Lupton Text

"The dominant subject of our age has become neither reader nor writer but user, a figure conceived as a bundle of needs and impairments—cognitive, physical, emotional."(73)

I thought the N.E.R.D. website communicated their message well and enhanced user interaction through the use of design, text and layout.

NERD Homepage (http://www.n-e-r-d.com/?content=home)
 N.E.R.D is a hip hop, funk and rock band started by Pharrell Williams. The band is all about being youthful, energetic, and creative. Users can feel those vibes when visiting this website from the video game-like graphics. The pixelated text at the top gives off a retro feeling. Upon entering the site, users are met by a video game animation of a gorilla chasing the NERD band members. This is engaging and it draws people in as if they are the ones playing the game, which may bring back old memories for some.  It definitely enhances the user experience and communicates the band's energy well.

The site is user friendly as it is easy to navigate. The bright colors and different backgrounds all give off the essence of the band and their music.

"The impatience of the digital reader arises from culture, not from the essential character of display technologies."

Media culture today is dominated by visual sensations. People are drawn to interesting photos, color combination, and layout. And then, secondly, they are drawn to the actual message. Media culture today is very superficial. Media must have a good outer appearance if they want people to pay attention to the 'inside' (message).

An example of a website that does this is CW TV.  A  TV station of course would have a website dominated by visuals and interactive media, rather than words.

Users today are so impatient and would much rather look at pictures than read. It's easier and users pick up the message faster. Thus graphics and photos occupy the majority of the space on websites such as these.

-christine o

LUPTON II: TEXT (Starter Post)

Reading the second section of Ellen Lupton's book "Thinking With Type," hopefully the section about "Birth of the User" (Pg. 73-76) http://www.elupton.com/index.php?id=38 caught your eye, as it is very relevant to what is going on today with the emergence of the Internet.

"The dominant subject of our age has become neither reader nor writer but user, a figure conceived as a bundle of needs and impairments—cognitive, physical, emotional. Like a patient or child, the user is a figure to be protected and cared for but also scrutinized and controlled, submitted to research and testing." (73)

Objective: Pick out one website where the user interaction is crucial in the communication of the message that the website and/or organization is trying to convey. Keeping in mind everything we've talked about in lectures, classes, and information found in the Lupton book, how does the current design enhance the user experience and why? Or how does the current design provide "creative interference" and ruins the user experience?

Bonus:
"The impatience of the digital reader arises from culture, not from the essential character of display technologies."

In your opinion, describe our media culture today and how it affects the way we will have to display content now and in the future?

Note: You probably will want to take a screen capture or add a link to your selected website.

Screen capture on a MAC:
Apple Key(Command) + Shift + 3
Screen capture on a PC:
Hit the "Print Screen" button (usually found on the top right of the keyboard). Then paste into your favorite image editing program (photshop, paint, etc.) and save the file as a jpeg.