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Website Critique
Dr. Linda M. Perry

Description: Review about eight websites in the same or related industry as your client. Pick the worst and best. Critique three websites — your client's and the two sites you identified as the worst and best. If your client's website is the best or worst, choose the next best or worst so you have a total of three critiques. If your client does not yet have a website, choose one closest to your client in industry-type, size, etc.

Purpose: Critiquing others' work is an excellent way to learn. By studying the strengths and weaknesses of others, we can hone our own skills and address our weaknesses. In addition, by exploring and assessing other websites, you'll see first-hand what the industry is doing.

Task: (1) Briefly answer the following questions in all three critiques. (2) Explain why the website is your pick for worst or best, and indicate which website belongs to your client. (3) Include the organisation's name and the website's URL (Web address) in the headings for all three sites. (4) List all the websites you reviewed and from which you chose your three to critique.

  1. In general, what are the strengths and weaknesses of this website? Consider:
    • Comprehensiveness of features: Kinds of information, graphics, photos, etc., included in the site and what should have been included but was not.
    • Site architecture: How easy it is to find what you're looking for, to navigate the site.
    • Aesthetics of the site design, especially the home page (including dimensions as explained in the Williams book), and whether individual pages are cohesively designed.
    • Functionality: How long it takes graphics to load and whether all links are functional.
    • Clarity of communication: Whether writing is clear, without grammatical or spelling errors.
  2. What components of this site do you like and dislike most?
  3. What elements of this site should be included in your website? Why?
  4. What and who do you think the website's objectives and target audiences are?

Requirements: Write your critique in narrative format. It should be typed in 10-12-point type, flush-left, and about three to four pages, double-spaced. Headers should include the URL. Be sure to indicate which website is your client's. The paper is due on the date specified in the schedule. Please stay within the three- to four-page limit for the narrative. You may add a page to list the all the websites you reviewed.

Hint: Read chapter eight of Williams' The Non-Designer's Web Book for guidance. Use the following checklist, which your lab instructor will use to grade your work, to assure you have included all the elements.

Web Critique Checklist

_____ Three websites critiqued, including your client's, in same field
or industry as your client.
_____ Title and URL included in headers.
_____ Strengths and weaknesses addressed, including:
 _____ comprehensiveness, including missing features;
 _____ site architecture (ease of navigation);
 _____ aesthetics of site design, including dimensions/size
of home page;
 _____ functionality, including loading times;
 _____ clarity of communication.
_____ Components liked and disliked, and why.
_____ Elements that should be included in your site, and why.
_____ Websites' objectives and target audience inferred.
_____ Best and worst sites indicated, with explanation.
_____ Report well written, typed and double-spaced
within limits (four pages) specified.

_______ Content (75)
_______ Writing, Grammar/Spelling (25)

_______ TOTAL (100)

 

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