SECTION COMMENTS
Dinara Musina Saakib Zafrani Landon Briggs Special Events Strengths: The events page is a window of opportunity for viewers to become aware of the activities that the organization sponsors. It jumps off the page and gets attention effectively.The use of color guides the viewers toward the text.
Weaknesses: All the information provided is useful but is cluttered.The clutter creates difficulty for the viewers to comprehend the text. It is not cohesive because it is not organized in a calendar format with past events and future ones represented chronologically. There is no navigation bar on the side for the description of the activities. It is not updated frequently.
Recommendations: There should be descriptions of past and future events alike under the navigation bar tab with pictures. There should be calendar format for the listing of events on the page. There should be short news articles describing events which are not included at all in the present “Special Events” webpage. The side navigation option to see these descriptions, news articles, and pictures should be called “Features.”Also, have a link to the Kenteska Plantation venue information inside the “Special Events” webpage. The Hudson Family Foundation Team of Friends should be transferred to the initial page where the viewer first is led after clicking on “Special Events.” There should be feedback options available so that the viewer can participate in a two way conversation between viewers and the foundation in order to create a sense of community. These details are useful to include so that potential contributors as well as potential volunteers can have a better understanding on the foundation’s work.
Hudson Family Foundation Website Critique: Functionality
Jordan Burton Emily Hogan Richard Lawrence Erika Ludwig Victoria Ransburg
Strengths Overall organization of the website Clear understanding of what the website is about and what it represents Security functions on the website, especially regarding online donations. Clickandpledge.com is a secure site for people to donate and the site also provides information regarding the process. All of the drop down menus on the homepage are in good working order and they are repeated at the bottom for easy navigation. The ‘How you can help’ section appears on every page that is visited, this is when being repetitive on a website is a good thing, especially since this is a non-profit organization that relies on help from others. The light colored font on the dark colored background make all of the information and links on the website easy to read and navigate.
Weaknesses There are too many links at the top and bottom of the page that could be confusing to a visitor of the website. The photo gallery page is too cluttered. The focus of the website is blurry at times, the visitor needs to be aware what the purpose is, especially since this is a non-profit and the organization is asking for their help. The events page is too cluttered. Although it is important to notify visitors of upcoming events, the flyer for the Country Spectacular open each time the homepage is visited may seem overwhelming to some visitors. The ‘Volunteer’ page that is in conjunction with the ‘Get Involved’ link is not organized in a way that makes it functional for the visitors. There is not any way for a visitor to add their email address to a mailing list or register with the website.
Suggestions to improve the functionality Link functionality Proper use of link function is very important for users when navigating a website. Links should be easy to find, and when clicked they should go exactly where the user expects them to go. This will increase the likelihood that users will return to visit the website. The link functions used throughout the Hudson Family Foundation site are organized well making them easy to read and easy to find. The Web site makes great use of drop down menus. There does not appear to be any broken links or redirecting links. However, the navigational links also present the following issues: Main navigational links cause observation overload Footer navigation is repetitive Users may become confused about their current page
Main Navigation. From a user’s perspective the Hudson Family Foundation should consider consolidating their links to make better use of white space in the main navigation bar. We suggest combining the following links, programs, events, get involved and our supporters, into a single drop down menu instead of being separate menu links.
Footer Navigation. We would like to propose reducing the number of links in the footer area to only three: about us, contact us and how you can help along with a site index[1] link. The remaining links could be organized as a site index in an easy to read format.
Current Page. When navigating the Hudson Family Foundation Web site we were unable to see any way of knowing which page we were currently visiting. This can sometimes happen if the page title does not match the navigational link title. Because many websites are organized in different ways, lacking such a function can both confuse and frustrate the user. For example, if I am visiting a drop down link within the about us menu, highlighting the about us link will remind users of where they are in the Web site. An example of this can be found at http://www.purplenerdz.com.
[1] Site index- like the index of a book, the site index lists all of the links and sub-links within a website. Unlike the index of a book, this page does not have to be in alphabetical order.
