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  • Winning Online - Web Design in ManchesterWinning Online - Web Design in Manchester

    • Date: 14/07/09

    • Category: Web Design

    Manchester is renowned for many things; a quality university, one of the UK’s major airports, entertainment venues which regularly attract global superstars, and arguably the world’s best football team. But people don’t often realise that Manchester is winning online as well. When residents or visitors of Manchester need something on the internet, their web design makes it easy to find.

    University of Manchester
    http://www.manchester.ac.uk

    Whilst the space on screen isn’t necessarily used to its maximum potential, the space that is used is used well. As a student, everything that you need is at hand, because the economical use of quick links ensures that essential pages are never more than two clicks away. The tabs at the top of the page make it easy for visitors to find the page relevant to the nature of their enquiry, choosing categories which most people visiting the site will be interested in (Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Our Research, Alumni and About Us). By using strong colours in small doses against a white background, the colour scheme is clean and simple. The University of Manchester’s website design maintains the right balance between catering to students and visitors, between visibility and functionality.

    Visit Manchester
    http://www.visitmanchester.com

    With so much to accommodate on one site, Visit Manchester’s web design should definitely be applauded. A selection of links at the top of the page encompass the variety of things people wanting to visit Manchester might want to do, and the prominent positioning of the Search function encourages people to narrow their selection. A quick search for ‘pubs’ directs me to a ‘Where to Eat & Drink Page’ with a large choice of places and the necessary details (Address, Map, Telephone, Email and Website). The use of images makes up for the lack of background colour, and like the University of Manchester’s web design, Visit Manchester targets the right balance between visibility and functionality rather than searching solely for the ‘wow factor’.

    Manchester Airport
    http://www.manchesterairport.co.uk

    What makes Manchester Airport’s web design different is the smooth transition from booking to flying, because the web design is noticeably similar to that of a travel agency or airline. More so than the first two web designs reviewed here, Manchester Airport’s has to be – and does – prioritise accessibility and functionality. The choice of tabs at the top of the page is crucial for making life easy for passengers, and the carefully chosen positioning of the Live Flight Information search option shows that its popularity amongst users has been recognised during the web design process. Dedicating space to Book Holidays and Flights is a step forward for airport web design, and by bringing everything together for a holidaymaker under ‘one roof’, other airports should take note.

    Manchester United
    http://www.manutd.com

    Manchester United’s website design understands that the majority of its visitors are fans, and are therefore more likely to be browsing rather than searching for something particular. The web design is cutting edge for a football club because it resembles a social networking site merged with YouTube, and the majority of space in the centre of the site is packed with the latest match news, transfer news and interviews. The Log In option enables users to customise their browsing experience. For those looking for something specific, the range of sections on the left hand side is more than enough to make searching quick and painless.