Thanks Helen,
I guess I would agree with you. I suppose in my heart of hearts I know what the differing factor was... The client. A client has a very strong influence on what I finally deliver. However I actually think things like "first impression" and "content" (the two elements that the sites were judged on) are so subjective that its impossible to say which is better. They are just different.

Anyway what's this about Manchester in two weeks. I haven't heard about that one.

Paul

-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Helen Sargan
Sent: 23 June 2005 17:07
To: Paul Boag; [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Top 100 university websites

At 2:13 pm +0100 23/6/05, Paul Boag wrote:
>  What particularly amused me about it to be honest is that I worked 
>with both the University of Brighton (2nd place) and the University of 
>Portsmouth (179th place) and many that don't appear at all, using 
>exactly the same methodology and approach. We did usability testing in 
>the same way, we designed in the same way, we researched in the same 
>way. This has left me bemused about how exactly one goes about creating 
>a website that is perceived as being effective. It appears to be pot 
>luck! ;)
>

Since it is hot and nearly time to go home I looked at these two sites to see if, as an impartial observer,  I found one easier to use than the other. Without doubt I find the brighton site is easier, mostly because it is easier on the eye and it has very clear undergraduate info links. The bright coloured navigation tabs work against the Portsmouth site, I think, because they are set next to the brightly coloured graphic at the top and the net result is that you don't see them. The rest of the page is also too highly coloured and boxy to be comfortable viewing.

Just my 2p. I'm looking forward to seeing people in Manchester in two weeks.
-- 

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Helen Varley Sargan
Information Provision & Webmaster
University Computing Service
New Museums Site             email [log in to unmask]
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Cambridge CB2 3QH            Phone 01223 334480
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