Hello! For my second peer review, I’ll be discussing thoughtsbytem.space! This website recounts the author’s adventures as a first-time traveller to Japan without a lot of prior research. They aim to educate others so that they don’t make the same mistake, as well as anyone else who is interested. First things first: I’m not sure what is their preferred name, so I’ll be referring to them using their name listed on the class spreadsheet.
When you first open the website, you land on the “About” page. I found this unusual but very helpful, especially in terms of what the website is about. The topic of the website is very specific, so having the “About” page double as the “Home” page helps the reader understand what kind of website they’re reading. The tone used on the landing page is very friendly and casual, which helps set the atmosphere for the rest of the blog.
The design of the entire website is very minimalistic. I think that this matches really well with the topic, since I kind of associate the clean, simple, minimalist aesthetic with Japan. The colours all seem to have a purple-y undertone, which is cohesive and looks great. It even matches the logo at the top left, which seems to be a purple flower. As well, the round, simple, sans-serif font is easy to read, and helps to emit friendly and casual vibes.
The layout for each page and post is relatively similar, so the theme is consistent throughout. I like how they used subheading and dividers throughout the blog posts. This helps guide the reader through the sections and gives a clear description of what can be found. It also allows the reader to skim through or find specific topics within a post easily. For example, in the blog post titled “What do you see? IC Cards.”, the reader can skim through and gather that Karson will discuss what are IC cards, types of IC cards, and how/where you use them. I also like how there are pictures to accompany the information. In earlier posts and on the navigation pages, I noticed that there weren’t many images, so one critique that I think could really pull the website together even more, is adding relevant pictures that match the aesthetic.
In terms of usability and site structure, the website is easy to navigate because everything is labelled clearly and concisely. All the blog posts are grouped together, and all the Posiel posts are grouped together as well. It would be hard to find a single running feed of all the recent posts, but I don’t think that this takes away from the ease of navigation.
Lastly, I like how Karson has a clear author voice. This is seen through the casual tone and humour in each blog post.
In summary, Karson’s website is clear, well-designed, easy to navigate and overall, entertaining to read!