What do you know...
Just after finishing my Google analysis, a new search engine launched: Cuil. So I decided to perform another color analysis.
Here's Cuil:
While this is cool:
Can you see the difference?
Here's what I did:
• The blue color was used inconsequential. Now everything blue indicates links or clickable objects. The only exception is the cuil logo
• I played with the contrasts to make some things more better visable. The i in Cuil was too dark and didn't stand out enough from the background. Same goes for the 'search' button. The search button is, after all, what Cuil is all about. So you better damn well make it an eye catcher. Same thing in the bottom bar. I toned down the '2 Columns' indication. It IS already 2 columns and I can see that. I'm only interested to find the option '3 columns' when I need it. So '3 colomns' should be better visable than' 2 columns' and should be blue as well to show it is clickable. Same thing goes for the page numbers.
• I have no idea what the green links at the bottom of each search result are all about. They are copies of the links at the top of the result. I don't understand why it should be green either. So I made it grey to tone it down. They could be dropped for all I care but hey, I'm just the color guy...
Comments (2)
Interesting take, but I have to disagree with some of the changes. Here's what I think:
- The blue Cuil uses is part of the brand — making it lighter drains a bit of life out of it I think.
- I think the white "Search" on dark blue is easier to see than the black "Search" on light blue. There's also a gradual rise happening in brightness — we're going from black, to dark blue, to white. In your example it goes from black, to light blue, and back to black. I think the original gradual rise is a little more aesthetically pleasing in that particular case.
- The light blue numbers in your example don't have a lot of contrast with the light grey "active" page number. The original white number for active page stands out more in a sea of darker blue links.
- Regarding the green links: I think you're right to think that this is secondary or tertiary information and so should be given less focus, but I think the reason they color it green is to give it a hook for the eye. Somebody who is scanning the results and wants to check the source URLs will be able to focus on these links faster because they're the only green elements on the page — the colors as used as anchors here.
Just my take on it of course, you used good method to arrive at the redesign so it may be just me that prefers the original :) but thought I'd add my feedback anyhow.
Posted by Dmitry | August 18, 2008 2:33 PM
Posted on August 18, 2008 14:33
@Dmitry
"I think the white "Search" on dark blue is easier to see than the black "Search" on light blue."
Yes. But my aim was to make the button stand out more.
"The original white number for active page stands out more in a sea of darker blue links."
Indeed. But then again, you don't need to click to the current page, do you? So you have to wonder: what is more important? The current page number or the link to the next page?
"I think the reason they color it green is to give it a hook for the eye"
Good point. And if it's true, green is indeed a good solution.
Anyway, you're right: my take on the Cuil page is far from perfect. A proper design needs a lot more work.
Posted by Igor Asselbergs | August 19, 2008 11:41 PM
Posted on August 19, 2008 23:41