Cats and Dogs

Review of www.delcodogwalkers.com

So it's already getting a little bit kitschy, but I am so attached to the idea I am going to commence on with this "things related to kitties" blog. At least it's cohesive in a sense, right? So the website, as can be suspected, is about dogwalking services provided around Daleware Valley (I actually don't know where that is; what I am referring to is actually "somewhere around Philly.") This should be as much fun as watching a dog. 

Navigation This site is simpler than the site reviewed below. It's hierarchically flat (no page is given higher visual priority as opposed to any other, that is unless we consider the placement in the left is "hierarchically more prominent than" the right), and there are less pages to be navigated since there are only 8 pages that users can navigate to and all of them are self-contained (there are no sub-pages that these pages lead to). Simply enough, users are aware of the entire structure of the website in a few click since the site appearance remains exactly the same except the body of the website where the desired content (users click on one tab or the other) shows. All the tabs are very specific and intuitive. They are also goal driven (what kind of services it offers, how much it is, and how to obtain those services). However, the said simplicity also implies that navigation comes with less dazzle. As the mouse hovers over, the tabs are highlighted with a slightly darker shade box. 

Architecture As stated above, the architecture is relatively flat, and because of the simplicity adds to the credibility of the business (dogwalking is not a rocket science = why should the website providing information about the service be?), it IS a good thing. 

Content/Typography Typographically speaking, although they are not the most beautifully set types, it's direct (when I click on "about us" I get about us), unburdened with unnecessary implications (say with a "joker" typeface, or worse yet type faces that are named after typeface makers' kitties or doggies). Particularly, the almost linear increase in font weight with increasing information hierarchy (A head v. B head). This linear relationship does come with a pit-fall. Because the site title cannot be more than certain size without appearing overbearingly large, the body text was instead composed with small fonts that create vibrations even for someone with a good sight (do dogs have good sight?). One way the website could circumvent this shortcoming is by choosing different type-styles (perhaps san-sarif for text and sarif for titles, headlines, etc.) 

Grid/Structure As stated in the navigation, grid does stay the consistent across the website. But what is fascinating is the focal point. My eyes are consistently drawn to the cute pictures of dogs on the top-right corner. There is nothing that special about these pictures, but on various pages, we see pictures of adorable dogs. The pictures on this site, is meant to draw attention with their cuteness. In this sense, the top-right side act as a consistent, reliable source of expected amusement; hence, the attention is easily drawn here. 

Iconography/Imagery As previously mentioned, photos do "awww it's cute" thing on this website. I do feel as though the website can take a fuller advantage of the pictures in a more subtly integrated way. Furthermore, although it does not use any icons, I don't think the site necessarily needs any. 

Color Palette One color seems to be used. They are light green and a gradient version of that color. The gradient version highlights the textbox that contains the important information. The green does not seem to serve any purpose that is strictly related to the website however. 

Site Focus The objective of the site is to sell the service that Dog Walkers LLC provide in its namesake. Although it allows you to search for something, the flatness of its architecture almost makes the search box superfluous. The most useful part of the site is probably the rates for which these things go for, and the site could improve on general sophistication of the look of the site. But really, it does the job as it is. 

I do like doggies a lot. Personally I do not have a dog, but the site kind of convinced me that maybe I could afford to get one before I am 65 and retired.