Good layout and whitespace on the internets

These layouts use white space to create a flow through the pages.  The white allows the viewer to find what is important.  Google uses simplicity to direct the viewer.  Amazon shows a lot of information clearly and effectively.  Apple uses white space to separate elements while keeping them organized.  The information on these sites look clean and easy to navigate.  They are organized and user friendly.

bad layout and whitespace on the internets

These layouts look like someone randomly dropped elements on the page.  Again there is no emphasis on any elements to direct the viewer.  The top design uses blue text over a blue background for tough reading.  The second layout has very little organization with way too many elements to focus on one.  the bottom layout looks crazy.  It uses white boxes over checkered white and pink boxes.  The white over white has little contrast and is hard to find informative elements.

good layout and whitespace

These layouts use white space effectively to move the reader through the information.  The top two examples use enough white space for the reader to relax and see the emphasis.  These types of ads look more sophisticated than the typical newspaper ad with an abundance of information crammed into a space with no clear emphasis on any element.  The bottom example uses different sizes of of imagery to demand emphasis.  It also uses the color yellow to flow through the layout.  There is enough white space to separate the photos and text from the other.

bad layout and whitespace

These three examples show poor layout and use of white space.  The best buy example is common for newspaper advertising to fit too many items into one page.  All of the items take the same importance, and it looks like a giant mess.  The hearing ad is complete text with little emphasis on what the ad is about.  For most readers, it would be too much reading without enough eye grabbers to show them why they should read about it.  The realty ad has multiple photos with different themes.  At a first glance most wouldn't know the ad is a realty ad or a circus ad.  Also, the three photos are relatively the same size without demanding relative importance.  These ads do not have a flow for eye movement.

THEKNOT.COM

http://www.theknot.com/  has way too many links on the home page.  The only way to navigate is with the "Find" dropdown bar.  This info overload might persuade brides to purchase more after creating "you won't have enough things for your wedding" anxiety.

CREATIVELIVE.COM

http://www.creativelive.com/  has a visual front page with the main front photo changing frequently.  Creative Live also has subheads and a menu bar for quick navigation.  The website allows easy sign-up and takes advantage of social networking.

STROBIST.COM

http://www.strobist.blogspot.com/ is a blogspot that has lighting techniques.  Each post has enough to intrigue viewers with a read more link.  The body of the website could be wider.

NPPA.ORG

http://www.nppa.org has dropdown menu links that will not work from my smart phone.

Links such as http://bop.nppa.org/2011/ that are related to NPPA will take you away from the NPPA site.

NIKONRUMORS.COM

http://nikonrumors.com has all of the recent links at the bottom of the page. This could be on the side of the page for users to find immediately.

DPREVIEW.COM

www.dpreview.com has an abundance of dropdown links from the menu bar. But this allows quick finds.