Online Media VS Print Media

Reep (2006) states that when creating a document, it must always have its purpose and maintain its design principles. Hence, its design is of the utmost importance because it serves its purpose to guide, attract attention, and to reflect the intended message to the mass audience. Principles would fall under its rules of proportion, balance, sequence, and consistency when designing a document.

One would wonder why it is that print is still around when the technology of Internet is already a part of most of our lives. Well, we assume that that would eventually replace print media once and for all. However, that possibility of that happening is still a long way to go, and with paper still available in the world, we still put it to good use.

Over the years, the online media has been the print media’s sole competitor. Sure,
online media would have more audience on that vast plane called the Internet, but print ads are catching up too, creating more innovative ideas and witty designs to attract attention. And of course, despite technology, not everyone in this world is 24/7 online.

Especially when they are driving.

Speaking of driving, I came across a print advertisement by Volvo while surfing.

Volvo advertisement (source from Joe's Adblog)

“Volvo For Life” is a known tagline for their brand and the range of cars that they built, simply because they are built to last for a very long time. They conform to Reep’s (2006) purpose by guiding and attracting readers, and also reflecting their intended message, which is, their tagline. Literally. As for Reep’s (2006) principles, all match up to it, particularly for her ‘consistency’ as Volvo’s advertisements are known to be of the same kind.

Now, as for websites, they do conform to Reep’s (2006) principles and purpose in design. But at the same time, they also have their own set of rules to go about. Chomski (n.d) lists his 10 layout rules when it comes to web design;

1. Consider the theme
2. Consider the photocomposition (in terms of pictures, logos, and colours)
3. Smooth and user-friendly navigational system
4. Consider the structure of links in regards to the navigational system
5. Loading time (avoid big graphics or huge flash animations and keep things minimum
6. Consider the compatibility (different people, different browsers)
7. Banner page; its purpose is similar to that of a newspaper frontpage headline
8. Content; be interesting
9. Presentation of the content; but don’t make it too plain
10. Feedback; cater for your audience, not for yourself

Sadly, not all websites play it this way. According to Nielsen’s (2008) research, some of the neglected usability aspects are homepage usability, search, accessibility, and the web presence.

As an avid video game fan (aside from Destructoid.com), my two other favourite haunts would be the ATLUS Message Board and its so-called boycott board, ARLUS. Forums are probably one of the most important element on a website because this is where your source of feedback would spring up from; the audience.


ATLUS is a video game company that releases games and is primarily known for their Shin Megami Tensei and Trauma Centre series. The official forums is where they have updates on their latest games and give people room to discuss about their games. It is also the place where they can interact with the people working in ATLUS USA themselves, the administrators of the boards.


This is ARLUS, a boycott forum made by a group of members formerly from ATLUS forums to boycott ATLUS forums due to an ‘unjust’ act they did upon these members. Much like ATLUS, I also receive my updates on video games here. But unlike ATLUS forums, here, I have the freedom to talk about other video games aside from ATLUS-made ones.

Concerning the designs, ARLUS’s designs were fashioned from ATLUS Forum’s previous layout. The designs are simple, easily accessed, and they hardly boast much on graphics, which allows them to have a faster loading time (this conforms to Chomski’s 10 layout rules).

Although ATLUS Forums pretty much runs the same design as any other forums, its new layout proved to be difficult to manoeuvre. Black is not a good colour to go along with another white background. The huge contrast is just one thing; graphic-wise, ATLUS has more to offer and it seemed a little too much for one to see (in regards to the photoconsumption rule).

The fact that I hardly go to ATLUS forums nowadays pretty much shows why.





Reference:

Chomski, B., n.d., 10 Layout Rules, 10-layout-rules.com, viewed 13 November, 2008 http://www.10-layout-rules.com/index.html

Nielsen, J., 2008, Aspects of Design Quality, UseIt.com, viewed 13 November, 2008 http://www.useit.com/alertbox/quality-correlations.html

Reep, D.C., 2006, ‘Principles of Document Design’, Document Design 6th Edition, Pearson/Longman, New York, p. 134 - 136