Photo Gallery Functionality This is a separate link on the website which a good thing. According to Useable Web, an online source for tips on website usability, graphics should be used sparingly. In fact, Useable Web states that visitors often skip the graphics to get to the information. (Useableweb.com) Visitors to your site want to see what you are doing because they want to know that the money and time they are donating is actually going to a good cause. Having this section is good, but organization is key to making it more functional. This site is about the Foundation, so what we suggest is moving the sections of photos that are about Tim down to the bottom of the page.
Purpose of the Website is blurred at times The most important item on this website is helping children; people will want to see that first. The line between Tim’s career and the Foundation’s purpose is blurred at times in this section and throughout the website. In order to keep the website functional and professional, the information should be strictly focused on the Foundation itself. The website needs to focus on the achievements, goals and events of the Foundation. A suggestion for clearing up these blurry lines would be to have a special section that updates the visitors about Tim’s career. This will also make fans of the Foundation and fans of Tim feel more like they are apart of the Hudson Family.
Events Page Organization This page is important so those interested can see what is coming up regarding the Foundation. This page is cluttered and a suggestion for cleaning it up would be to reorganize it to look like a calendar. This way a visitor can see what is going on as a whole, and they can plan accordingly. Adding a calendar can make this page more user-friendly and functional. This can also help for when you need volunteers. For each event listed, there can be a link underneath that allows a visitor to click it and sign up to volunteer, donate money or even host it. The flyer for the Country Spectacular is great, but it is not in the right place. It should appear with the other events. Making it the first thing a visitor sees when accessing the homepage can be an annoyance and if they want more information, it does not appear on the events page. Since this event is important to the Foundation, we suggest putting an ad at the very top of the page. That way the event will be advertised and link it to the events page so the visitor can see more information on it and view other up coming events.
Volunteer Page organization This page is an important page to the Foundation and this page feels like an afterthought. A suggestion would be to combine this page with the events page. This page could also be more of an informative page, showing visitors what you are doing as an organization. If that route is taken, keeping the photos at the bottom is a good thing, but try adding one and aligning the pictures across the bottom horizontally and then making them links to other photos in the gallery.
Personalization Functionality There is not an area for visitors to add their email addresses to a mailing list so they can get updates on what is going on with the foundation. There could also be an area for visitors to register with the website, this might make it easier and help visitors feel more secure about donating money. It could also make it easier for people to sign up for volunteer opportunities and hosting events. This way there is a database of people and events all in one place and it’ll make it easier for your event coordinator to schedule and see who is involved. Also, maybe adding a function that allows visitors to put in their cell phone numbers and receive text updates for events or goals that the foundation achieves.
Conclusion We feel that this website overall is functional, but there a few areas that could improve this website and make it easier for the visitor. The recommendation will allow this site to be more functional for your visitors and help the Foundation achieve their goals.
References http://www.usableweb.com
Define Requirements for a Web Site: Documenting Business, Content, Functional and Technical Requirements by Barb Mosher http://www.useabilityfirst.com http://www.purplenerdz.com
Overall Image Introduction: Overall the site looks very professional. The fact that Tim Hudson is one of the founders makes the site more marketable. The few areas to consider revision would be the lengthiness of the personal biographies, the lack of clarity of the mission statement, and ambiguousness of who the foundation intends to help. Adding more detail in these areas will enhance the overall effectiveness of the site. In regards to the children, there needs to be more consideration of who the foundation intends to help and how the organization impacts their lives. A suggestion to develop this aspect would be to add a special section solely dedicated to the children the organization reaches out to. Strengths: Tim Hudson’s semblance as a celebrity philanthropist is an excellent asset to both the website and the organization as a whole. Hudson’s reputation as a distinguished pitcher for the Atlanta Braves brings much marketability to the agency. Name recognition is a plus when affiliates are searching for an organization to invest their resources. Another strong point of the site is the ’About Us” section. It is very detailed which gives users a clear depiction of the organization’s executives. In addition to its positive marketability, the