Government Analysis: FDA.gov

http://www.fda.gov/

FDA Website

Much like the websites http://www.disa.mil/,  http://www.america.gov/, and http://www.nasa.gov/, the front page of the FDA website features a large image, and like NASA’s site this image is static. In addition, the FDA website also has a lot of menus and text. I think it would have been a better design choice to omit some of the text and feature links to news about those stories or informative pieces in a slideshow that would run in place (although maybe slightly larger) of the current static image.

Government Analysis: NASA.gov

http://www.nasa.gov/

NASA Official Website

While the NASA site does have a lot of similarities with the other government sites (http://www.disa.mil/, http://www.fda.gov/, and http://www.america.gov/) it is kind of like the design outcast of the group. Now it does feature the image on the front like the other sites but the NASA site does not have a slideshow like the America.gov and DISA.Mil sites. Instead it has tabs to navigate through the images or news pieces that illustrate the three key points of the day. While I don’t mind this design choice, I personally like the slideshow better because it makes the page dynamic. One would think that the NASA page, of all the pages, would be the one with the crazy special effects, or video.

Government Analysis: America.gov

http://www.america.gov/

Visually America.gov is consistent with http://www.disa.mil/, http://www.fda.gov/, and http://www.nasa.gov/ in that the main focus of the page is a large image that is positioned to the left of the main text and just below the menu bar. This portion of the page tends to be the first place the eye wants to go once a website is opened, and since typically people don’t want to read anymore the imagery attracts and maintains their attentions from the instant they load the site. Similar to http://www.disa.mil/, and http://www.fda.gov/, the imagery on the America.gov main page consists of a streaming flash slideshow with captions that also provide links to each piece of news. This is an effective design technique because it illustrates the essential components of the page without forcing the viewer to start wandering around through title bars and menus.

America.gov Official Site

Non-Profit Analysis: American Red Cross

The American Red Cross website reads like a blog (it’s a WordPress website) and serves as a newsroom for the American Red Cross community of followers. The point of this website is to inform the public about disasters, mostly natural. People who pay attention to this website are most likely those who are already involved with Red Cross in some way, or those who live in areas who are hit the hardest by natural disasters.

Government – Census 2010

http://2010.census.gov/2010census/

The U.S. Census has a unique feature which immediately works in selecting a language. This is effective in the videos which are provided to effectively explain the US Census 2010 process and what actions are necessary by a visitor. Flash video was an excellent method in bringing information as simplistic as possible. Design is powerful, personalized, has a header which supplies details for engagement. In depth pages with a design for the inclusion of local, state and federal government census data and results. The stories off the front page draw an individual into the site and encourage action.

Audience: general public and those wanting information on the US Census. Many details are included in an easy to find fashion with and interactive design to associate with information searches.

Business goals: this site is more of the public service / government and urges participation in the US Census activities.

Technologies: CSS, Flash video, HTML, RSS, widgets connectivity.  Video is well placed and engaging action.

Similarities to others: Video story elements and website presence, color emphasis of font selections, breadcrumb trails are designed for each specifically with schemes of the websites.

Government – Seattle Public Libraries

http://www.spl.org

Seattle Public Libraries is a direct connection to citizens and local libraries across the city. The header offers the ability to log on to an account and search functions are clearly demonstrated. The design is steeped in navigation including events, jobs listings, news, tours, homework help, podcasts which all have excellent audience ties. The Audience designation is one of the important elements to the website with both header and sidebar designations encouraging engagement for the visitor. One element which was poor was the color scheme of the main header where blue-grey is used with blue grey fonts and is very difficult to read.

Audience: any Seattle citizen or visitor that wants public library information, data, research and services. Audience received emphasis in two major methods on a bold heading for separation into group listing by age, interests, etc. and side bar was an excellent draw for audience engagement.

Business goals: the businesses can select and receive information similar to any database with connection and links to e-news and the City of Seattle. Library card resource and application information.

Technologies: HTML, RSS, video, widget connections.

Similarities: Bold graphic font on Welcome (but color scheme difficult to read at times), a resource for public to engage in public services, event listings news. Interactivity was present in all sites especially in the SPL where ” homework help ” was a extremely positive design element.

Government – Puget Sound Partnership

The Puget Sound Partnership – http://www.psp.wa.us 

is a consortium of local governments with the prime mission to assist all efforts to make Puget Sound a healthy body of water. ” Our Sound, our community, our chance” is quite direct in the assessment of this mission by agencies tied to water quality, the environment, localism efforts which are demonstrated on the website. The tie made to the Media site is evident and is customized for the inclusion of a link to the PBS documentary Poisoned Waters which outlines what is taking place in storm water runoff into Elliot Bay in Seattle. Labels off the header are clear and emphasize direct action items for a visitor in supporting the Partnership’s goals with volunteering and other activities to be taken in this region-wide effort. Puget Sound Starts Here.org is a non-profit campaign which includes mainstream media outreach and ways to connect to local activities outlined in the Partnerships Action Agenda. Of the sites in this genre , this is local, user friendly, clear in content and creative. The design for services is excellent with good touch points all emphasizing localism to key into a person’s efforts and energies in environmental activism.

Audience: general public and any environmental activist, non-profit, community organization, scientist, fishers, visitors, and businesses involved in waterways and Puget Sound.

Business goals: any business applications for environmental information, volunteerism, and involvement with local organizations for Puget Sound clean-up.

Technologies: HTML, RSS, video, widget connection.

Similarities: the site is very much using 2010 trends in design with bold graphic interactivity elements for immediate user engagement. Sketches and hand-drawn design was one difference which was obvious and works to associate public interaction.