Improving Makezine.com's Web Design and User Experience

The article discusses the pros and cons of Makezine.com, an online platform that sells products such as robots, computers, and design products. The website has a user-friendly interface and good background images, but lacks a homepage and displays unprofessional content. To improve the website, it is recommended to create a single-page website, introduce a homepage, display images and contents professionally, and arrange links in a more presentable manner.

Running head: RESPONSIVE WEB DESIGN 1
Responsive Web Design
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Contents
Introduction...............................................................................................................................................3
Discussion...................................................................................................................................................3
Website Overview..................................................................................................................................3
Main features of the website.................................................................................................................5
Positive and negative aspects of the website........................................................................................7
Additional participants review.............................................................................................................9
Website improvements and recommendation.......................................................................................10
Chrome device simulator....................................................................................................................11
Conclusion................................................................................................................................................13
Bibliography............................................................................................................................................14

RESPONSIVE WEB DESIGN 3
Introduction
Web design should follow all software development methodologies as requirement from
good practices of software development. In website development, responsiveness is an aspect
which has to be met in order to produce quality product. In this regard, this report will focus on
evaluating the quality of the makezine.com website. This will be done by determining which
good practices has been met, violated and how they have been met of violated. Further, this
evaluation and assessment will have to determine how violated software good practices can be
solved and possible areas of improvement in the development of the software. The main goal of
the report will be focusing on user interface interaction and functionality of the software
(MARCOTTE 2014, p. 59). To have an effective website, developer has to focus mainly on
functionality of the system because failing to achieve the core function of the system means
inability to develop quality software. System functionality should be met since failing to achieve
website functionality is a total failure and waste of resources. Finally, system user interface has
nowadays been an important aspect in system design and development. Interface which gives a
point of interaction between user and the system has to adhere to various software development
principles.
Discussion
Website Overview
The website evaluation in this case would be makezine.com. It is registered as Make and
Maker Faire under Make and Media Inc. Trademark. The website main goal is to encourage all
young and growing innovators present their ideas to be assessed and where possible be
developed to actual product. It targets exposing young and upcoming developers to expose their
ideas to the entire world. This website has been built with very attractive idea of exposing

RESPONSIVE WEB DESIGN 4
upcoming generation but it does not meet some of good practices required in software
development. Its interface is very congested with content and images making it difficult to work
on. Good website development practices anticipates to have simple and clear website to use so
that users do not strain when making use of it (FRAIN 2012, p. 97). A close observation of
Makezine.com website shows that, links are clustered all over the webpage with so many
pictures. Though it is very attractive website by the look, on its usability to customers, it might
be very challenging due to its poor arrangement. Placing of images on the entire webpage might
seem to make website attractive but according to good practices of system development, this
makes system very congested and difficult for users to operate. It would be good idea if
Makezine.com developer had collected all images on a gallery section where interested users’
would use a certain link to access. According to PETERSON (2014, p. 119), this would one of
the organized way to make website more appealing and professional. Though the developer of
the website might imagine of working with young innovators to present their ideas, it would be
good to factor how they would make use of the system to post their ideas.
Figure 1.0

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Main features of the website
ROSE (2015, p. 21) stipulates that, main features of any software are realized through its
functionality. To make any system features clearly in the market, it should present its
functionality is a clear and cohesive manner. In this case, Makezine.com has managed to give out
its functionality through projects being undertaken. Under the project section, users are able to
view which project is under development and which one has been presented for assessment by
experts. This should serve as the main goal of the entire website because without either the
upcoming projects or accomplished projects, makezine.com would not have achieved the
mission of developing the project (PATEL 2014, p. 225). The website acts as a collection point
of young ideas which need to be developed and be exposed in to the market for use. It aims on
every idea since there is no specification of which ideas are being collected. Some of the projects
which are available from project section include; science, crafts and design, drone making and
Technology. Similarly, on the latest section of design, all projects that has been presented for
considerations are available to help users be able to view ideas of the presented projects.

