Facebook is a social network service and website which was launched in 2004. It is a social networking website with over a million of users per day. The website is run and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. Many use Facebook as a means of communication with friends or simply to find others with common interests, whether it be sports, school, clubs, etc. It will be analyzed by the use of colour, use of typefaces, the F-pattern shapes, 'like' button, and other text and visual aspects.
URL; www.facebook.com
Use of colour
Our minds are programmed to respond to color (Jill, 2010). The colours used in facebook's web template colour palette are denim blue, grayish white and ice blue. Typically, lighter coloured websites are more trustworthy and easier to use. Nearly every colour on the page is some shade of blue; even the grey of the background have some blue tinge to them.
Major colour is blue; blue is the richest color for me (Mark, 2002).
Blue colour symbolizes reliable, confidence and gives the impression calm. Blue is a primary colour; the least strongest primary colour on the eyes, making it more likeable commonly amongst people, as it’s more relax. Also combination of white, grey and blue can give the impression of trust and cleanliness.
Then minor colour is grayish white. White is associated with coolness and cleanliness. Also the colour white emphasizes other colours and give the impression of simplicity (Wysocki, 2004, page135).
Images
As Facebook develops more advertising products to help advertisers reach audiences within the platform. Facebook is a powerful advertising channel. The image of an advertisement and it changes every time you enter the site; it grabs the viewers' attention. By clicking One of the images on the page 'the current page disappear from screen to be replace, bit-by-bit, by a new page, this is close to jump cut in video or film' (Wysocki, 2004). The new page will give the view more detailed advertisement. According to Nielsen (2007), people rarely read web pages but they scan the page, picking out Individual words and sentences. The visitor scan the website on F-shaped patter (I will explain more about F-shaped pattern later on), two horizontal stripes followed by a vertical stripe. Also there are thumbnail images; it makes the viewer to scroll down more on the page.
Logotype; Facebook used an initial logotype to show simplicity
Shape; an understanding of shapes is essential to understanding the power of color in branding (Jill, 2010). The facebook logo is rectangular shape with the name enclosed within it.
Colour; Color is the visual component people remember most about a brand followed closely by shapes/symbols then numbers and finally words (Jill, 2010).The facebook logo is also blue colour. It comprises of a blue background and white font.
Font; logo features the company name in lowercase.
Font
Font family: Lucida Grande
Font size: 11px
Reason: Considering the increase of mobile users accessing websites, facebook used strong fonts for easy reading.
The F-shaped pattern
According to Nielsen (2007), when we read a page, our eye automatically traces the text in an F-shape. Rather than trying to force the viewer's visual flow, the f-layout gives in to the natural behaviors of most web surfers. Attaining a better grasp of how different layouts can change user behaviour is one of the central principles of creating an effective use experience (Neilsen, 2007). Web surfers read the screen in an f-pattern. Seeing the top, upper left corner and left sides of the screen most, only occasionally taking glances towards the right side of the screen, therefore users aren't going to read each and every word on the page.
Facebook relies strongly on the F-pattern eye flow. Each sidebar widget includes a bit of custom design that keeps it interesting, relevant, simple, straight forward design pattern and note how scannable the headlines are.
Use of typefaces
According to Wysocki (2004, page 127), when a letter or word is placed on a page or screen, it is given visual materiality and hence must be given a particular letter shape, style, size and overall shape. This site is using slab typefaces; this typeface can grab attention of the users by using bold and huge images. As I mentioned previously (from f-shaped pattern), users do not have time to get to the information they're looking for so the Facebook give solution to put it right where they can see it and give the, quick access to it. Also oversized images from registration page, give powerful message that makes the visitor want to remember this site. The footer includes less important information but still relevant, such as language bar, RSS feeds and so on.
