When the user enters the home page it is clear to see that the purpose of this website is to search for gifts based on the information that is put into the search engine. The reason they instantly know this is because the gift search facility is the main feature and takes up most of the page. Although this page doesn’t have a lot of information, the text at the bottom of the page is quite close together making the bottom half of this web page cluttered and busy which may put some users off. The layout for the home page is suitable because the only way to search gifts is by inputting information into the search facility so this has been made to take up most of the home page because there isn’t a need to fill the page with other information.
The search facility on this website is very easy to use although it only has a very basic search and doesn’t give the user an option for a more advanced search. There are only three sections the user can enter information and this information is whether the recipient is male or female, the recipients age range and three keywords to describe what the recipient likes. The search results are relevant to what the user searched for and at the top of the results page it has the search facility across the top of the page showing the information they entered but also allows them to change the information to search for something different. The layout of the results page is good and when the user clicks on a product, it redirects them to the site where they can find out more information and purchase it from.
The global navigation used on this website is consistent from page to page although there are only two main web pages on this website and these are the home page and the results page. There is a privacy policy page but this has no navigation except the site logo at the top of the page which navigates the user back to the home page. The only way the user can navigate to the results page is by putting information into the search engine and click search. From the results page the user can navigate back to the home page by clicking the site logo or they can refine or start a search using the search facility across the top of the page. Although the site does not have much to navigate around, the navigation is easy to use and it does function well.
The colour scheme for this site is blue, white and pink. Parts of it work really well and some parts don’t work so well. It works really well where there is bright pink text on a white background and where there is dark blue text on a white background. This is because the background colour and the text colour are contrasting so it makes it easier for the user to read. There are places on this website where there is dark blue text on a blue background. Most users will be able to read this but some users may find it difficult to read as it is all the same colour but just different shades. The font used on this website is consistent through-out the pages and the font type and size used is appropriate and it is very easy for the user to read. The only main problem with this colour scheme is that it makes the website quite feminine looking so male users may be put off using the site.
Overall this website is easy to use and functions well as it was designed and made for searching for gift ideas and that is what it does. The user can’t get lost within this website as there are only two main pages. When the user clicks on a product to view it, it takes them to the website which is selling the product so they can find out more about it and also purchase the product if they wanted to. The website provides a very easy and convenient way of searching for gifts.
The website I have proposed to create will be similar to the seek gift website in some ways but in other ways it will differ. The gifts used on my site will be from small businesses in Hull so when the user clicks on a product, they won’t be directed to another websites because these businesses don’t have websites so the user will be taken to a page with information about the gift. Also, I am going to give the user a better choice of how they search the website.
Screenshots of Seek Gifts:
Above is the home page. First the user chooses whether they are shopping for a male or female. They next choose their recipients age range and then finally enter up to three keywords about what the recipient likes. Then all they have to do is click 'Start Seeking'.
Above is an example of a user using the search engine.
Above shows the results page and how the results are positioned on the web page.
Above shows that once the user has clicked on a product, it takes the user to the website selling that particular product.
Clothing:
Above is the home page. First the user chooses whether they are shopping for a male or female. They next choose their recipients age range and then finally enter up to three keywords about what the recipient likes. Then all they have to do is click 'Start Seeking'.
Above is an example of a user using the search engine.
Above shows the results page and how the results are positioned on the web page. 