site is also very user friendly. Weaknesses: Overall the site was very well put together, however, there are a few areas in which to consider revision. The mission statement is very concise, but it does not elaborate on the function of the organization. The specific role the agency plays in impacting the lives of children is a little ambiguous. Although Hudson’s professional career enhances the marketability of the organization, less emphasis should be placed in this area and more emphasis placed on the children. The objective of a non-profit web site is to give as much information as possible about their targeted outreach. This will give the potential donors more insight of how their proceeds would be allocated. Also, more focus should be given to the types of children the organization aids and the manner in which the aid is disbursed. Recommendations: The mission statement should be expanded in detail, or a separate location on the page should be allotted, where a detailed description of the mission is visible. Tim Hudson’s personal biography is a bit lengthy and should be consolidated. As a suggestion, adding a link on the Hudson biography could direct the users to either the Brave’s homepage or a personal page on Tim Hudson that would display the most up to date statistics on Tim’s professional career. A final recommendation would be to add a special section for the children. A suggested title could be “Kids Corner” and this section would have information, images, and anecdotes on the children’s lives the organization impacts. Three helpful guidelines to keep in mind when formulating the overall image of this site should be: The site clearly states a comprehensive mission of the organization. The site clearly identifies the targeted recipients. The site addresses the potential questions a prospective donor or affiliate may have pertaining to the organization
PROJECT TEAM
Overall Image Angie McCormick Jeff Allen Quamekqa Brandon
Web Design Group Members: Brittany Graham, Corrine N’Guessan, Brandy Wilson, Orane Smith
Our focus was analyzing the Hudson Family Foundation website on its overall web design. After evaluating the foundations website, we feel the foundations website currently has many good qualities, but can be enhanced. In this critique, we looked at the following web design categories: Font Color Scheme Logo Pictures Layout and Margins Menu Buttons
Based on the weaknesses, there are several ideas that need room for improvement of the overall web design. First, the that the actual colors should be replaced by bright and bold colors in order to be more appealing for donors and to reflect its major goal (help the children), the web site’s colors should be both formal and fun. We thought a photo gallery with some of the pictures on the site would be a great way to organize and categorize the photos used on the site. The Make a Wish foundation (www.wish.org) utilizes a photo gallery method that has their photos grouped together by similar stories. The layout of the design was another strength, it was very easy to navigate and it’s easy to find anything you want to know about the foundation. The website font should be fun, creative and easy to read, or maybe a font that looks like a kid made it. This simple thing is a good way of enhancing the creativity of children and to increase the number of donors. Color Scheme should be formal and fun Pictures should be but in photo gallery for easy navigation Font should be fun, creative, and easy to read Despite the weaknesses, there were many positive aspects to the Hudson Family Foundation website. We really liked the logo, as it gives off a good, warm feeling to donors visiting the site. It was a nice touch that the logo looked like a child drew it and that it contained children. We also thought the bats that come together to make a cross, was a clever way of combining the three most important principles of the foundation, children, the faith-based aspect, and Tim’s career as a baseball player. We also thought the photos of the children were great, and reminded us a lot of the Ronald McDonald house website (http://rmhc.org). Both charities focus on children and it provides a great way for donors to see who their money is going to and how it was being used. To summarize the strengths of the site were: The logo: It is visually appealing and effectively describes the important principles of the foundation. The photos: There were many great pictures of children that are being served by the foundation and that are what donors want to see. The layout: The site was very easy to navigate and simple to find things on.
The overall design of the website is good. These recommendations will help bring the design of the website more in sync with the purpose. Another website that illustrates this very well is Ben and Jerry’s Homemade Ice Cream (www.benjerry.com). Implementing similar font, color scheme, and layout will help the Hudson Family Foundation’s website to look more fun while still keeping a professional atmosphere. In addition, setting up the menu buttons and margins the same way will help guide viewer’s eyes across the page in a more productive manner. Both websites have a similar audience and purpose, so Ben and Jerry’s design techniques can be used as a good example. The design of the foundation’s website has gotten off to a great start. These suggestions will only help improve the already good look of the website and will help to ultimately attract more donors.
