Artefact 3 - Evaluation

The aim of this artefact was to test one of the key variables in creating a website. After looking at interaction and how it affects the user’s opinion I chose to take it further by looking at the structure. I began by looking at different design principles of Constantine and Lockwood and the two main layout models. This allowed me to see the viewer’s response to structure and interaction.
I wanted to see if structure and design had any affect over the perception of the viewer and interaction in websites. I did this by creating a three section experiment testing both structure and interaction taking into account the viewer’s response.

The overall data showed me that structure in some cases can affect the content and enhance the experience for the browser. This been said the results showed me that the F layout was more popular than the Z model in keeping the viewer engaged. In addition the data showed me that users where more inclined to stay on a web page if it had a clear structure. It also made the websites interaction more effective if placed in key points. For example if it was placed in the F layout in one of the key points it would have more effect. This could be crucial in the first few seconds of entering a website. As it could either keep a viewer interested or make them go elsewhere. The principle that attracted the most participants was the structural design. This showed that browsers want a well-structured design with content in set places that is easy to take in.

I firstly tested structure in section one seeing the browsers opinions towards different design principles. This was designed to gain background information for the different design principles. I next asked the browser to look at two commonly used layouts and get them to clarify their favourite (the one that appealed most to them). Then to test the interaction against the structure I got three web links all using interaction with a different design model. To ensure genre or personal taste didn’t have any affect I ensured all the websites where of the same style/genre.
To conclude this artefact showed me that following the different design principles and layout maps can in fact benefit the webpage. They can do this by having a set structure that places key interactive elements in places that the viewer immediately looks at when entering a web page.

Overall I have managed to see what principle works best in designing a functional website and what layout enhances the interaction in a web application. In addition I have discovered that structure can be a way of improving the experience and keeping the viewer interested. The data shows that the F model is the strongest method of keeping a viewer interested through interaction enhancing the different elements.