Showing posts with label cnn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cnn. Show all posts

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Lupton III: Grid

An example of a grid system used on the web is CNN's new website. If you would like to get a better look at how they implement a grid system visit http://www.cnn.com

After reading Lupton's section on grids the system that CNN appears to be using is a multi-column grid. A multi-column grid has a complex hierarchy that integrates text and illustrations. CNN also creates zones for different kinds of content. A modular grid appears to be in place as well. There are consistent horizontal divisions from top to bottom and vertical divisions from left to right.

For the most part their website is effective as it is easy to navigate and engages the reader. I visit CNN's website every day and have to say that I like the new design better. The website prior had one large photo with the most important story to the left of the page. The rest of the information just seemed to fall to the wayside. Now CNN offers more stories at the top of the page by implementing three sections of breaking or important news. There is still a system of hierarchy as less pressing information is found the closer you get toward the bottom of the page.

A horizontal bar labeled "Editor's choice" engages the reader by encouraging you to read through the "top pics" or watch videos. Below the editor's choices are 12 boxes that use a modular grid system. Pretty basic without any pictures. Hierarchy is implemented by breaking up the information by topic and links are given for each story.







Friday, October 2, 2009

Lupton Post #2


ESPN's website is a very interactive website, with many different features. It is very user friendly. ESPN's website has many articles covering various sports. It presents its articles in a way that is not too overwhelming for the viewer of the webpage. It presents the headlines with pictures and bold face type which makes them stand out more to the viewer. Since ESPN covers so many different sports, it layers them into different categories that pop up when you scroll over them. This makes it much easier to navigate the website. In this way, the hierarchy works very well for the website and makes it very user friendly. By giving just enough information about each event on the homepage, it is more effective in grabbing the viewers attention.
ESPN's website follows the idea of big media. Big media nowadays follows the idea of giving less information up front to draw the attention of the viewer or reader.
ESPN's website concept is very similar to CNN's website. CNN also presents the headlines of the day in bold and with pictures to support it and to draw the attention of the viewer. This is a very effective method to use, since your eyes immidiately go towards the bold type and the colorful pictures.