Works Cited www.wish.org http://rmhc.org www.SouthernWebGroup.com www.effective-website-secrets.com www.freelancedesigners.com www.benjerry.com
Visuals/Photo Gallery Critique
Visuals are an essential part of effective web page design. While the cause that a particular organization supports may be what initially attracts viewers to a website, it is proper use of design principles and organization that will keep them there. For the purpose of this report the design principle that will be discussed is consistency. We will explain its importance in making an effective design and also expound on how it increases a website's functionality and usability. This report's second function will be to explain how photography can be used to enhance one's web design when used properly. For the purpose of this report, the Hudson Family Foundation's website will be used as an example.
Web Design Principles Be consistent with your visuals throughout the site By doing so designers will increase the site's overall usability and functionality Consistency is a key element in successful web design. By definition, consistency refers to the reasonable or logical harmony of each part and each of the pages on the website. Consistency is important because it increases the functionality and the usability of the page. Functionality is a design term that refers to how well a particular design or product functions when used by the consumer. Usability is also an extremely important component of a successful web design. It refers to the degree at which an object or piece of software is easy to use without first gaining specific training. In conjunction, both of these elements determine the success of the design. By making sure that there is consistency among the visuals that appear on the site such as the placement of the company logo the foundation will give the company's website a more professional look and feel.
Photo Content
Use a variety of photos to keep viewers interested. Make sure the photos are in alignment with your organization's message. Organizations like the Hudson Family Foundation are often viewed as charitable to people in society. Patrons of the Hudson Family Foundation's website would want to see pictures of the founders. However, it is unnecessary to include the founders in every photo on the website. Instead, the founders should fill the site with more pictures of the children and families who they intend on helping. Pictures of the volunteers who help the organization to run would also appeal to potential sponsors and donators. When used in good taste the photos on this website should enhance it a great deal by showing contributors where their money is going. However, too many photos of the people who created the foundation might send the wrong message to patrons. This should be avoided.
Photo Gallery Photo captions add meaning to pictures and also help viewers understand the action taking place. Use proper orientation when placing photos on the website to give them a professional look and feel.
The photo gallery is divided into several different albums. Each album contains between 12 and 45 photographs. Despite the overall good quality of these photos, many of them lack captions. Captions are a necessary component for such a large, broad photo album because they help viewers to understand what is going on in the pictures. Using captions is a must for an effective design. It is also important to remember to use proper orientation for photos on the web page. If a photo is taken using landscape orientation, then it should be placed that way. This will likely reduce stress on the eyes of the viewers and also give the site a professional look and feel which is generally desired.
The Hudson Family Foundation website is very colorful and full of great information. However, a few small changes of the visuals such as those described above would improve their site. By making these small changes, not only would the site be easier to use and more well organized, but it may also attract more supporters for the organization.
Krystle Campbell, Sonya Washington, Ramona Widmer
Kevin Ksionzyk, Mekiala Anvaripour, Andrew Adelye, Tyler Rhodes
T. Randahl Morris
Group Web Critique: Goals and Projects
12 October 2009
Hudson Family Foundation: Goals and Projects
During this age of technology it is very important for a foundation or company of any kind to have a well focused and easily accessible website. These days, websites may even function as the face of a company. This is the case because nowadays when people need information on anything they normally choose to access a website via an internet search. Additionally, the quality of the website and its ability to answer any questions a site visitor may have is a visitor’s basis for judgment of the company or foundation. Therefore, it is extremely important that the company’s website serves as a testament to the quality of that company, and that it adheres to a set of guidelines that ensure the proper functionality and purpose of the site. Also, the site has to be cutting edge and aesthetically pleasing. Moreover, the goals of the foundation should be evident immediately. Along with the goals of the company, information should be easily available concerning how it is going to achieve those goals. This will positively increase the perception of the company and could result in increased sales, or in the case of the Hudson Family Foundation, increased donations and volunteering. This is especially important for the Hudson Family Foundation when a site visitor is also a potential donator or volunteer.
