Website
- Hong
Kong Students at the University of Toronto
(2005)
As one of the largest student society for Hong Kong
students at the University of Toronto, the Hong Kong
Students at the University of Toronto (HKS@UT) were
looking for a website in which to communicate its latest
news and events to its members. Due to this frequent
need for updates, the website was to be designed with
flexibility in mind.
The
solution was a design that was chiefly text based with
the use of graphics limited to places which were not
to be changed often. Thus, in the design process, much
attention was given to the relationship the staple graphic
of the design was to have with any information that
was to be placed on it.
The
index page was left with a large amount of white space
which could be used to post updates and other information.
The blandness of the design also allowed flexibility
in the information being posted, as there is no concern
on whether it will match with the existing design.
Perhaps
most striking about the design is its verticality. The
entire focus is on a thin strip that extends from the
top of the page down to a height which is governed by
the amount of information that is to be presented. The
space also allows for a mixture of media to be placed
within it, allowing for maximum adaptability. Navigation
throughout the website is via a navigation bar at the
bottom of the space. Its placement strengthens the vertical
elements of the design, with a narrow gray horizontal
strip at its end that marks the end of the page subtly.
In
terms of aesthetics, the HKS@UT website takes on a design
similar to the business
card. This not only
allows for consistency in design, but also strengthens
the sense of organization of the society. A dark blue
background creates a strong contrast to the main body
of information for the website.
Upon
completion, the design was passed over towards the Information
Technology Department for updating and maintenance.
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