Precedent Project

---

About the Project

This project forms a part of our Interactive Design assessment task. As a part of our research we have to find examples (precedents) of Interactive Design with the same topic as our assignment (Marine Environmental Issues). We worked in groups for this project in order to establish a stronger project.

My Project

The website I chose for this project is the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS)’s website, or more specifically, their pages on the topic of Coral Bleaching. I used the site in particular because it presents its information in an engaging way using various interactive elements. Below is the research I did with my partner Sabrina:

• What is the interactive about?

The interactive is focused on the environmental issue of coral bleaching and its effects on the underwater ecosystem. The site establishes the main causes of coral bleaching, as well as what it is doing to the Great Barrier Reef and other coral reef biomes around Australia. It is a sub-page of the Australian Marine Conservation Society’s website and is part of one of their many campaigns aiming to preserve marine ecosystems in Australia. 

• What can you say about the visual design (layout, colour, etc.)? How would you describe the style?

The visual design is minimalistic and uses photographs to keep the viewers eye drawn to the page. 

Sub-pages are presented using a tile format which includes a hover feature – hovering over the image in the tile provides a brief overview of that the destination page is about, and the page also has a hover-based dropdown menu and in-page tabs on the About page. There are hover effects on some buttons and on the site’s social media links as well. These elements all combine to make the site’s design interactive but easily accessible – none of these elements are difficult to find and they’re all cohesive in the overall scheme.

The site uses two main colours: An elegant blue and white. Variations on the blue tone are seen throughout the site depending on the page, and some pages have warm oranges and coral reds. The colour combination of the site is typically oceanic, but it is still simple and elegant enough to allow the reader to view the page easily. The red, for example, is bright but not overly bold and adds interest to the otherwise white and blue page.

• Who is it designed for (who is the target audience)?

The site is designed for the following groups: Environmental Researchers and Activists, Students and middle aged adults.

Based on the design aspects of the website, it is evident that the website is predominantly accessible towards non tech-savvy audiences. In particular, the hovering effects where pop up menus and information are presented make the website easy to use for viewers simply looking to locate things easily and access information easily. The website is clearly aimed towards activists as suggested by the choice of strong and vibrant colours that voice a stress on change in the environment. I think the website is very informative and clear about its aims by the way it interacts with the viewer.

• What knowledge does it assume of the digital audience (e.g. digital literacy)?

The website is an ‘easy to read’ structure where digital literacy is not necessarily assumed by the viewer. Judging by the easily accessed information such as the hover effects that are placed on navigation and information, it is making the use of the website easy to use for the target audience. Particularly accessible to the elderly or middle aged audience that are not as technologically knowledgeable.

• Describe the type of user interactions and user interface.

The website requires users to hover over objects of interest, scroll through the page for information to pop up or images to move into perspective. The interaction is natural, allowing the viewer to comfortably know where they are within the screen. It also uses graphic design and motion to assist in the interaction where the viewer receives a response when they appeal to hovering over objects of interest. It is therefore engaging with the information and activating the cognitive process through audience response. 

Examples from the website

Image/Information Source:

Australian Marine Conservation Society. (2018). About. Retrieved from https://www.marineconservation.org.au/about/

Australian Marine Conservation Society. (2018). Coral Bleaching. Retrieved from https://www.marineconservation.org.au/coral-bleaching/