Strengths of the Website to Convey Goals and Projects
Aspiring goals of the foundation are mentioned
Who benefits from the good works of the foundation is mentioned
It is also evident the foundation needs the help of volunteers and donators
The mission statement, manner, and philosophy sections are concise, making them easy to read
Multiple programs are listed such as the “Take me out to the Ball Game Program” and “The Rookie Reader Program”
Weaknesses of the Website to Convey Goals and Projects & How to Improve Them
The conciseness of the information (mission statement, philosophy, manner) could be viewed as vagueness. Although it may be more info to read, it is more important to have every base covered with no questions left unanswered
More information about the directors and sponsors is needed so people know who they are giving their money to
Ways in which the goals are going to be achieved needs to be more in depth. Volunteers and donators need to be assured their time and money is not being wasted
There should be more photos of the foundation in action because this shows volunteers and donators a good visual representation of their time and money being put to good use
The ultimate purpose of the website should be to outline the goals of the foundation and how the foundation will go about achieving them. Throughout the website it should always focus on these goals. This shows dedication to the foundation’s purpose and is a constant reminder to site visitors why the foundation exists.
Text Usage for the Hudson Family Foundation Website
The Hudson Family Foundation website (Hudsonfamilyfoundation.com) is a moderately successful tool in establishing the foundation and its goals. The website, for the most part, is clear and concise. When using the website, the user can navigate successfully throughout the websites pages and become educated on the Hudson Family Foundation. There are some problems though concerning the website. Though easy to navigate, the website lacks textual substance. Because the sole purpose of the website is to inform people about the Hudson Family Foundation, the website needs to have strength within the text. Therefore, longer and more precise paragraphs need to be used, more consistency in text, and facts and data need to be more organized.
Tim Hudson’s biography page, under “about us”, has a few loose ends. The biography is fairly scattered and inconsistent. There appears to be 4 sections that touch on different aspects of Tim Hudson’s life but the sections subjects overlap. The first is a brief bio of birth to present, focusing mainly on his early career. The second subject (or header) focuses on his personal life. The third subject (or header) focuses on professional highlights as a professional baseball player. The fourth subject (or header) focuses on his community involvement. Within these four subjects truly only exists two subjects, personal and professional life. The bio should only focus on his baseball career and then what he does at home. Everything that Tim Hudson does outside of baseball should be considered his “personal life” because the general public only knows him as a baseball player. Under the “personal life” section, text substance lacks drastically. Personal Tim met his wife Kim while they were students at Auburn University. They were married on October 23, 1999. They have two daughters, Kennedie and Tess, and one son, Kade. They currently live in Peachtree City, Georgia and are building a home in Auburn, Alabama. This is all we get of Tim Hudson’s personal life. This is why all sections of the bio should either be included all together or listed in two subjects, “personal” and “professional”. His community involvement should be included under “personal” as well. This website seems to be very family oriented and solely revolves around Tim and Kim Hudson, therefore, the user needs more info about them in order to fully understand the foundation and those who run it.
Under the section titled “Our Mission” at first the glance, the user probably is expecting a long, professionally written mission statement, listing all values, beliefs, and purpose of the foundation. When the page appears, the text is fairly vague and weak. The mission statement is only two sentences. In order to use professionalism and truly express the foundation’s mission statement, at least a two page document (written professionally) needs to be accessible.
Our Mission The Hudson Family Foundation is committed to making a positive and long lasting impact in the lives of children who have a genuine need for assistance with regard to a specific physical, emotional, or financial circumstance. Not just “our mission” but rather a professional mission statement should be presented. A downloadable document or Adobe file is usually the format. The mission statement can be elaborated on much thoroughly. Philosophy Our Foundation is based on our Christian values and our strong belief that we should be thankful for our many blessings and give back to those in need. The website should elaborate on this point. Considering the demographic, it would not hurt to touch more on the Christian aspect of the foundation. Talk about why foundation chooses this and how they emulate these values into the lives of the children. Manner We will raise funds through an initial personal investment, personal donors, grants, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising events. This could either be completely eliminated or elaborated on. It could serve a purpose but is probably better of not to be included in this section of the website.
Strengths:
The foundation utilizes clear and concise text, allowing for easy readability.
