Archive June 2008
Teamhell UK: Layout, design and customer service
Just a quick site review, since I’m off out in a moment! Yes, I do actually see daylight occasionally.
So, after my recent raft of shoe e-Tailer site reviews, I thought “Why break the habit?”. After unsuccessfully trying to find some specific trainers in the Schuh site, and subsequently finding further frustration on the Raw Shoe site, I found success on the Team Hell UK site.
I may as well call this The Unashamed Shoe Fetish Critique Centre, quite frankly.
A critique of www.teamhelluk.com
After a relatively choppy and truly tumultuous journey trying to find somewhere that sold what I wanted, I stumbled across what was an all-round good e-tail experience. Read on!
2Still need convicing of the benefits of usability?
Just a brief post to say that, should you still need convincing of the need to do usability on your website (or any other visual media, for that matter), then here it is: our very own WordPress blogmeisters are carrying out usability studies on their WP interface.
They’re doing it. So should you if you’re serious about design!
0Ads in computer games
Stepping away from my online shoe retailer fixation for a moment, I thought I’d talk briefly about ads in computer games. Whilst reading The Register, I came across an appropriately scathing piece about videogame ads…an opportunity to share my love of computer games and cool eye-tracking technology! It does also have relevancy with regard to design and placement. Excited? You should be. Read on!
0Site content & design: Rawshoe.co.uk
Hello again! I hope you enjoyed my last (rather frustrated) attempt to be constructively critical of Schuh.com’s website.
Strangely enough, I’m about to embark on yet another critique of a shoe retailer’s online presence. I should point out that I’m not solely fixated on shoes or anything – it’s just that I was utterly desperate to find some replacement old-style Dekline ‘Villain’ trainers…which I eventually found on Raw’s website. And their site is, unfortunately for them, the subject of today’s post.
A critique of www.rawshoe.co.uk
I must say that, to all intents and purposes, nothing good seems to have happened to Raw’s website. This is a pity, since the high street brand is quite strong: Known for being on the pulse with regard to fashion, having generically good-looking shop assistants, and playing music in-store that has swearwords in. Because they’re a cool company. And because that’s what their clientele expect – who’re also cool.
Well, this website does not support that image. It’s the equivalent of the uncool kid in class who smells a bit stale and collects pencils.
2Navigation hierarchy and priorities: Schuhstore.co.uk
Be warned: this post has tried to be funny in certain areas. Remove your sense of humour now.
A critique of www.schuhstore.co.uk
I will preface everything I’m about to say with the fact that this site has managed to win the Drapers “Footwear eTailer of the year ’08″ award. Not only is that Draper’s award site a bit drab, I can only wonder what the judging criteria were for that award, since the Schuh site’s definitely not supporting their brand in a positive way. Whilst it’s clearly functional and ‘works’, it’s looking in desperate need of a redesign. Read on!
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