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Figure 2.0
Consequently, according to SIMMONS (2013, p. 15), website developers need to
established guide section where any needed help can be obtained. This section helps users of the
system to get help on how some of the featured items are used by creating demos to guide them.
Every item that has been created and developed in partnership with makezine.com has been
supported by an operation guide to help all interested parties. Available guides are; drone, 3D
printer guide, systems board guide and gift making guide. Moreover, there is a shop section
where materials available can be obtained from. It is only through this section that, all interested
buyers can get subject product. By clicking an item, all materials under that section gets
displayed with relative prices and shipping cost. Lastly, “get involved feature” is provide by the
system to help users who are able and willing to take part in any of the events be part of it. All

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sections including camp feature for training are available to help participants get some training
on how to be part of the community (CALLAHAN 2012, p. 56).
Positive and negative aspects of the website
Ideally, all systems have their strengths and weakness which makes it stand a particular
position in the market. According to Karimov, Brengman & Van Hove (2011, p. 272), some of
the positive aspects of Makezine.com are; well layout of the menu bar which presents very
attractive pop ups. Next, the color used on system’s interface is very attractive to the eyes of the
user. First onsite to the system presents very appealing as it gives user zeal to know the purpose
of the system. Background color is user friendly because it does not make user’s eye strain while
working on the website (Atuahene‐Gima, Slater & Olson 2005, p. 468). Background color aspect
is very important because it determines time the users’ of the system are going to take on the
system. If background is not user friendly by having very bright color, users will tend to leave
the website without even accomplishing their mission of visiting the software (Burd et al 2012,
p. 55). Additionally, website links should be well presented at the top of the system to make
website navigation from one webpage to the other easy.

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Figure 3.0
Despite all these advantages, there are some negative aspects which are observable from
makezine.com. First, the website spans to several pages which is not being advocate in nowadays
software development. Kim & Lennon (2013, p. 34) argues that, current website development
procedures and methodologies are emphasizing on one page website which is complemented by
modal pop ups. Next, placing so many of images on a webpage might seem to make system
attractive but it is not a good practice in system development procedures. The entire
makezine.com system is full of images and content which makes it look unprofessional as
described from good practices of software development. Further, it is not easy to trace the name
of the software because it has not been presented at the top of the webpage. Name used on a
website should closely depict the functionality of the website by having first glance on it (Ding
et al 2010, p. 99-101). Lastly, Makezine.com does not have a homepage which can be used to

RESPONSIVE WEB DESIGN 9
introduce user to the system.
Figure 4.0
Additional participants review
Evaluation of website is quite challenging and an individual opinion may be biased due to
some aspects. In this regard, it is most preferred to have some additional people who have
various backgrounds on system use for comparison purpose (Koo & Ju 2010, 377-378). In my
evaluation, I was lucky enough to get my brother who is a system developer to help in evaluating
the system. Smith is 29 years and an independent software developer working with various
companies. Mostly, Smith deals with embedded software but that did not limit him on evaluating
makezine.com website and give his views. According to Smith, makezine.com developer had
good intention of developing the website which are clearly captured on website functionality.
Having captured all system functionality very well, Smith says makezine.com developer did little
to make website interface user friendly in terms of use and arrangements of menu. Smith view on
system interface design correlates highly with my opinion that, it does not look so professional.
Similarly, I had my friend Christine, 35 years who is just a novice system user. Christine has
been working as a call center support and receptionist. Christine has been working on various
system and this makes Christine a best choice in my evaluation. Christine knowledge and skills

