Author: master

Star Assessment:
ASSESSMENT:

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Star Assessment:
ASSESSMENT:

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Star Assessment:
ASSESSMENT:

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Star Assessment: 1 star
ASSESSMENT:
• The ADAD website also folllows the basic template/navigation/colors of the current DOH Main site and there is no branding specifically for the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division. This site is extremely text/link heavy and lacks engaging visuals, colors or graphics. Because there is so much copy, the resources/important information get lost and it becomes difficult to filter through all the content to find what you’re looking for.
• The images used are covers of reports, which helps to tie it to Hawaii. People in Hawaii are very attuned to imagery that connects/relates with us, so it is of the utmost importance that we have the right photos/backgrounds/people and cultures used, in addition to colors and graphics. 
• The one painting/illustration used is located on the bottom of the Disaster Response State Project page and would be better utilized at the top of the page as a hero image. Hero images are used to help with branding, drawing the viewer into the site and setting a good first impression about the division/organization. 

RECOMMENDATIONS:
• Incorporating hero images/photos/illustrations, colors and graphics to brand the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division and give it a Hawaii sense of place and culture. With consistent and appropriate use, the viewer will recognize the brand and associate it with the division/DOH.
• Using images with real local people gives it a more relatable/approachable presence to the audience. People seeking help for substance abuse often have emotional and behavioral issues—they need to feel safe and that the DOH/affiliations understand who they are and what resourses are available when they are ready to access it.
• This site is copy/content/link intensive. By dividing the content better and assigning it appropriate styles, it will make it easier for the audience to filter and find what they are searching for.
– Designing a good visual hierarchy for the copy: Using different type sizing, weight, color consistently for headers, body copy, call-outs, display type will help the viewer through the content.
– Creating call-out boxes to highlight important facts/info.
– Creating anchors on pages with heavy content to alleviate endless scrolling. 

Star Assessment: 2 stars
ASSESSMENT:
• The Child & Adolescent Mental Health Division (CAMHD) website header and footer follows the basic template and colors of the current DOH Main site. The area between the header and footer is designed into blocks containing: a secondary navigation, a third navigation, a slideshow with eight slides (photos, graphics, messaging), video block, photos, copy and a fb feed. There is so much important information on the home page that each cancels out the other and the viewer can get overwhelmed. Overall the content is good/informative, but how it’s presented is not. There is no layout heirarchy in place and the space where the copy/content is is very small and limited. Although there is a heirarchy in the type—headers, subheaders, use of italics, bold and colored copy—the body copy is very small due to the limited space and the essential content is minimized.
• There are three navigations on the homepage which is also overwhelming. The secondary navigation seems to be the priority and stands out more than the top navigation bar. As you go through the site, some pages have four navigation menus.
• The CAMHD website has a lot of great messaging/graphics/photos, but because there is so much, it’s difficult to know which is most important.

RECOMMENDATIONS:
Lessen the total number of navigations and consolidate into one main nav and a secondary nav. 
• Simplify the overall layout and create a heirarchy for content and copy so the site is easier for the viewer to navigate through.
• Create a schedule for the slideshow and limit the slides to 3 or 4. Rather than showing everything all at one time, chunk the events/messages so it changes out every quarter. 

Star Assessment: 2 stars
ASSESSMENT:
• The Children with Special Health Needs Branch website design follows the DOH brand template, colors and type style but lacks any brand specific visuals, colors or graphics for the CWSNB brand. 
• The site are uses the DOH gray for the main headers and teal green throughout the copy/subpages. There is a basic hierarchy for the type, making it clean and simple. There are great resources throughout the site, but nothing is highlighted or pushed to the forefront. 
• There are a few pictures/flyers displayed as imagery, but it is unreadble and very small so you need to click it to read, and even when it opens up it is unreadble. 

