Extra Credit- McGlinchey

Grid | Neufang

The Yahoo! homepage has always struck me as kind of a mess, but I suppose it is more because it is so full. They do stick to a grid in design, and the more I analyze it, the more I am surprised by the amount of information they can organize into such a small space. Perhaps my first opinion is just based on comparison with the Google home page.

I think Yahoo! has 5 columns and 7 rows. It uses the grids to break up the screenful of information they throw at their users. The first column is used for features. News features compose the second and third columns, effectively taking up a lot of the screen and drawing the users attention immediately. The last two columns are used for ads and other popular links. This breaks the layout into thirds, but not boring proportional thirds. The rows are also used to create a hierarchy, giving the top of the page to the search engine. The bottom row of the page stands alone in its promotion of Yahoo! affiliated websites.

Based on my own personal usage of Yahoo, this structure does aid me in finding what I'm looking for. Usually I'm just there to check the news or my mail. My mail is conveniently found in the first column or the top row and the news is smack dab in the middle with decent sized image grabbing my attention. When I do want to check on the stocks for a business class I can quickly slide down the first column and find what I'm looking for. I think Yahoo! is able to appeal to many people, although sometimes it can be overwhelming. The overwhelming feeling is based on the shear amount of information and not the lack organization.

There is certainly tension on the page, as the columns are varied in size, and some features use more rows than others. I think this tension is positive though; at least it is effectively communicating how much Yahoo! has to offer. There is a hierarchy that pulls you to some things and allows you to search for other things. Some users may interpret it as negative though, when they land on the page to try to find one things and get pulled in multiple directions, not sure whether they should check their mail, read the news, or go to the grocery store to get that new popcorn.

Grid - www.time.com

Time.com has a clearly outlined grid layout which stays within the boundaries of the grid. It works well for their design because you instantly focus to the main story in the center of the page which has the largest photo. But then you are also able to make your way around the page without confusion to the smaller stories which are places on the left hand side as well as on the top of the page. I think it is difficult for any magazine or newspaper to display their homepages in such a way that they can fit all of the stories they would like to focus and also not overwhelm the reader.

This grid aids the reader by organizing a surplus of information. Certain news broadcast stations such as cnn.com I feel have an awful layout that I could not navigate easily. It was hard to figure out where to go and what to read. Time.com makes it easier to catch up on what's going on through the design of their website.

Overall there is a very simple structure. I do find it engaging in a sense that I do not become confused. Current events can give you a headache all on their own and you don't need the design/ layout of a website to add to the frustration. I do not feel any tension while viewing or navigating the page. If anything I find it inviting to browse around.

Davis | Week 10 (Grid) Response

YouTube takes advantage of a grid system of the layout for its website. In order for people to easily access popular videos on the homepage, the links need to be laid out in a way that makes them easily organizable and visible. YouTube seems to accomplish this well in some regards, and not so well in other regards. They have been able to put a lot of content on the homepage, mainly because of the layout. The grid allows the video links to all fall into place, as opposed to being scattered around. And, all video links lie within a boundary, preventing tension in the viewer.

Now on to the problems. Firstly, their seems to be a variety of different grid systems in play: one at the very top with the four links, one right below that with the one big link and three little links, and a third on the right with the vertically stacked links. There's so many links! And they're all different sizes. This, to me, is confusing. Obviously, my mind is telling me that the biggest clip is the most important. But, if so, why is it located in the middle of the page, not the top? And, the ad on the right pushes the grid on the right down. The result: the left and right grids do not align at the top. This bothers me.

The grid system does force the eye to move around the page in an almost circular motion. So, it keeps the viewer engaged. However, perhaps there is just a little bit too much engagement. Perhaps it's just a little too overwhelming.

Week 10: Grid System | Lang

1. Discuss the grid system in place. How well do the designs work within the boundaries, or even by breaking boundaries of the grid? This is a magazine spread from Cosmopolitan magazine that uses a 3 column grid system. This design works well with the main image and headline placed across two columns so there is nothing else that competes with it. The three column grid also works with the tertiary type because it is easier to read and not difficult to follow the story from line to line. The sidebar on the third column also works because it fit into one column and the page still looks fine without having images placed all over the page.
2. How does the grid in your example aid the reader or user? The grid allows the reader to have an easier time reading the article. The grid splits the story into three columns so when you look at it, it is not intimidating to read. This design allows the story to have a sufficient line length, where it is not difficult to read.
3. Does it engage them with its structure or lack thereof? With the main image and headline spanned across two columns it helps point to the reader where they should start reading the article. The subhead that follows underneath in the first column has the next biggest point size so that is the transition point to the actual start of the article. The subhead also uses two lines to separate itself from the story so after seeing that, it also helps lead you to the story.
4. Does it cause tension, either positive or negative? With the sidebar on the top right hand corner, I feel that it makes this page difficult to read because the sidebar has 4 images and is a different color so it may distract the reader from reading the article. I think there is both positive and negative tension. The color scheme is a positive aspect and I feel that the sidebar is a negative aspect.With the sidebar on the top right hand corner, I feel that it makes this page difficult to read because the sidebar has 4 images and is a different color so it may distract the reader from reading the article. I think there is both positive and negative tension. The color scheme is a positive aspect and I feel that the sidebar is a negative aspect.

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.

Week 10:Grid System|Shaer

1. Discuss the grid system in place. How well do the designs work within the boundaries, or even by breaking boundaries of the grid? This magazine layout utilizes a three-column grid system. The main image works against the boundaries and bleeds off of the page. The remaining designs and text on the page work well within the boundaries maintaining a modern, clean, and easy to read look. 

2. How does the grid in your example aid the reader or user? This layout aids in viewer readability. The image of the football coming out of the basketball on the bottom of the page creates a visual gestalt, leading the reader’s eyes around the page. The grid makes the layout simple, aesthetically pleasing and assists in attracting the reader's eye to the crucial parts of the magazine layout.

3. Does it engage them with its structure or lack thereof?  As previously mentioned, the grid system engages the reader by creating a visual gestalt especially with the text wrap around the enlarged picture of the football coming out of the basketball and the varying text weights in the article. It is very appealing at a first glance and I feel that it entices you to read the article. I also feel that there is a proper balance of white space, which also attracts and aids the reader.

4. Does it cause tension, either positive or negative? I think the three-column layout creates positive tension because it corresponds to the large image and divides the text into manageable sections.