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In this article, I'll be analyzing the navigation elements of a particular category of websites, i.e. portfolios. Why portfolios, you ask? Because they represent an interesting blend of creativity and development techniques. As they offer an intriguing user interface and interaction, this often borderlines with what is ultimately defined as an enjoyable user experience. Should aesthetics, originality and creativity come at the expense of usability? Can they reside on the same website in harmony?

Pros Simple layout and things work well Enjoy the different backgrounds displayed on different links Like the simple title of PUSH Cons Don't know what they are trying to portray or what they are about A little too simple need more info and links Need to talk more about projects that have been done http://www.benarent.co.uk/portfolio Pros Like that it gives a description of the person Very in depth and many pictures of previous work Like the sketchbook idea Cons Simple Design, not very complex Would like if sketchbook flipped pages when you clicked on it Don't enjoy the same font throughout the entire website. http://www.josheyre.com/ Pros Like the scrolling images on the front page of the website Like that the contact brings you to google maps and also includes resume Same top page works well and it doesn't feel confusing to me. Cons Don't enjoy the bland background on every page Small links don't work well with design Home on top right blends in with the design of orange. http://amby.com/kimeldorf/sampler/ Pros Very simple and easy to navigate Glad that everything is in order of steps to take. Cons Too many PDFS that take you to separate windows Last updated in 1998 so very old fashioned Don't know what he does or what he's trying to tell us about himself http://design.ocell.net/ Pros Very simple and elegant Like the white and grey background and Title and text is very different and creative. Cons Too little work displayed Not very many links to click Don't know what he is trying to portray within the website

+Simple +Everything is out front and readable from front page +large, good quality pictures -I don't like how all the text is same color, i would change color of text on top right, to decipher from menu -i didn't realize there was anything under main picture, i would give some sort of clue to scroll down

+shows a lot of personality +great layout +book pages give a real "portfolio" feel -It's not easily read whether or not "page" will turn, user can easily miss it. i would add a clue -I don't like WIX logo all over site, not professional

+ clean & simple + uniform and organized + easy to understand and use - have to scroll down - when you scroll over pics on homepage they change to text, I would change that so user can click on image - i'd show a little more personality in display,

+beautiful and simple while still showing style +no scrolling down, everything is on main page plane +very well organized -I wouldn't change anything ,I love this portfolio!

three great things:chronological direction. graphic text.cursor lighting/animationcontext great monochromatic design  three poor things:no direct image perhaps too much text? text cursor could be too intense or distractonly projects highlighted/ no bio or contact

three good things: unique animation of images to form logo letters nice menu bar large grasp/spectrum of expertise (corparate, retail, inst., housing, etc.) three bad things: I am not a fan of having to click to enter the site this page reminds me of a pop-up advertisement the blog animation spinner is distracting and doesn't share information

three good things: scrolling images shows epicness diverse (event promotion, construction, blog and store) organic website theme three bad things: maybe almost too much information on the main page some really small images the website content only takes up 50% of page space (too much background)

three good things: great monochromatic design beautiful, relative and expression within images/photographs little text  three poor things: click to enter website, then click again to get info (could just get rid of first click) some images seem too minimal (not worthy) hard to find information and specifications

great things: great lighting and acoustics influence.  diagrammatic and inspirational. lighting transitions between images is great. images sell versus text.  three poor things: no context little technical content or facts almost too metaphorical

three great things:simple menu bars great menu perspective LARGE full-page images inform versus text.  three poor things:only one main image (scrolling between projects could be better) no contextlittle technical content or facts

3 things I found appealing about this portfolio: I liked the captivating image for the backdrop. It's the first thing that catches your eye, and links an immediate and strong message to the audience.  I liked the simplicity of the text and the drop down menu options.  I liked how the quote on the home page. 3 things I did not find appealing about this portfolio: I thought there could have been a bit more color to the portfolio I wanted to see more testimonials A map to the location of the business would have been helpful