. Readability
. Exempts organized thoughts
. The text reads in an educated and professional manner
Weaknesses:
The weakness of the text mostly derives from the lack of “important content”
. Un-clear on what and whom the foundation supports (specifics)
. The length of the biography page
. Lack of supportive details about “EXACTLY” who is being affected
Recommendations: . The website would greatly benefit from immediate informative messages
. Emphasis on the goals of the foundation will instantly add help reach credibility with the reader
. The addition of actual statistics will help the reader gain knowledge and denote importance
Summary
The website, though weak in some aspects, can be quickly changed to be more effective. The site does lack text in areas that should need to be elaborated on but still does convey the issues. A little more elaboration and organization should lead the site to be very successful. The site should shift focus from more of a family and their contributions to a foundation and its contribution. The site could serve to be very effective in the future.
Contributors:
Trent Lanham
Jeremy McDade
Works Cited
http://www.Ezimearticles.com/?expert=sharonzolana http://www.gnc-web-creations.com/website-credibility.htm http://hudsonfamilyfoundation.com http://www.studygs.net/writing.htm
The section of the Hudson Family Foundation’s website that we reviewed was the Volunteer Section. This is an important aspect of the website because the foundation is a non- profit foundation and it is dependent on its volunteers for both financial reasons, as well as, actual tasks. Strengths: The Volunteer section included several things that we thought added to the website.
Nice visuals {i.e. Pictures} Plenty of contact information Fonts and headings attractive and fluent Website centering around children Organize a Fundraiser part clear and concise
Visuals can add to the presentation of the website and make the organization seem more approachable. The pictures included in the volunteer section are friendly and inviting and a good way to get people to help. Each sub-section of the volunteer portion provides contact information that is easy to locate and includes a link for email usage. This makes it extremely easy to contact the organization and is a strength to the section. The playful font unifies the section and grabs the eye of anyone viewing the site. The fact that the organization is for kids is another plus. The “Organize a Fundraiser” section is very easy to follow and includes numerous fun ideas. Weaknesses: Although the section contains many strengths, we found a few ways in which it could be further improved. Too many links and sub-sections Lack of maturity Format of the lists Size of links Content of sections “How You Can Help” box faulty Updates
People could get confused with the amount of separate links available for them to choose from. The volunteer section should consist of one page with a short overview of the ways in which people can help the organization. The section needs to have a sense of maturity and professionalism that is currently lacking a bit. Although the site is created to help children, the proceeds and money donated to the foundation comes from adults. The bullet points in the “Organize a Fundraiser” and “Make a Donation” sections are ill presented because they are wordy and people will not want to take the time out to read all of the bullets. Certain links need to stand out from the body of the paragraphs because they are hard to locate and written in the same font and color as the paragraph. Some of the section’s content is dull and does not grab the reader’s attention. The “How Can You Help” box contains links which are too big; when you click the word “Volunteer” the site takes you to “Wish List.” The site says that it will update its Volunteer section each month and has not been updated since July 7th. Ideas for enhancement: The make a donation should have separate links Communication via the web site by making a bulletin board for each section You can see the Stay Connected menu a lot throughout it. Should be on one page. Also, if they wanted maximum the amount of links they should have the option of having the links drop-down and be able to see it and decided what you want. Put most important information at the top left
Supporting materials/documentation: The supporting links below are examples of sites that already have a volunteer page that is clear, concise, and functional. These websites are sites of large organizations that are well known. Arrange icons and make a connection using a link just like ww5.komen.org/donate/donate.html Another source was www.livestrong.org/site Lance Armstrong Events.linuxfoundation.org Grameen Foundation www.grameenfoundation.org/get examples for the involved and what friends are saying. Epilepsy Foundation for the wish list examples: www.epilepsyfoundation.org/howtohlep/donations.cfm, www.epilespyfoundation.org/howtohelp/whoyouhelp.cfm, www.epilepsyfoundation.org/howtohelp/whydonorsgive.cfm By: Amber White, Alex Ashley, Jordan Rosiek, and Eunsil Ahn
