Week 10: Grid System | Paterson

Like its magazine of the same name, Variety.com both integrates separates its website to represent three industries in entertainment: music, film and television. The layout of the site allows easy access to the information specific to the demands of the individual user. In order to do this, a grid system is in place.
1. Variety separates their website into roughly five columns. The advertisements (taking up two columns) belong in the right-most grid and the website information is laid out across the remaining four columns. The “top stories” take priority over the rest of the information, so they break the grid system by taking up two thirds of the site. Then, below those news stories, the usual Variety information is displayed in three different columns.
2. Variety’s use of the grid system aids the user by creating a hierarchy of information. The user would be attracted to the larger “top stories” and then scroll down to the rest of the information as the site grabs their attention.3. This site definitely engages the user because it is so easy to navigate. Although it is an entertainment trade magazine, most of the site is covered in text, so the hierarchy allows the user to read headlines first. It also gives the user to opportunity to seek out the specific information they want; this is done through the use of tabs.

4. This grid system causes negative tension because there are so many different headlines on the home page so the descriptions are extremely short. Also, the fact that the advertisements take up so much space is frustrating. The eye almost becomes overwhelmed while looking at the home page as a whole, but if the user knows what they want it is definitely easier to navigate with the grid system.