy to read website with brightly colored photos to help liven up the page. The header consists of a moving slideshow of important pages in which you can click on to view. A very clever way to draw in some viewers.

This website displays a good use of simple text and coloring for a website. I would move the scroll area on the right farther down on the page.

The Home Depot

http://www.homedepot.com/?cm_mmc=SEM|THD|G|BT1|HighVolumeExact&skwcid=TC%7c13614%7chomedepot%7c%7cS%7ce%7c21601746204&gclid=CKbBsJrYh7YCFY6e4AodGGoASQ


Home Depot's page is very "guy" friendly. The center information is placed on wooden boards. A nice twist to the genre of what is sold at the store. The top navigation is to the right side with simple pages. All of the merchandise and projects are located on the right side of the page. This set up is easy to use for any age and organized in a logical fashion. I would possibly change the larger white boxes at the bottom of the page. Maybe making them shorter and less detailed would help make them less overbearing.

Walmart

http://www.walmart.com/

After critiquing Target's website I thought I would take a gander at Walmart's page. Walmart coloring is very pleasing to the eye, unlike Target, Walmart uses a calming blue. The logo in the top left is a nice place to see the logo as we read left to right. The footer is very basic and not balanced with the top of the page with its header. The side bar is very white, I think if they used blue throughout the sidebar the text will be easy to read and eye pleasing.

Target

http://www.target.com/

I have always had a negative view on targets website throughout the years. The red they use is an eye sore and all of the different brightly colored text does not help. The bright yellow they have on the red is very hard to read. If they picked a darker red it would look a lot better. Also the set up of the page is a little cluttered and crazy. The footer is a little basic compared to the header, so this site is very top heavy. This site needs more balance throughout.

Forever 21

http://www.forever21.com/Product/Landing.aspx?br=f21&category=apparel

Forever 21 page use a lot of simple black text on a white background. With a simple background the merchandise is easier to view without a backdropping distraction. This page is very photo based, the contents on the page allow you to click on them and go into another page consisting of more items in that section. This a different approach to displaying information and images of merchandise.

The footer consists of social media and small sized font. The header is a centered type of the store name.

Think Geek

http://www.thinkgeek.com/

Think Geek's website uses a black/grey background with blue navigation that stands out. The side bar is a darker grey with white text. Different text contain bolder looks or coloring. The center information on the website rests on a white background with black font which is easier to read and view. The footer on the page is a blue gradient with navigation also inside of it.

I would change the blue gradient in the footer to a solid"darker" blue to be less distracting. The white center box is basic but I don't mind it.,,maybe if the font had a better hierarchy system going on.  

Baby Shoes

This website for baby shoes uses simple illustrations and pastel coloring relating to "baby" colors.

Using blue and pink with an addition of a blue sky and green grass. The header is very thick, though the footer has it beat. The footer could look better if the image was better illustrated. The hill is also very thick, if the hill decreased in height then the website would look less bottom heavy.

I would focus on the center information and images opposed to focusing all of the attention on the footer after all of the important information. 

Watches

This website for watches is based on a black and dark grey color scheme. The hints of red throughout the site help brighten up the site and set your attention to important information. The images on the site are based on a white background, brings attention to the details in the image. Showing the customer all of the details in the watch. 

The navigation aligned to the left is a different approach to the navigation that usually spans along the entire page. When clicking on the navigation choice the drop down menu turns red with white font. That helps the viewer separate from the rest of the website and its darker scheme   

Sephora

http://www.sephora.com/makeup?pageSize=-1

Sephora's makeup website is clean, to the point, and easy to navigate. Having pictures for each item helps the consumer understand and see the item(s) being advertised and sold. With a black and white theme the site seems sophisticated and classy. With hierarchy text showing headlines and section differences. Simple header with a simple following navigation. Using an image with text to create a title after the navigation to let the reader know what page they have clicked on.

Petfinder

http://www.petfinder.com/awo/index.cgi?action=state&state=MD&limit=100

I recently went back to a website I used a year ago to locate a little friend. When searching for a puppy my boyfriend and I came across "Petfinder". A very useful and user friendly website. Although looking back at it now it is very unattractive. Bright purple on pale yellow to start, very eastery looking. The links for each shelter is hyperlinked in bright blue.

I would consider changing the blue hyperlinks to a black or deep purple. The yellow background takes away from the site, perhaps making it white or a darker purple with make it more eye pleasing for the viewer.

