For my website I chose playlist.com. It's a music database where users create profiles, upload music, and build their own personal playlists with music from other users' libraries. The website is not very text heavy and it tries to connect the user with the music they are looking for almost instantaneously. On the homepage there is a search bar where users interact with the site by searching for a specific song or artist. Once they have entered their desired subject, a new webpage loads and displays the search results. Users select the result they are looking for and the music plays.
Again, the text on this site is minimal and it really play into the Lupton chapter. "Although many books define the purpose of typography as enhancing the readability of the written word, one of design's most humane functions is, in actuality, to help readers avoid reading" (Lupton 63).
The current design enhances the user's interaction with the site by getting them directly to the music. All they have to do is type in the name of a song or band and instantly they have results that they can listen to. This website is a dynamic website because it "uses databases to build pages on the fly as users search for specific content. Typographic style sheets are used to weight the information gathered, helping users find what they need" (Lupton 99).
This site provides the user with almost total control and self-direction. However, it also catalogues data about what users are listening to and the demographics of those users. For the most part the site can retain the user's attention for as long as the user is interested in listening to music.
Again, the text on this site is minimal and it really play into the Lupton chapter. "Although many books define the purpose of typography as enhancing the readability of the written word, one of design's most humane functions is, in actuality, to help readers avoid reading" (Lupton 63).
The current design enhances the user's interaction with the site by getting them directly to the music. All they have to do is type in the name of a song or band and instantly they have results that they can listen to. This website is a dynamic website because it "uses databases to build pages on the fly as users search for specific content. Typographic style sheets are used to weight the information gathered, helping users find what they need" (Lupton 99).
This site provides the user with almost total control and self-direction. However, it also catalogues data about what users are listening to and the demographics of those users. For the most part the site can retain the user's attention for as long as the user is interested in listening to music.
5 comments:
To start off, I really like your references to the Lupton text and how well they complement the website you chose. I think that you are absolutely right when you say that there isn't as great a need for text because the site it all about music so that is the primary focus. The use of databases definitely "builds pages on the fly," by cataloging music by genre, demographic and "viewership."
Nice analysis
Gabi
I think you did a great job in commenting on the purpose of typography and how sometimes it is not as important at a first glance. Using a website conveys lupton's analysis well because sometimes its more about the presentation and you have to concentrate on making the image clear. good job!
I think that this is a good choice in website for this prompt. Maybe I'm just oblivious, but I hadn't heard of playlist.com so when I read your post, I decided to look at it. Because it isn't as well known as other sites, especially music sites (well, at least it's not well-known to me; that might be because it is a sort-of specialized website but it doesn't matter) then it is important for them to put what you are looking for (the search) right at the top. I'm sure they'd like to put information about their site, company, other ventures, etc. but they realize the need to first get their name out there and make themselves popular enough for the mainstream so they will be able to stray from a playlist-forming website and do other things. I think this fits very well into Lupton's idea.
This was a spot-on site to use as an example of the Lupton text; the layout and design are prime samples of her theories on text versus visuals. As Sarah said, it is more about the presentation, and you did a fine job illuminating that both with your choice in websites and in your analysis.
I really agree that this type of website does not need to use text too strongly. Although Lupton says text is more important, the purpose on this website is to make it easiest for the user to find his/her music and like you said this is achieved better with less words.
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