Intriguing Website #4

http://www.logs2u.co.uk/wood-fuel-buying-guide

This is a good example of having a non-typical banner; The logo and menu are a part of the banner but are also separate making it look more dynamic. I will try to incorporate this technique into my own website to make it look less grid-like and boring.

Intriguing Website #3

http://www.logalog.net/index.html

This is a good example of a clean and simple layout and colour scheme. The colour scheme matches the theme of the website well (logs) and it is easy to navigate and find the information required.

CSS Expressions Library

CSS Expressions Library

(Please click the image to view)

NB Table is shown as an image due to formatting issues with Blogger.com

HTML/XML/XHTML Expressions Library

HTML/XML/XHTML Expressions Library

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NB Written in Word and pasted in as an image due to Blogger not accepting HTML tags written as normal text.

Intriguing Website #2

The second website design/layout which caught me eye is the Adobe website (mainly for the Photoshop/Creative suite pages). They have unique layouts and use Flash to create a level of interaction on the web pages from the User which makes them more enjoyable to use than the average web page.

Although they do use conventional layouts to an extent (logo at the top of the page, menu bar underneath), they have used spread out and artistic methods for displaying information about their Creative Suite products. They use Flash to create movement of objects on the screen when the User interacts with them (usually by hovering with the mouse).

I think these designs are very artistic but not necessarily the most intuitive for the User, as they do not completely follow the most generic of design/layout standards of the web. I don't think I would use Flash to this extent myself as I realise it is not supported by all browsers, and may not be supported at all by mobile browsers (I would expect that Adobe have accommodated mobile device User's with an alternative). I do think it can make a web page more vibrant and exciting, especially in giving it more interaction and movement, but it does not necessarily make it more User-friendly. In the case of Adobe it seems appropriate for them to use Flash on their website however, as it is one of their products and they are therefore demonstrating what it is capable of - a good selling technique!

So I think the website overall has a very unique design, with lots of movement and interaction. I wouldn't necessarily design my websites like this using Flash, but some of the effects (fade in menus) provide the website with a professional look and feel, and can be done using JavaScript/JQuery just as easily.