VII. ASYMPTOTE Architecture

VII. ASYMPTOTE Architecture
http://www.asymptote-architecture.com/

Navigation:
“Where should I go?” is the first reaction after get into the main page. It is a complicated website. It takes long time to understand how to navigate around. The way the website start is already really different from other website I had seem. The main navigator is an additional page; therefore, there is no need of the first intro page. The hierarchy of the website is really not clear and not organizes. All the categories are not list in a clear way. They follow the form of the background image. Some title of the category overlaps each other and no list of sub-category when cursor moves close to the main category. The center of each page change consistently, which create additional confusion and dizziness. There is no “home” link for people to go back to the original page to see other choice. However, after click different icon realize that by click on the “x” (close) will allow people to go back to the home page. I think when the website is really complicated; at least the “home” option should be obvious for people in order to continue navigation.

Architecture:
The structure of the website well illustrates the experiences that the company had. The first glance of the site gives modern impression; however, the content is not clear. The small font size and the location of the primary categories are not well thought out during the design process. The categories are not obvious and hard to read and follow and they are not place on the consistent location. People have hard time to find other categories when they are already in one and no clear direction of how to get back to the selection page. However, the “main menu” was designed and place on the left bottom corner, which are really not noticeable. It takes long time to realize there is the option. The whole website is considered as an additional page. The original intro page happen to just an intro page and home page is additional page, which is really unusual.

Content / Typography:
The website seems like having a unique way of organizing the typography, but it is confusing for people who use it as first time. It is not user friendly. Also the font size is way too small, which creates vibration on the text. That loses the purpose of the text because people cannot read. As an architecture firm’s website even though the structure of the website is bad, the visual elements, the images, are still playing an important role. All the images are with decent size that tells the story. I will recommend simplifying the website that will be a good way to keep people on the site.

Grid / Structure:
Although the website is hard to navigate around, the structure and grid system are consistent throughout the navigation. After understand how the website functions, everything seems much easier; however, the complicity still give a bad impression especially for people who are not good with figuring out stuff. The whole website lets people feel it move around all the time; therefore, people tend not to pay attention on element that are not moving. If pay attention people will realize there is a stable “menu” bottom banner. The banner should be a little bigger because it is not noticeable and it loses it purpose.

Iconography / Imagery:
As other architecture firm’s website, all the images are with decent size, which allows people to understand the project. There are a lot of unnecessary icons, which did not help people to navigate. There are too many small size arrows around the same location. Also almost all the information are cramped to the middle of the page; however, there are still a lot of space around. The spaces should be use wisely. Now the context and images are located at center of the page and allows people to see other categories that are behind, but they are not clickable until the mini navigation window is close. That is really confusing.

Color Palette:
Midnight blue is the main color of the website with small white text. Although they are contrast color, it does not work. Somehow the blue still feel really bright, which does not really do what the contrast color supposes to do as to pop out the text. The blue background conflicts with the white text when the text is small and not bold. However, the blue enhance the images.

Site Focus:
Promoting the architecture firm is the major purpose of the website, which is shown evidently with good quality of images. The weakness of the website is the structure and the organization of the website. Even though the website structure stays consistent, the weakness still makes the website less user friendly. The biggest issue is the size of the font and the space between because that make people’s eye hurt and cannot focus on reading the content.