I explored issue #2 of Vectors: The Mobility Issue. As expressed in the project’s editorial statement, I found the interface to be engaging and dynamic. The presentation was clean easy to navigate. On the right side of the page, there are rectangular shaped images that link you to each of the stories in the issue. When you get to the story, you have the option of linking to the Editor’s Introduction, Author’s Statement, Playtester’s Statement, Peer responses + Discuss … in other words, there are several layers to each story; several perspectives from which to enter each blog. This is in line with the editorial goal of keeping the site dynamic. And, even though the work is layered, it never feels unmanageable. I also noticed that every time one returns to the Archive page, there is a different quote from each of the different stories in each issue. This detail adds to the dynamic feel of the site. It never feels like static items have been cut and pasted to the web page, but, instead, the way the site is designed takes advantage of the specific and non-linear story-telling opportunities particular to this medium.
Once you enter a story, the design of the page changes and the links to the additional stories now appears at the top right of the page as one thin, long rectangle and without images. Instead of being confusing, this change in design kept me engaged with the page. It felt like I had to keep paying attention, which kept me interested. And, because the design of the site is clean and minimal, I never felt frustrated or lost in a sea of overwhelming information or extraneous text. Unlike other projects we have studied, the design of Vectors felt like every link had a specific purpose and I was not going to go down a rabbit hole. The design feels circular, as if taking different paths; experiencing the site in different ways, is part of the designed experience.
I think the project is successful in that it takes the overarching theme of technologically-mediated mobility and reflects it in its non-linear design aesthetic. By maximizing the mobility, or navigation, opportunities that are specific to this medium, the designers have created a unique experience for the viewer.