So I have been working on this design http://goo.gl/n9uoj

 

We have established with the client that:

The website will target mainly age group 50+, but they have younger audience, too.

Colour scheme, design, look and feel is decided on.

They would like a modern grid layout.

 

I had my doubts on the grid layout, and if the 50+ age group will find it easy to use and comfortable.

Surprisingly, after I have spoken with a few people in this age group and have shown them the design, they all instantly recognised what the website is about, how to navigate, and one thing they like in particular is that it isn't cluttered with useless information.

They instantly knew who the company was and how to contact them if needed.

 

So I am thinking:

Do you find the design easy to understand and navigate?

Do you find it appealing to the younger age group, too?

Is there anything I can do to enhance the user experience, but keep it simple and easy?

Do I need to introduce a third (accent) colour to highlight some important elements, like the Holiday search form? Or do you think it is good enough as it is?

 

Let me know your thoughts will be much appreciated.

 

Edit: Please note the logo and their ads are work of another designer.

Edited March 22, 201313 yr by teodora

Hi, Teodora.

 

A very nice site as always From my brief opinion, it's nice and current in terms of layout. The navigation looks pretty simple and effective if the navigation menu doesn't have drop downs - even easier for certain demographics.

 

I've shown a few people in your 50+ field. Quite a few of them were a bit perplexed with the layout - not knowing where to look first but they said 'it looks very professional' and asked if I did it. To which I replied, "of course!" One of them said that they felt the 'contact box' at the upper right was a bit small. These 'designer' opinions are from a group of mostly women at a college. The majority are over 50 but there were a couple of 30 somethings too.

 

I don't know if that helps or not - they sometimes give me the laymans terms on some of my stuff. Always a kick to the jewels when they say "oh - it's very nice. Could you add a bit more light blue to it?" - regardless of the site/illustration etc...! They do like their powder blue!

Thank you so much for taking the time to show it to other people

I see, that is what I was afraid of, that people might not be comfortable with the layout.

I might need to have a think, but do you think it will be better if I change the 5 columns grid to 4 columns? Then all will be a bit bigger.

Hope that makes sense.

Just to let you know that I emailed them again. Once I get a response I'll let you know. They're really helpful for these sorts of things so hopefully they will have a look during lunch or something. Oh - I asked them about the 4 or 5 grid layout too.

Wow, thank you so so much I am going to post another draft when I finish it.

I've just had a quick chat with them. Since the original chat, they've warmed to it a bit more. I took a screenshot of your link so what they were viewing was quite blurred and they had blown it up by 300% or something silly like that. Now they know what it looks like as a whole, they like it.

 

When asked about the column layout, the majority said that the existing column base was fine 'as you can clearly see everything on screen'. They also agreed on the navigation being effective. The 'it looks very professional'. cropped up again, so that's always a good sign. Obviously this isn't a focus group of any sorts (my mother is amongst them - hence the quick responses ). Their backgrounds are varied but they are all basically in the education field, but none of them 'know' about websites, so nothing biased. Of course, if they thought I did the site, it would be biased!

 

Hope it helps!

Thanks again 4li4s, I had a quick think and I have decided to add a third colour.

I have 3 drafts now - 1st original one, 2nd and 3rd, which have 4 columns and also a third colour.

 

http://dribbble.s3.amazonaws.com/users/164962/screenshots/996346/attachments/117088/home-purple.jpg

http://dribbble.s3.amazonaws.com/users/164962/screenshots/996346/attachments/117087/home-pinky-tan.jpg

 

Not so sure about the pinky tan colour, my favourite is the purple blueish lavender design, because it says we are here to cater for 50+, but we don't forget our younger clients, we are modern and our services are of higher quality. Or I hope I am not mistaken lol

 

My "50+" have said that it has everything they needed. General feedback also was the site looks like the company services are good, trustworthy and they would book a holiday with them, which is the bottom line of what we aim for.

 

It helps a lot, thank you very much for taking the time to do that Great to hear the site looks professional, this is always a great comment

 

OK, on the various age groups - would you book with this company, if you were on their website?

