Exercise 3.1

Exercise 3.1
FashionDollQuarterly.com
1. There is a PDF file link, but it includes all the pictures and everything that was in the magazine. Not very print friendly, in my opinion. And, honestly, the columns archive dates back to 2005... and only 2005... What if I want something from a more recent publication?

2. It's a PDF document, so yes everything scrolls just fine, pages easily divided, one from the next (probably just like in the actual magazine... though I don't have a copy of it from 2005)

3. There aren't any exact replicas of their sentences: but that's probably because no one else is a leader in "doll fashion." To be honest, I only bought the magazine for the pattern in the back myself...

Rule 1: Offer something
I couldn't say I felt this website offered much of anything. Looking around, past articles are hard to find and information seems somewhat scattered in other places. Possibly the most annoying thing to me is the download section. You're offering screen savers... How about post a download to the latest pattern, or something else interesting? Screen savers is just a cop-out way of saying, "we have nothing to offer."

Rule 2: Get Organized
There is a sense of organization on the site, but it quickly becomes convoluted in navigation. The links are fairly self-evident (on the left), but I have gotten better results navigating from the skinny, hard-to-read navigation bar above the main box of information. This just seems like a poorly designed website, when at the bottom it mentions a "best viewed in" statement. It should be best viewed in any browser with any computer screen size: that's the point of a well-thought out website

Rule 3: Understand Formatting Issues
I cannot imagine how anyone COULD get to information outside of the front page. If they did however, the website is consistent page to page (with plenty of FDQ everywhere) that the lost user could navigate and know what page they had been to.

Rule 4: Create User-Friendly Patterns and Clusters of Information
This is where, if you can find an article, they've done just fine in. The main issue with their information is how little correlation there is between the magazine itself and the website. They seem like two different entities almost in their format and information.

Rule 5: Use the Correct Formatting and Programming
I would have to vote they did not use the correct formatting considering (again) that there is a "best viewed in" statement at the bottom of the page. If it's not versatile, it's not the right formatting.

Programming wise, everything seems to be working out okay, so I assume they got the right man for the job.

Rule 6: Edit for Perfection
Since it is a fashion magazine, wit and such is expected. I would have to say, the way they right is one of the best things about them (magazine and online). They're humorous and upbeat, and as of yet, I've not found any major errors.

Rule 7: Create a Realistic Maintenance Schedule
They have it, and they maintain it. Well enough... (minus the columns archive).