As a continuation of focus week work, I decided to consider the website of a landscape practice and the success with which they present themselves:
I found this practice through the directory on the LI's website, and while initially interested by what appeared to be a sharp website with plenty of effects, I soon realised that beauty was only skin deep. But what is the purpose of a landscape architect's website?
Well, to start with they are trying to reach an audience. This is how they attract possible clientele and it's how they present themselves as a company in what is currently one of the most important aspects of the business world: 'The Internet'. If anyone wants to know anything about the company, the website is where they will go. As such a website needs to portray the company in it's best possible light, and there are certain points that it must cover.
Obviously the basics need to be there: good formating, company profile, portfolio of works, contact details, a list of the services they provide, a mission statement, and a list of employees. These things should give a complete picture of a company, allowing people to understand what level of service they provide and their general work ethics and aspirations. The most important of these though, are the format of the website (the first impression), and the portfolio of works, which people will peruse to get an idea of quality in concept, design and build.
Looking at the website of Barnes Walker, my interest was initially captured by the glossy presentation, which charms you with James Bond style moving graphics and makes you feel as if you are entering a website with a difference. This company appears to offer you a technologically advanced solution, and that they might bring something of their sharp style to your project. It does seem to miss out on personality and design though and feels a bit clinical in nature, which is something that follows through the entire website.
Their first and most important link is the company portfolio, and it is here that they have begun to show real deficiency. Again surrounded by lush graphics, they present images of their work - and what a poor collection. If they wanted to back up their techy website with good work, then they could have at least made the most of their work with a talented professional photographer. As it is they seem to have taken the photos with a low resolution office camera, and this really shows their work to poor effect. Then on top of this the manner in which the images change on the screen plays havoc with your eyes as they blur slowly into focus. They also have a very limited number of work type examples and the examples they do have appear very mainstream. Of course this is partly because of the lack of photographic skill and much could be done to improve this. The images are also very small and don't give you a very good scope of understanding.
Under profile you will find both the company profile and their list of services, which extend far greater than landscape architecture, but none of which are mentioned further in this website. Also the graphic qualities change again on this page and give us an abstract and incomprehensible image that provides a backdrop to a rather boring summary, offering no more information than is supplied on their company profile in the LI directory. Their news page is exactly what you might expect and just gives some company status updates. The contact page is the same and offers the base line information, which is perfectly acceptable, but then they add another eye shuddering graphical gimmick. And finally, they complete the collection with a really good idea, a client membership area, that allows you to watch the progress of your project regularly updated.
Overall, I would say that they have the right idea with a good framework, but they really need to support their gimmicky site with some superb photographic material, both in the portfolio and throughout the site. Landscape really just isn't various shades of blue! They desperately need to expand their profile, maybe with images of work colleagues, which will give site visitors a feeling of personal connection with the team and also goes a long way to showing the team how much the boss values them and their work. And finally, they have a great idea with this work in progress page, but surely it would be an even better tool if everyone could view the progress on work sites. In a way doubling the portfolio by adding a side of their work that clients would appreciate knowing in advance.
I'm sure this is a perfectly good company, but considering that this is their most important way of portraying themselves in a modern world, they really could do better.
Well, to start with they are trying to reach an audience. This is how they attract possible clientele and it's how they present themselves as a company in what is currently one of the most important aspects of the business world: 'The Internet'. If anyone wants to know anything about the company, the website is where they will go. As such a website needs to portray the company in it's best possible light, and there are certain points that it must cover.
Obviously the basics need to be there: good formating, company profile, portfolio of works, contact details, a list of the services they provide, a mission statement, and a list of employees. These things should give a complete picture of a company, allowing people to understand what level of service they provide and their general work ethics and aspirations. The most important of these though, are the format of the website (the first impression), and the portfolio of works, which people will peruse to get an idea of quality in concept, design and build.
Looking at the website of Barnes Walker, my interest was initially captured by the glossy presentation, which charms you with James Bond style moving graphics and makes you feel as if you are entering a website with a difference. This company appears to offer you a technologically advanced solution, and that they might bring something of their sharp style to your project. It does seem to miss out on personality and design though and feels a bit clinical in nature, which is something that follows through the entire website.
Their first and most important link is the company portfolio, and it is here that they have begun to show real deficiency. Again surrounded by lush graphics, they present images of their work - and what a poor collection. If they wanted to back up their techy website with good work, then they could have at least made the most of their work with a talented professional photographer. As it is they seem to have taken the photos with a low resolution office camera, and this really shows their work to poor effect. Then on top of this the manner in which the images change on the screen plays havoc with your eyes as they blur slowly into focus. They also have a very limited number of work type examples and the examples they do have appear very mainstream. Of course this is partly because of the lack of photographic skill and much could be done to improve this. The images are also very small and don't give you a very good scope of understanding.
Under profile you will find both the company profile and their list of services, which extend far greater than landscape architecture, but none of which are mentioned further in this website. Also the graphic qualities change again on this page and give us an abstract and incomprehensible image that provides a backdrop to a rather boring summary, offering no more information than is supplied on their company profile in the LI directory. Their news page is exactly what you might expect and just gives some company status updates. The contact page is the same and offers the base line information, which is perfectly acceptable, but then they add another eye shuddering graphical gimmick. And finally, they complete the collection with a really good idea, a client membership area, that allows you to watch the progress of your project regularly updated.
Overall, I would say that they have the right idea with a good framework, but they really need to support their gimmicky site with some superb photographic material, both in the portfolio and throughout the site. Landscape really just isn't various shades of blue! They desperately need to expand their profile, maybe with images of work colleagues, which will give site visitors a feeling of personal connection with the team and also goes a long way to showing the team how much the boss values them and their work. And finally, they have a great idea with this work in progress page, but surely it would be an even better tool if everyone could view the progress on work sites. In a way doubling the portfolio by adding a side of their work that clients would appreciate knowing in advance.
I'm sure this is a perfectly good company, but considering that this is their most important way of portraying themselves in a modern world, they really could do better.
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