My favourite would have to be the purple. It instills trust and has an elegance about it. As you've said, it will appeal to the younger market as well. I won't go off on one about colour representation but I think it is a safe bet. Not to say that the other choices don't work, just my preference and the good old 'purple royalty'.

 

I can only go with my opinion of course, but I would book with this company. From my point of view, I'd like to see the page for when you click on one of the holidays - i.e. the form etc... The amount of sites I've used that then redirect you through numerous pages before you can fill in your details has caused me to cancel the process in the past. From memory, lastminute.com was like that. Loved their style, loved their offers, but as soon as it came to putting in my details, the page they used looked like an after thought. Because the offer was so good, I did use them, but called them up instead. Much easier, if a little long winded.

 

Other than that, I'd use a site such as this

Yes, thank you, this is definitely a very good point.

I strongly suspect I will need all my persuasive abilities on this one, but will give it my best try.

 

I don't know, most sites where you book holidays are so unclear, unbelievable.

I think your design speaks volumes so you shouldn't need to be that persuasive. I don't have to tell you how clients can be, but this will be great

 

Surprisingly, some of the best places we've booked holidays with have been the most dullest sites you could imagine aesthetically, but 'design wise', they have been brilliant as they have solved a problem: where's the cheapest flight to... and I want to book it. Now!

Yes, the problem is I don't know how involved I will be in the actual booking process, but will try to be as much as I can. They use 3rd party process, so we'll see

Liking the look but I'm on the pinkey path myself. The pink is higher contrast and says 'i'm important' to the user.

Just thought i'd interrupt your conversation to slip a word in ... carry on

Thank you very much, your opinion is important

 

I plan to send all 3 drafts to the client, then we will discuss again

I do like the design and agree that the pink stands out nicely. One suggestion might be to have the background of the boxes in the grey area connect to the associated photo which would create fewer smaller boxes and perhaps simplify it further. (I hope that makes sense.)

 

I do like that you have the contact information clearly visible and I think that is terribly important to that age group.

 

I'm not 50+ but I have a strong aversion to complicated websites.

I'm not 50+

 

Nor me, though I feel it when I wake up and I do like a nice cuppa tea in my armchair

Yeah, some days I feel 100+ ...

So I said I will post the approved design ad here it is:

http://dribbble.com/shots/996346-Another-project-for-Net-Effect/attachments/123046

 

A bit different than the original

It has changed quite a bit hasn't it - but nothing too drastic I like the the new hover effect on the address details - it makes good use of the space. Will the logo's background remain that shade of green as the final? Not that you asked my opinion, but I'm not so keen on the beaver as a background image. I find it a little distracting. That said, you've retained what stood out in the original designs you showed us and I would still use this site - it's a really nice looking site

I absolutely agree with your points - I have tried to defend my original decisions as much as I could.

I feel the dark background just doesn't work, especially with the faded logo in the background.

Still, it is better than what it went through - you should have seen it

 

Not sure if the logo will be that shade of green, I hope not.

Of course noone is asking for my professional opinion, let's just do this and do that to give it "a bit of an edge".

 

Rant over.

I instantly felt bad about criticising the work you've done after my last post (I mentioned it in another post yesterday about feeling reluctant to say anything as I know how much blood, sweat and tears going into our work). Still, I'm glad you feel the same way. Of course I prefer the white background, but I don't think the darker version is all that bad to be honest. It reminds me of another site - the name escapes my mind - but that's definitely a good thing.

 

It's a nightmare when your client doesn't listen to your opinions. I don't think they realise that the reason we are doing this profession is because we are the experts as such. I suppose doctors feel the same when patients come in self diagnosing and saying what it is they need. Forget the fact that the doctor went through a long education and is the professional in this field. Everyone's an expert these days

You will be delighted to know the design with all the inner pages was approved earlier today

Unfortunately the booking process is a third party, so I didn't have a chance to design it.

 

Thank you for all your help with the design and ux

Excellent news! Well done Judging by your previous posts, designing the booking process may have been more red tape than you needed. All in all - a great result!