RECOMMENDATIONS:
• Many of the links go out of the site and there is no way to get back to the CWSHNB site except to hit the “show previous page” arrow or through the “breadcrumbs” right under the nav bar. It woud be beneficial to have a button to take you back to the CWSHNB site.
• This website is more of a resource site, with many links taking you out to other programs or PDFs. It would help if there were more descriptions/details on how this branch helps and what are the benefits of this branch. If I were a parent of a child with special health needs, why would I contact this program as opposed to the Developmental Disabilities Department?
• It would be good to have photos of actual families and of the kids with special health needs—its always good to see who is being helped and makes the site more relatable to those seeking out services. 
• The website woud benefit from having testimonials from families who have had a positive experience with the servicing from the CWSHNB. 

Star Assessment: 3 stars
ASSESSMENT:
• The Clean Water Branch (CWB) website follows the basic template/top navigation/colors of the current DOH Main site, but uses appropriate photos (mascot photo) to differentiate itself from other branches. It is a large site with many programs and elements that fall under this branch.
• The homepage is quite long so you have to scroll down for information, but there is a slideshow banner at the top along with descriptor copy that says who they are, what they do and who they serve. There is a secondary navigation right next to the slideshow and a graphical navigation towards the bottom of the page outlining the divisions. When you go to a subpage, the navigation changes in design, but is easy to follow. 
• The typography is clearly defined and the styles stay consistent for the most-part, making it clean and easy to read—main headers, secondary headers/titles, body copy, bold and italic body styles and bullet points for easy readability. 
• There is a huge amount of important facts/content/resources/documents in this site, some requiring permit applications and record requests.
• Photos/graphics/tables are used throughout the site which is good, but are not consistent in style. 

RECOMMENDATIONS:
• Create a more effective, consistent navigation system to incorporate the vast amount of divisions/programs/parts that fall under this website for a better experience. It will also make content easier to find.
• Add more CWB specific images and graphics to brand this branch since it has so many parts. There is so much information on this site that it will help to make the overall site more appealing/interesting so the view wants to look more about the servicing. 
• Condense the content. There is so much content to this site, you need to know exactly what you want/where you want to go or you can get lost in information.

Star Assessment: 4.5 stars
ASSESSMENT:

• Good Use of Color as a visual identifier for the subject matter—consistent, engaging, clean/clear. Teal is clearly the main color; Good use of a neutral color that compliments the “Teal”. This cream color is used effectively to delineate areas of information appropriately.
• Good Use of “Kalo” art to differentiate this site from the other sites. Appropriate for a Hawai‘i audience.
• The typography is clean with a clear distinction in hierarchy
• Site uses “breadcrumbs” which is helpful to users when navigating
• Layout of content is clear, concise and direct—utilizing bullet points when necessary without overwhelming the user. The site carefully guides the user through the content with simplicity and clarity.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

• Consider using a few graphics—call outs of statistics or simple illustrations—to break up the heavier areas of text and further guide the user through the information

Star Assessment:
ASSESSMENT:

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Star Assessment: 3.5 stars
ASSESSMENT:

• Clean site that follows the general format of DOH sites
• Nice use of icons on buttons to add visual queues
• Carousel information helps create visual interest on the homepage
• Layout of information is straight-forward, simple/clean

RECOMMENDATIONS:

• Homepage: Clearly identifying the core audience—individuals with Developmental Disabilities—can strengthen the site’s effectiveness.This can be executed with a overarching statement or shown visually through images and key words. Visual cues can be used to assure that the audience is seen/known and it sends a signal to the user that the information is relevant and worthwhile. It is an often overlooked key component to creating an impression of trust, care and authority.
• Homepage: Clearly defining the “areas” of information can be improved by adding headers. Sections are visually delineated but headers will help the user disseminate the information so they can decide if it is relevant to them.
• Quick Links (3) on Homepage: Add more visual interest (engaging/relevant photos or graphics) to draw interest.
• Buttons: Consider using buttons in an accent color (instead of Teal) to differentiate it from the overall color scheme of the site. Button style should be consistent throughout site.