- Right off the bat, the page fitting vertically in the center of a blue screen gives the user a sense of the lack of definition, control, or professionalism that the rhetor possesses. It looks like a bulletin or a poster, rather than a home. The solid blue colors, while reducing noise, give the page an erroneous or untrustworthy air, that initially made me want to click immediately back to Google and make sure I had the right address.
- Prominent banner at the top is taken entirely by logo, secondary banner gives the tagline, which at once markets effectively, "ski the top of the world", is a nice hyperbolic and memorable phrase, and the "continental divide" positioning gives a sense of placement, if not some kind of authority, prestige, or unique quality.
- The navigation on the front page is another matter. The sidebar convention is fairly self-evident, boxes look clickable and are well labelled for a variety of user informational needs.
- However there is another set of navigation under the tagline banner that seems more prominent, and draws the attention of the user, distracting from the primary navigation.
- This separate navigation is somewhat confusing, and does not seem to be a collection of things that are obviously connected. There are twitter and facebook icons, each lead to the businesses respective pages on those sites. There are links to two separate blogs, each at a different site altogether. There is a link to a photographer's site, with the photographer's name given without explanation.
- It is this kind of feature that tells me that the rhetor casts the user as a familiar customer, rather than a bypasser or potential guest. Assuming that the information and related links will be of interest or are evident to those who might visit this site.
- Inexplicably two separate links labelled "Home" that both just reload the home page one is on. The sidebar navigation home makes sense as that navigation maintains throughout the site. But the one in other, related links navigational banner, makes little sense as each of these simply lead to another site.
- There is a picture reel on the site (which seems important when attempting to orient an unfamiliar user to the type of experience that is being marketed and informed on here) but must be scrolled down to see on the home page. Instead, beside blue screen, the only other thing on the main page for the user to see is an (somewhat ill-designed in and of itself - listing the full day prices under the specials title, with another almost identical box listing different prices, then a separate box in yellow with other prices - it took me a few moments to understand that the deals are split between the hours of arrival) advertisement for a deal night.
- Again, this informs the user that they are being sold a product, and an expensive product/service at that, one that potentially the rates of which are a common concern (the rates tab is second from the top on the left).
- In order to feel like a guest, as a user I need to get a sense of the experience via the homepage, seeing a bland list of rates and deals makes the user feel like a targeted consumer.
- There are also (especially when one scrolls down) a number of repetitive links that only stand to clutter up the page and give the user, if not a sense of confusion, then a sense that the rhetor is just trying to fill space and make you think there is more to the site than there really is. This ironically bends/breaks the users trust, where the rhetor's purpose was most likely to gain it.
- That perhaps is the ultimate irony here. Much about this page assumes your knowledge of the service, assumes you have some type of acquaintance or relationship that the rhetor does not need to provide via the page itself. Conversely, by doing so, a new user might feel alienated or confused, and simply move on to a different ski hill to bring their business to.
- Note: The colors here are limited due to my limited number of highlighters, and only stand to add some flavor to this illustration. I also have placed notes on the margins of the mockup, but my handwriting is small and often illegible I am afraid. I have several closeup photos of these notes that I will leave on a separate page.
- For this redesign, I think it apt to reference the site from which I drew inspiration as I felt this had the elements of casting user as guest that I desired.
- When advertising and giving information about and a service (especially an entertainment service), the user should be able to get a sense of the experience first, and feel invited as a guest to partake of that experience, and to garner that sense, I believe a photo reel is indispensable on the landing view of the homepage.
- Whereas this feature might be a distraction on a University Homepage, when a user is looking for an experience, being met with pictures of people having fun in beautiful environs will be welcoming, and immediately/self-evidently give the user a sense of purpose (I'm invested in researching this establishment to have an experience at), and assurance (this is what I was looking for).
- A more conventional top banner persistent navigation provides a little more cohesiveness to the site. Sidebars and sectioned off content spaces seem discordant and disorganized to me, giving too many options to the user to ponder over. Open my version, you have pictures (welcome assurance and marketing) and simplified navigation options that are connected by type of service the user is looking for (telling the user where to start, and what one can do on the site - get information about services).
- Other items of interest are pushed to periphery, there for users who are comfortable enough to scroll or click on options (like blogs) that seem less important, but still related, and perhaps desirable for frequent users.
- I did not notice on my first few run-throughs that the site does not have a search bar. I have neglected to place one as the site is quite small, and the number of choices seem to be limited to the secondary options available from the homepage.
- In hindsight, I might also include an easily accessible link or widget for a calendar that would include events, openings, and hours of operation.
