Mission
With a partner, take a look at the pairs of web sites below, and see if you can come up with answers to the questions that follow.
- Apple vs. Microsoft
- Google vs. Yahoo
- Smith College vs. Mount Holyoke
Questions:
- What does each site's design say about the company or organization it represents?
- What would you say is the primary goal or mission of each site?
- What specific aspects of each design contribute to these impressions?
- What design aspects are universal, or shared by multiple sites?
Do's and Don'ts
Contrast the pairs of sites below, which have similar missions but widely differing implementation. In what ways is one site better than another? What general guidelines for web design can you draw from these examples?
Further Reading
Read a few popular articles on good web design and usability. Do you agree with the points raised? Are there any you think are more important that are missing?