Minimalism works...

This week's Clio class readings cover visual architecture in site design.  The presentation of Carole Guevin's article, Visual Architecture: The Rule of Three ignores her own best rules, yet demonstrates perhaps equally relevant points for historians that Wroblewski emphasizes in Visible Narratives: Understanding Visual Organization.  Images illustrate content rather than overpower it; text is image in the sense that it provides a visual link to the hierarchical organization of information; visual organization leads viewers to the information we seek to convey and that they want.

Some rules influencing site design have become perhaps sacrosanct:  pull viewers in in six seconds, or they're gone; play to the quick fix, MTV generation.  I doubt that's true for the preponderance of history sites, perhaps even for sites in general.  Why?  I'd surmise that more often than not, history sites are destination locations, whether they are sites for public history venues, archival sites, or topical sites developed to disseminate research and information.  The visual organization of history sites doesn't necessarily have to hook in the dubious; it has to tell the visitor that the information that they need is there and where it can be found. And the more expeditiously visual architecture enables that process, the better.

So, let's go back to Carole Guevin's article.  It is cleanly on the page and easy to follow; but the above-the-fold section is not visually compelling; it's text.  I am there because I chose the site and I want to know what she's got to say.  It's a destination location; I'm not browsing. Regardless of her presentation, I'd stay there long enough to find out what I need to know, and the minimalistic visual cues keep me focused on the organization of her material without distraction.   It's not pretty, but for this kind of message anyway, it works.

Comments

[Maureen Guignon]

Lee Ann,

I like the definition of history sites as destination locations. However, I am easily captured by visual images so they are often an important draw.

That said, I want to start a 'fix the LOC site' campaign so that if a
book/microfilm/periodical shows up on their catalog, it will actually be in the library when you ask for it. I know that you are not busy so do you wanna help?

[Misha Griffith]

I liked Guervin's comments on eqidistant objects. However, I have found the comparative angles of the objects to be a dynamic force, and a technique one can use when only dealing with a single object. I designed a production of the play "God's Country", which has lots of Neo-Nazis running around in it. We needed the dreaded swastika armbands, and had to make a bunch. We cut out the black swastikas and placed them on the white circles, and realized they didn't look right. We had the radiating arms at 45 degree angles. So we got some books and started to measure the angles in the pictures. Sure enough, they were all angled at 37.5 degrees from vertical. Just that small adjustment made the difference. Ever since then, I have looked for that dynamic angle, and have found it in many places. I guess it is like the "golden mean." Itis just enough out of kilter to look like it will eventually fall over.

[Ken]

You raise some interesting points Lee Ann. Mainly the idea that part of good web design is knowing your audience. Yes, a site selling sneakers to young people needs to be flashy and attention grabbing. But a history site can likely expect an audience prepared to spend a little more time poking around a site. In that case the information architecture seems key, as this person will be more concerned with being able to find what they need, or make sense of the information presented, rather than with the overall stylistic qualities of the site.

[Laura Veprek]

Lee Ann--You'd asked me about rounded corners, here's how I do it. Go to this website: Nifty Corners (http://www.html.it/articoli/niftycube/index.html). It's only one method, there are others, but I got this one to work, so there you go. Check out my website and look at my source code, too, that may help. By the way your portfolio page looks great!
Laura