I. Aedas

I. Aedas http://www.aedas.com/

Navigation:

On the home page, there are 8 different categories. Hierarchy only happen when certain category is selected because the selected category will highlight with color. The color identifies the location of the site so people can navigate the site with clear way finding. The heading is always at the same spot, which allow people to go back and forth. This website is really easy to navigate.

Architecture:

The Aedas website is very well structured. By looking at the number of the category that was given on the menu bar, people already have a sense of the complexity of the company. However, the website was organized very clearly, there is no additional navigation for individual category. The website is designed for people to see all previous categories so they can change the selection any time during navigation. This is a really good way of organizing and showing the services the company offer. If the additional information about the company shows on the additional navigator, people tend not go back to the previous navigator to see other choice. Therefore, only the “contact us” menu link to additional navigator. There is no need to have all menus when already decided to contain the company.

Content / Typography:

What you see is what you get. There is nothing distracting or confusing. The typography is simple that people can easily understand and know where and what. The heading seems like subordinate, the whole focus is on the images and the content. It is important for 3D visual field.

Grid / Structure:

Overall the site structure stays consistent. The heading and the main menu stay at the same location throughout the whole navigation experience. The content adjusts according to the amount of the information; however, they all stay within similar grid system, text on the left and images on the right. There is no dramatic change that confuses people.

Iconography / Imagery:

Since this is the website of an architecture firm, visual elements are really important for people to understand the purpose and the task of the company. The organization of the images is very simple and easy to see. Only the home page contains more than one images; majority of the pages contain only one to two big images per page and with small snap shot on the bottom to show there are more images for specific project. After the first look of the website, the only confusion of the site is the icon of the company. It looks like an upward pointing arrow. Didn’t know it could not be click until try.

Color Palette:

The website has a very precise color selection. Darker side of the grey scale is the main color scheme of the website; therefore, the texts are in the contrast color, white. Of the entire website, the only color elements are the company logo and the project samples. By clicking on each sample, it brings people to see more detail of the project. The logo color is in light seagreen, which also decided the color scheme of the site. Light seagreen becomes the highlight color of the sample box and the identification of the location of the site.

Site Focus:

The website shows the obvious purpose of the company. It is selling design. The website treats everyone as a potential client. There is everything people need to understand what service the company offer and where and how to contact. The only thing that disturbed me is the logo. It seems like it could be clicked to go to another link. I am not sure whether it is the location of the logo that is confusing or the design of the logo. I think if the logo is relocated next to the name of the firm. Maybe people would not be confused and it will be obvious that it is a logo not an arrow.