Being a Critic

In preparation for my next web project, I was asked to explore an informative website. I chose to visit http://www.mdsci.org/, the website for the Maryland Science Center. Being critical of how the website was composed, I searched for information on the site’s creator. I quickly found, at the bottom of the page, this information. After clicking on the link for The Berndt Group Ltd, I found what I needed. The Berndt Group is a website developing group in Baltimore, Maryland that was established in 1991. The group has designed websites for a variety of clients including Johns Hopkins Institutions, Loyola College of Maryland, and the United States Social Security Administration. The Berndt Group seems to be a reputable company, and talented in designing websites.

This website is easy to use, no matter your age. With a list of page options, located on the left side of the page, users can find what they are looking for. To further narrow one’s search, subcategories also appear when clicking on an area of interest. When looking at a page, a navigational tool helps visitors know the page they are on, in relation to the site. Because I am the type to click on things, without knowing where it will take me, I enjoyed this option. It is also useful for knowing how to relocate a particular page in the future. A site map is also available, which clearly shows the layout of this site. If all this is not easy enough, the search option allows you to find what you need without browsing through the entire website.

One of the most important things I have learned, thus far, in my Writing for the Web course is how crucial the design of a website is. With this gained knowledge, I can better evaluate a website. After considering the design of http://www.mdsci.org/, I found it to be well designed. With a white background and plain black text, everything was easy to read. Also, the paragraphs were kept short, with the perfect amount of pictures to keep the interest of visitors. In my opinion, the Maryland Science Center’s website was a great example of what an informative site should look like.