Interface Design Critique

Here’s the link for my critique: http://simonforeman.com/

On Information Design

• Who are the users? All ages, but seems to target  20-30-year-old
• Information chunk (gestalt principle, amount information)information is chunked nicely in various catgories
• Relevance (graphics, content, reading level, text) lots of fun, artistic graphics are included
• Labeling (visual with text) good, but text is hard to read
• Consistency (visual, text) very consistent, but text is hard to read
• Other comments
• Detail (too much on one page or one screen) too much information is included are many of the web pages. Liked the video about his home, animals, art, etc.

On Interactivity

• Orientation (Can you find the path, and know your way around?) pretty easy to find your way around
• Navigation (Branching) o Functionality (Does it work?) yes
• Information access (Multiple entry and exit? Logical path?) logical path around the website
• Other comments

On Screen Design

• Attractive (first impression) very cool design (hip hop, modern, amazing and fun!)
• Resolution: good
• Color: good, but the text color is too hard to read
• Lay out: very well laid out
• Readability: difficult to read, needs better font, and less text
• Other comments: Is this more of a portfolio piece, or more about his life. Sometimes not clear what it’s all about! Nice work, though!

Civic Potential of Video Games

Okay, so I admit it. I was on vacation when we went to go hear Joseph Kahne’s presentation about the civic potential of video games. So, I’ll have to keep this short and sweet.

From what I’ve read, as well as experienced in the corporate world, video games can be an excellent resource relating to training by actively engaging learners by keeping their attention. Positive or negative, they’re a useful tool. Further research online reveals a distinct division of their use due to what some would say are the violent nature of video games. In my humble opinion, they’re a great tool to use if you have the tie, money and support of your training organization. But sometimes, you might have so much work to do that you have to put them on the back burner for use another time. 

http://mitpress.mit.edu/catalog/item/default.asp?ttype=2&tid=11851