Petsmart

In class yesterday we learned about creating and editing tables in Dreamweaver. When looking at websites online I started thinking about how to go about creating tables for each site.




http://www.petsmart.com/?OVMTC=Exact&site=&creative=29999428670&OVKEY=petsmart&url_id=148601532&adpos=1t1&gclid=CO-X0_ny-rUCFYdT4AodYxwAjg

Petsmart's website definitely uses a table/ grid. Having a long single row at the top, separated row with 4 columns in the middle and another row before the footer. This set up helps separate all of the pages petsmart has to offer to its customers.


Relating to how we made tables in class and having to imagine how many rows and columns are needed to display your information properly and affectively.

Essie

http://www.essie.com/




-Essie's website uses an all white background, on the left side of the site is the logo. The logo looks to have a embossed feel to it giving it acknowledgement but not an over the top one. The flashing slideshow displays the different type of nail polish the company sells. The footer is centered and clean, the font is small but still legible. The navigation is based off of photos under the header.

Wet 'N' Wild Beauty Site

http://wnwbeauty.com/index.php

-This beauty site for Wet 'N' Wild focuses on the main topics they want you to see, like their new lines of beauty products or sponsors. The background is visible under the box of information, the white box with black typography is easy on the eyes and better to read. The navigation could use a little tweaking,  when you click on a options the menu bar that comes down is very light and jumpy. 

Vintage Page

-A photography website using soft coloring, focusing on one main photo on their home page to not overwhelm their viewers with photos. The color scheme looks to be based on a vintage appeal/ approach. The font used is very girly and elegant, cursive for the navigation and titles on the pages. 

Basic Photography Page

-A basic photography website using a black background and colored photos. The font color used does not stand out well enough on the black. The white works perfectly on the black background. The photo of the camera in the top left is a creative idea, having the photos coming out of the lens. Maybe the photos coming from the lens would look better if the increased in size as the get farther from the camera. 

Blue and Black Site

-  The colors used in this website work very well together. The different shades of blue contrast nicely on  the solid black background. The blue text pulls together the website and keeping everything in harmony.

-This website is a great example of how to use colors from the image and use it within the site.

Martha Stewart

http://www.marthastewart.com/baking-recipes


-Martha Stewart's website is user friendly with a vast amount of recipes on a side bar. The side bar on the left is very detailed and overwhelming at first. Maybe if she create larger subtopics to place the recipes in would be less crazy for the viewer to look through. The information in the center is nice and simple. Clean white backdrop with black font, making it easier to read for any age. The search bar on the top right side, is a different spin compared to other websites.

-I researched this piece to help me get ideas for my baking site in class.

Seether

http://www.seether.com/


-This band called, Seether, has a center aligned website. A slideshow header under their name with navigation right under to header looking like it is attached. The body area splits into two sections, with a font based footer. The footer contains all of the contact and social media, along with another navigation area. There should be more information on the right side since there is a lot of empty space.

-Relating to class with the layout. Using a two column body area for text and information, the header is the main focus when opening the page and the footer is simple.

Daniel Essig

http://danielessig.com/carved-books/



-This artist's website has a good concept but things need changing to make the site more pleasing for viewers. The header needs to be fixed, the typography on the photo gets drown out. The white text is too small on the distracting photo. The photo could be set to a lower opacity or the text could become larger to be more noticeable. Also, the slideshow on the home page goes through photos way to quickly. The viewer doesn't get a chance to appreciate the details in the art pieces. If the slideshow was slower viewers could see each piece and it's great detail.

-We were asked to look at this website in my 3D class to look at Daniel Essig's art work. I noticed things about the website that could be changed to be more viewer friendly.

-Relating to class and how we are learning to create websites that are pleasing to the eye and easy to navigate.

Bakerella

http://www.bakerella.com/

- Critique: This baking website has a simple yet affective header. With it's header having a small "title" on the left side and "quote" on the right side. The information on this site is mostly centered. With bar alone both sides, on the left features and ads. On the right side mostly ads and links. 

- Info: I found this piece trying to get inspiration for my "hobby" site for class. I liked the white background in this site which makes it feel clean and simple. I like how the light colored text stands out on the white backdrop. 

-Relates: Relating to class on how I used a white background as this website displayed so well. 

Josh Groban

http://www.joshgroban.com/frontpage

- Critique: This website is mostly photo based. Having a larger photo at the top of the page as the header. Having a large photo of the subject really allows the viewer to know exactly what or who the page is about. I enjoy how the photo faded out as it heads down the page. With the solid colored sections that contain the information to make it easier to read on top of the photo. 

- From: From Josh Groban's official website.

- Relates: This site relates to class on how we are trying to create websites and forming ideas to have websites stand out from others so commonly used. Having a photo based header is a idea that I have used in my website allowing me to display my photography. It also allows the viewer to have a visual connection to the subject/ object in which the website is based upon.