Dinara Musina Saakib Zafrani Landon Briggs Special Events Details and the option for proper website navigation are useful to incorporate into any website. Potential contributors and participants can leave this section of the Hudson Family Foundation website with a better understanding of the foundation’s work. Two way communication between viewer and foundation is a valuable option, such as feedback, to utilize during this day and age which meets the current technological standards of the average viewer (Crescenzo). Another useful tactic of personalizing the material in the “Special Events” with the option of sending online newsletters to those who want to keep up with the foundation’s achievements, reflects confidence between the foundation and viewer. This kind of recognition of individuals and welcoming acceptance into the current events of the foundation creates a sense of community with which individuals can identify (Mosher). The addition of better navigation options to the layout is essential in order to describe events with better detail such as in the case of Atlanta Humane Society’s format of navigation in regard to events. They have an ideal visual layout which consists of extra tabs on the navigation bar to the side of the main text, and specifically they use a simple calendar layout with links of each event leading to a separate “Featured Events” page with more informative information pertaining to each event (“Calendar Events”). Strengths: The events page is a window of opportunity for viewers to become aware of the activities that the organization sponsors. Some information jumps off the page and gets attention effectively. o The flyer on the “Special Events” page has content which jumps off the page and is very noticeable. o The use of color guides the viewers toward the text. o “How You Can Help” box to the right of the text is useful and noticeable. o Weaknesses: All the information provided is useful but is cluttered. The clutter creates difficulty for the viewers to comprehend the text. It is not cohesive because it is not organized chronologically in a calendar format. o Very little information is understandable due to the layout of the content. o Navigation options are limited to the information on a single webpage, as opposed to a webpage with several important links and a navigation bar with all the detailed descriptions about each subject. o The layout of the web page is not cohesive because it is a mixture of flyers and text. o There is a lack of clarity because the dates of the upcoming events are not labeled as a chronological heading outside of the text. o The use of white space is ineffective due to the clutter of content. o
Recommendations: The information about each event should be chronologically labeled in a calendar format. A navigation bar on the side should be added to include the tab titled “Featured Events” with pictures and details pertaining to each event on the main, first page which viewers are led to after clicking “Special Events” from the foundation’s homepage. Certain links should stand out in this format on the main page as well as on the “Featured Events.” Links from this section of the website should include information encouraging the public to participate by contacting the foundation, information about membership of Hudson Family Foundation Team of friends, an option to sign up for newsletters for those who want to stay informed about the upcoming events and success stories about past events, and an option to leave feedback. The color scheme of the foundations homepage and each other section needs remain consistent. There should be effective white space throughout this section. These changes are necessary to meet the current expectation level of most viewers. o The “Special Events” webpage would benefit from a change in layout, consisting of a navigation bar which would have “Featured Events” that describes each event clearly and descriptively as opposed to having the descriptions on the initial page the viewer is led to after clicking on “Special Events” from the home page. o “Special Events” initial page could become cohesive if the content is shortened into titles which could be made into links for each event respectively and would lead to another page with all the information and pictures for each event. o The simplification would compliment the white space and the ability to scroll down to view future events. o Each event being labeled with a date and corresponding title of event in a chronological, calendar layout would help the viewer scan through the information quickly and easily understand this basic information. o The foundation and the viewer both benefit by making three separate links clear and noticeable above where the calendar layout begins on the initial “Special Events” page. o First, a concise phrase about encouraging the public to participate by contacting the foundation should be made into a link itself for further clarity. This link would lead to the contact information on a different part of the website. o Second, an additional phrase about the Hudson Family Foundation Team of Friends and benefits should be made into a link itself for further clarity. This link should lead to detailed information, which can be the first permanent feature on the “Featured Events” section. o Third, another phrase about signing up for an e-mail newsletter list to stay updated about past events, future events, and success stories should be made into a link itself for further clarity. This link should lead to a window which gathers information about the future recipient. o The “Featured Events” webpage should have a link before the details about each event that should ask if the viewers have anything they would link to share about these events and encourage them to leave feedback. This phrase should be made into a link to a feedback window. o
Works Cited “Calendar of Events.” Atlanta Humane Society. 2009. 2 Oct. 2009
Dominique Du Bois, Me Atcheloh Eloise & Tommy Davis Hudson Family Foundation Web Critique: Bios/Board
