OUGD505: Meetup Networking Platform

Meet Up is a platform for people to meet and network in the area, based around topics of internet (not dating). It is much less satisfying to use compared to some other websites investigated, with the icons and motions feeling almost clunky and unresponsive. Bold clicks need to be made to achieve anything, with the interface relaying on you to make decisions and read- rather than be enticed by aesthetically pleasing visuals or interactive suggestions. The lack of visuals and colour palette is very formal, suggesting that it is their to serve a purpose and nothing else. An element of humanity is removed within this website, which all in all impacts the experience a user has when engaging with the website. The grid system used is not maximising the space, and so is reducing the information to a small proportion of the screen. One could argue that this is counterproductive as the overarching purpose of the website is to inform people about meet ups, with no limit on age. Legibility is a clear function from the visuals of the interface, yet the overall readability could be improved by enlarging the text and working the space in the section of the screen more, aiding the overall initial impression and bringing forward the events more. The implications for the user of becoming unengaged or uninspired by the landing page ultimately effects how they will further engage, or return to the website.

However, the use of visual language contrasts that of the user experience and overall web design, bringing an off the screen, photographic element, sparking creativity and vibrance through the bold colour ways. The white of the interface allows these images to really pop, drawing attention firstly to the sequences in colour ways (orange colour going from top left down and round in Fibbonaci style sequence), leading the eye to all corners of the aspects on offer. We can question why the relationship between imagery and UI is so different, and wether this is a reflection of the company in some way.. their images are art directed with creative considerations and would work as a humanistic element to appeal to my possible target audience. The images are fun, bright and loud- playful and silly, suggesting the brand Meetup is that too, and the clinics of the interface is just an attempt to display information with standardised legibility.