Comments and opinions
The City of Pickering has responded to the numerous complaints and criticisms regarding its website. The “new Pickering WEBSITE” cost a million dollars and has changed a lot… much more glitz, a lot more sizzle than steak.
The City asked for input and feedback from site visitors. How many responded, and what they suggested has never been published? The assumption has to be that the City received many suggestions, considered them and implemented the ones they thought were worthwhile.
It is unlikely any site visitor spent the time needed to study the site closely. Some areas of consideration and examination of the website are:
- design and layout;
- engagability and attraction;
- legibility and clarity;
- ease of use;
- content;
- users’ familiarity with digital work
All these facets take time and effort to explore and evaluate. Along with the site needing professional expertise in its redesign, the site should have been tested with various focus groups , varied in computer skills, age, site awareness, and ease of use facility. We have more than 10 years of experience with digital publications and more than 20 in desktop publishing. Hence, we are not babes in the woods when dealing with digital publications.
We have written the City and offered help. This help takes time, energy, exploration and effort, for which the City has been asked to consider compensation, not necessarily financial, as we are not looking to generate revenue at the City’s expense. However, the work that this endeavour necessitates deserves some kind of compensation. The City has taken this suggestion under advisement and has not yet responded.
We await the City’s response.