Group Critique for the Hudson Family Foundations Website: Biographies and Board
After reviewing Tim and Kim Hudson’s website for their foundation it was clear that they are very generous and caring people and have made efforts to help children that, “have a genuine need for assistance with regard to a specific physical, emotional, or financial circumstance”, as stated in their mission statement. The Hudson Foundation website has many great qualities, but like anything, it can be improved with a few changes. Our group will critique Tim and Kim Hudson’s biography pages and the board of director’s page. Strengths: The titles and subtitles were made very clear and distinguishable in the tabs provided. This made it easy to find the board members of the organization and the biographies of Tim and Kim Hudson. Each biography had titles for each topic within the biography, for example: personal, professional highlights, and community involvement. The bios/board pages were organized very well. Tim’s Biography: o Inspirational. Many children may feel inspired to keep a positive attitude despite any challenges they may face. o Mentioning his family may help other families feel more comfortable sharing their story. o Tim Hudson’s experience in community involvement. Readers may feel the Hudson Foundation is more credible because its founder has had experience in community involvement before. Kim’s Biography: o Biography of her childhood and adolescence was short and to the point. o Has a lot of community involvement experience which again shows credibility considering she is the co-founder. o Past community involvement experience involved helping children. Board of Directors: o All names are in alphabetical order o There are a lot of people on staff as directors which means future plans can be delegated to each director and will then be carried out into fruition effectively and efficiently which means more children can be helped in this foundation. Weaknesses: Though the Hudson Family Foundation website is great, there were a few things that could be improved. Tim’s biography was inspirational and shared a lot of facts, but it was too lengthy and not to the point. Kim’s bio was to the point, but may have left out key facts. And the board of directors page did not have enough information. Tim’s Biography: o There was more emphasis on Tim’s baseball career than his community involvement. o Introduction to Tim’s biography is too long. o Community involvement, which is the most important part of the website, was put last on his biography page. o Professional highlights were too long. o There are not a lot of pictures of Tim and the children or Tim at the events. There are a few, but not a lot. Kim’s Biography: o Why did Kim stop practicing law? Her biography should let the reader know if she is a part of the foundation full time. This could be seen as an asset. o Doesn’t let the reader know why she got involved with community service. o Reader does not understand what inspired Tim and Kim to start the Hudson Family Foundation. o Mention of family for both Kim and Tim is redundant. Board of Directors o There are not any pictures of the directors. o This section just mentions the names of the directors and their job titles outside of the foundation. o What are the directors directing? o There is not any information on what experience the directors have in community involvement or their qualifications. o State how much time the directors spend with the foundation. o Some readers may not understand abbreviations such as MLB, LLC, and NFL. Recommendations: There are a few suggestions that we would like to make to help improve the Hudson Family Foundation website. If you go to www.deliverthedream.org, Pat Moran, the CEO and founder of the foundation has a great biography to refer to. Tim’s Biography: o It would be more appropriate if his community involvement were directly after the introduction. o Website, including the biography, should be mainly about the children rather than Tim’s career. o Tim’s biography should mainly show his history in being involved in foundations and organizations and then his baseball career should tie into that. o Show more pictures of Tim and the children at events. o State future plans and intentions for the foundation. o State why Tim wanted to start this foundation and why he was involved in past community involvement. Kim’s Biography: o State why Kim is interested in community involvement. o Combine the “personal” section of both Tim and Kim in one section. Mentioning family twice is redundant. Board of Directors: o A picture of each director should be placed by his or her name. o There should be a sentence next to each person’s picture describing what he or she directs. o A reader should know what each person does exactly and how do they contribute to the foundation. On the website, www.wishesandmore.org, the board of directors has their names, their titles within the foundation and then their job title outside of the foundation. o As directors, what are they directing? The Board of Directors page should also state what each person’s experience in community involvement is and how much time do they put into the Hudson Family Foundation? o Some readers may not understand abbreviations such as MLB, LLC, and NFL. It is better to spell out the actual words and then abbreviate in parenthesis next to the word to ensure everyone that is reading the website is fully knowledgeable and understands what he or she is reading. Works Cited www.hudsonfamilyfoundation.com www.wishesandmore.org www.deliverthedream.org