RESPONSIVE WEB DESIGN 10
was of great help in my analysis because novice users were well represented. Christine has been
working with various systems’ for over 10 years and this gives me confidence in type of
response provided. Christine response on system functionality is that, the purpose of the website
well met but its interface was not in accordance with principles of good system design (Wang,
Hernandez & Minor 2010, p. 940). From analysis of the system, both Smith and Christine ideas
about the functionality and user interface correlates with my opinion.
Website improvements and recommendation
An analysis of makezine.com website by all involved parties shows that there is need for
change in design of website interface. Website interface need some improvements on
arrangement of its menus (Tyagi, Solanki & Wadhwa 2010, p. 19-21). Links need to be
presented on a menu bar at the top of the homepage. This facilities easy transition from one page
to another. Additionally, makezine.com does not have a home page where all connections can be
referenced. Failure to have a homepage makes it difficult to navigate from other webpages.
Consequently, According to Rocha (2012, p. 380), to make website more attractive appealing
and professionally presented, images and content should be arranged well. Content and
information has been scattered all over the webpages making it difficult to understand
functionality of the website. Furthermore, website need a well presented and name which can be
used to identify the system. Website’s name has to explain clearly the functionality of the
system. Finally, makezne.com website should be made to be a one page website. One page
website makes it easy to use and looks more professional (Youngblood & Mackiewicz 2012, p.
582).

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Chrome device simulator
To evaluate makezine.com website, it was recommended to make use of Chrome device
simulator as a basic tool. In the use of chrome simulator to review the website, it proved to be a
convenient, simple and easy to use (Nebeling et al 2015, p. 24). It did not require so many
configuration to be used. It can be used by even novice users of the system with just few steps to
follow. It was quite accurate because it displays website very clearly with all content being
visible for observation. To make use of this simulator, one does not need to buy simulator as it is
readily available on all chrome applications. It would be difficult find it as it free from internet
and can be downloaded any time. Similarly, Nagesh & Caicedo (2012, p. 56) stipulates that,
simulator can be used in various devices with different resolutions. This makes it very applicable
in many devices for use by the same user. In my makezine.com analysis, chrome was available
in both my laptop and mobile phone. Simulation using these two devices helped in getting
various scenarios to make conclusion from. Through use of chrome as a simulator, some of its
advantages realized are; compatibility with many available devices. Chrome simulator can be
installed in many devices including mobile phones, laptops and desktops (Madaudo & Scandurra
2013, p. 25).

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Figure 5.0
Next, it is very simple use in various scenarios. Chrome simulator does not need users
who are computer experts for it to be used (Walker & Chapra 2014, p. 56). Additionally, to users
with already installed chrome application, it is free of charge to use chrome simulator. Those
who do not have chrome application on their system, it is very cheap to get one. Provided an
individual has the right device, one need to buy some bundles get online and get application for
free, then make use of available simulator (Luterbach & Hubbell 2015, p. 65). Besides benefits,
chrome simulator cannot be used by illiterate computer users. This means some computational
skills are required in order to make use of chrome simulator. It would not be easy to have a
novice system user without computational skills being able to use chrome simulator to test
website responsiveness. Alternatively, instead of using chrome simulator to test for website
responsiveness, website analyst can make use of internet explorer and Mozilla though with
varying results (Bazard & Bhardwaj 2011, p. 33). Important to note is that, using different
simulators gives different results.

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Figure 6.0
Conclusion
Using various analyst and system users helps in giving out varying view point in order to
draw quality conclusion on usability and functionality of the system. The main features of
makezine.com websites are; project section which explains various projects being assessed and
which has been implemented and are already in market. The shop feature provides users with
ability to purchase several items which has been developed and are ready for use in the market.
Additionally, guide features helps system users to get necessary help after purchasing an item
from the system. Some of the product available from the website include; robots, computers and
their accessories such as motherboards, crafts and design products ranging from handcrafts to
engineering products. Makezine.com has several advantages which makes it stand a market
position. These are; system functionality which has been actualized effectively and efficiently,
good background which is user friendly and use of relevant images on webpages. Similarly, there
are some disadvantages which has been observed from use of the makezine.com website. These
include; lack of homepage to display links in form of menu bar, unprofessional mages and
content display which has been placed all over the webpage. Finally, the website is not a one
page as required in good practices of software development. From analysis, possible
recommendation are; creating a single page website, introducing a homepage for the website,
displaying images and contents professional and arranging links in a more presentable manner,
mostly in a menu bar. Finally, chrome simulator has proved to be a best tool to use in analyzing
of website due to its ability to work on different set of devices such as laptops and smartphones.
Chrome simulator alternatives are; Mozilla, internet explorer and safari.

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