II. B+H (Bregman + Hamann Architects)

II. B+H (Bregman + Hamann Architects) http://www.bharchitects.com/

Navigation:
The website starts with a flash introduction of the company. Both clicking on “skip” or wait until it end, it will bring people to the home page of the website. The website has a simple and clear layout for people to see their choices. There are 7 different categories and each categories have sub-categories. There is no strong hierarchy. Nothing is really distracting nor has additional navigator. Everything seems have equal significance and move really smoothly. However, when click on the navigation links, the look of the link does not change. That is hard for some people to remember, which link had been visited and which have not. The heading and the home link are always on the left top corner, which allow people to go back to home page if needed.
Architecture:
B+H’s website is really well structured. From looking at the number of the category and sub-category that was given on the menu bar, people already have a sense of the complexity of the company. People can understand the company and know what kind of service the company offers. Every single piece of information is well design and structured to fit into the page. There is no additional link appearing throughout the whole navigation of the website. It is good to keep the website clean and comprehensible; however, it lacks some excitement and weak interaction with people.
Content / Typography:
The simplicity of the typography gives people good impression on the company. However, there is no hierarchy of the typography apparent to catch people’s attention. Since this is the website of an architecture firm, maybe the construction process of the most recent project could be the highlight of the website. It could appear as a diary, which is updated every few weeks. In that way the website could attract more potential clients. The heading is more prominent than anything else due to its simplicity. It is also the only location with white background; therefore it stands out. It contains the company logo and the menu bar, which is important for people to navigate around the site.
Grid / Structure:
The structure and the color of the site stayed consistent throughout. The consistency of the pages allows people to navigate throughout the site without any difficulties. The website is to promote an architecture firm; therefore, the focal point of the page always on images that is how people understand the projects, the style of the company, and the ability of the firm.
Iconography / Imagery:
For most cases, the images become the background of the site. It gives some texture and color to the site. The amount of the images is well controlled. There are more photos to help people visualize the project when the page is about a specific project. B + H is the icon and also the name of the company, but people won’t know what B and H stand for until they click on “who we are”. The color of the logo also plays an important role. It is the color scheme of the whole website. It almost becomes the identity of the company.
Color Palette:
This website also has a very precise color selection. Steel blue is the company logo color. Transparent teal is the overlay color on the top of the background image. On the top of the teal color, the texts are white, which stands out really obviously. The image behind the teal color does not distract the viewers; however, it gives some texture to the website. The teal color information strip could be closed when people want to see the whole view of the images. The movement makes the website even more interactive. Median grey tone color is an additional color that only appears on the project region maps and it becomes the menu background color, which still keeps the text in the contrast color, white. The clear graphic and color palette make the whole website and the company more welcoming for potential clients.
Site Focus:
The website is obviously an architecture firm with clear principle. The website is not design to sell anything beside their identity. It seems more self-centered; nothing on the website allows people to link to other websites. Perhaps under each project, the contractor or developer could be mentioned and linked; this would give even more depth to the website. Overall the website is really successful, especially the use and the significance of the icon/logo. It brings the whole website together to create a sense of entity.

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.