Hierarchy | Robinson

Is it weird that I think the SU Library website has strong visual hierarchy? Is it weirder that I'm a frequent visitor of the SU Library website?

There are navigation bars both below and adjacent to the library's logo. There is a picture of the library that stretches across the site. The visual immediately grabs my attention, and its mere size defines it as the dominant item. Below this horizontal container is a search toolbar. Most people who visit this site are probably using it for its article databases. The toolbar's stark red color helps the user find it quickly. The hours of operation are also displayed under the picture. It is important information, so it makes sense to display it higher on the page. Then you hit beneath the fold where they keep the boring information- featured articles and library news. There is a subtle, medium-weight orange bar that stretches across, acting as a divider between the useful information and the boring articles.

After a second look, I realized there are actually three different navigation bars. I think they should be a little more concise with their shortcuts, or at least better organize them. A lot of the links in the nav bars are repeated at the bottom of the page, too, where the library's address is written. I do, however, like the overlap of the nav bars over the picture of the library. These elements mingle well.

Woah! Do you know what I just discovered? Every time you visit the SU Library website, the picture changes! Yowza.