Web page design

[Sam Snodgrass]

May 2, 2006

 

Joshua,

 

Thank you, once again, for soliciting input on the CAM web site from the CAM missionary body .  We do appreciate all the work that you have done. 

 

Your work shows a desire for excellence in every detail.  The layout and design of the site are excellent.  The banners are very well done and do a great job of communicating CAM's vision.  The flash banner is tremendous.  It will stimulate interest in visitors to want to see more.  It is captivating and compelling.  The invitation to explore, experience, and engage is very appealing.  What's more, it is the kind of propositional message that will be quickly caught and remembered. 

 

I see three primary weaknesses in the web-page:

 

1.  The color theme - This is something that I have mentioned in each of my responses.  Dark brown is the primary and dominant color of the site.  As I have previewed the different pages, this color, instead of attracting me, has almost pushed me away from viewing the site.  On one of the maps, the US is shown in dark marroon with black letters.  This further darkens the tone of the page.  The letters are difficult to read.  On the map of Mexico and Central America, the Central American countries almost cannot be seen.  Once again, black lettering is used which makes it very difficult to read.  Such lettering should be white.

 

2.  The primary personalities - I like the message of the web site.  It clearly communcates CAM's vision.  What concerns me is the absence of young caucasians in the banners of the primary pages.  Who are we trying to recruit?  Only Hispanics and Latin Americans?  If that is the case, we might get them with this web site.  I don't believe, however, that they are the only people that we want to recruit.  The only page in which a clearly identifiable caucasian appears is on the preliminary questionnaire page, but it is a secondary page.  Most caucasians will never make it there because they will be discouraged from going further by the message conveyed by the pictures on the banners of the primary pages.  I would suggest that caucasians occupy at least 40% of the space in the banners of the primary pages.  In addition, whoever is on the banners, there should be a good mix of young and older people.  Incidentally, there are no blacks in any of the banners.  Should we not be interesed in recruiting among the evangelical black community?  There are significant black populations in the Carribean nations and in some African countries with a Muslim majority.  I would suggest the following breakdown:  40% caucasian  40% Hispanic and Latin American  15% Black  5% Other races

 

3.  The maps - All of the maps either look old or crumpled.  We live in a day in which the geopolitical landscape of the world is in almost constant change.  Old is retrospective.  New is forward looking.  Old conveys a static perspecitve of the world.  We want to convey the idea that we are progressive in our vision.  The maps of the CAM fields look crumpled.  Perhaps, the idea is to give them a well-used look.  It is clear, however, that the paper is new and that it has been crumpled and torn.  In addition, the maps are not progressive in tone. 

 

I hope that these comments will be both encouraging and helpful as you move to complete your work on the CAM web site.  We trust that, when it is finished, it will honor and glorify the Lord and contribute to the advance of His work through CAM International.

 

Sincerely yours in Christ,

 

Sam Snodgrass