---
title: "Fragmented Communities and the Chapter/SIG Web Site Problem"
date: 2010-02-01
description: "$( document ).ready(function() { // Handler for .ready() called. $("
canonical_url: https://idratherbewriting.com/2010/02/01/fragmented-communities-and-the-chaptersig-web-site-problem/
---
# Fragmented Communities and the Chapter/SIG Web Site Problem
Although I spent three years in a creative writing program holding exactly these types of writing workshops, in which a group of people provide feedback on the story or essay someone submits, it never crossed my mind that designers probably sit around tables doing the exact same thing with websites. 

### Design Reviews

Regardless of the topic, the methodology of the workshop is mostly the same. In a tactful way, you explain what works well and what could be improved. Others either agree or disagree with your analysis, and hopefully they explain why. The only difference between critiquing creative stories and websites is in the questions you ask. Rather than ask, what's the story here? Are the characters believable? Does it have arc? You ask questions about findability, simplicity, readability, and so forth.

I found that in looking at websites, my feedback could be grouped into about seven categories:

**Purpose**

- What are you trying to achieve with the site?

- What do you want the audience to do on the site?

- What do you want feedback about?

**Findability**

- What are some things your users might be looking for? Is it easy to find them?

- If you search for something, are the results accurate?

**Simplicity**

- Is the site navigation simple to understand?

- How does the site handle submenus to provide additional information?

- Is the site busy?

- Is there enough white space in the site?