"If
contrast gives your designs visual excitement, consistency
makes your views feel at home,whether they're viewing a
website, looking at at brochure, or reading an ad."
-Judy
Litt
After viewing and interacting
with "Insist on Consistency" web page, the internet user will
be able to identify and implement consistent
color
design with a purpose.
Consistency in web page design
is maintained with respect to margins and page layout,
fonts,navigation tools, and color.
"Insist on Consistency" addresses color.
ORGANIZATION
Color
signals organization and
order within a web-page. A web-page that uses
color
as a tool for organization helps the viewer get information
quickly and easily.
NAVIGATION
Color
signals keywords and
opportunities to navigate within a web-page. A web-page that
uses color
to signal keywords and
opportunities to move within the site helps the viewer get
information efficiently. It is important to maintain the
color
or color
theme within the content area.
TONE
Color
signals tone within a
web-page. A web-page that sets a tone using
color
communicates a general theme to its viewers. For example, a
mixture of bright colors
indicate that the topic
of the site is exciting, fun or uplifting. A site that uses
a great deal of dark colors
is likely to be more serious in content. An effective
web-page establishes and maintains tone throughout.
"In a
well-designed site there is a consistency of design that
creates a feeling of place. That consistency should extend to
the use of color
thoughout the site. Use consistent
colors
to
visually create boundries for the site-to make the site a
place." -Jean
Kaiser
RATE A
SITE
Print a
personal copy of this rubric and use the following scale to
rate each web-page.
3
-
Absolutely-great use of consistent
color!
2
-
Sometimes-OK use of color.
1
-
Not really-inconsistent use of
color.
|
UNT
|
ESPN
|
London
Pass
|
Site uses
color
to efficiently organize information.
|
.
|
.
|
.
|
Site is easy to
navigate because of its consistent, logical use of
color.
|
.
|
.
|
.
|
Site uses
color
to create a consistent theme or tone.
|
.
|
.
|
.
|
Site uses
color
consistently throughout.
|
.
|
.
|
.
|
Total
Rate A Site
|
.
|
.
|
.
|
FEEDBACK
UNT
:
Although the UNT site does a good job of using
color
consistantly to set the tone and theme of the site, it could
have done a better job of using consistant
color
to help a user to navigate. The site uses dark
colors
to create a serious straight forward theme. The
colors
that were used on the site do not impact the organization of
the site.
Rate A Site
Score: organization-2; navigation-2; tone-3; consistency-3
Total-10
ESPN
:This
site uses black,white and red to set a tone of direct
information for the user. The site also consistantly uses
color
to aid the user to navigate through the massive amount of
information. Espn.com could have done a better job of using
color
consistantly to organize the information.
Rate A Site
Score: organization-2; navigation-3; tone-3; consistency-3
Total-11
London
Pass
:This
site uses a lot of colors
to set an tone of energy throughout. However,Londonpass.com
lacks direction with the use of
color;
the colors
do not help the user navigate the site nor do they help
organize the site. In fact, the use of
colors
adds confusion to the site.
Rate A Site
Score: organization-1; navigation-1; tone-2; consistency-1
Total-5
FIND A
SITE:
Locate
a web-page that scores "3" on all four
color
consistency tactics. Explain why this site scores a "12".
E-mail the site and your explaination to
hotbell@hotmail.com.
FOR MORE
INFORMATION:
Color
in Web Design
Shades
of Success
Color
Your Web
Color
on the Web