The document summarizes flaws on the University of Houston-Downtown website and provides recommendations to address them. It finds that the theme colors are inconsistent and recommends using a black background to tie the page together. It also suggests making the quick link and myUHD signs bigger and more prominent. Additionally, it proposes removing the inquire link from the homepage and relocating the success stories and UHD online links for better visibility.

1. English 3302
Business and Technical Report Writing
Memorandum
To: Uhd.edu Web designers
From: Jelilat Adesiyan J.A
Subject: Flaws on the UHD website and how to fix them
Date: 1 January 2013
Overview
The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) website is very interesting and dynamic.
However, it has its weak points as well as its strong points. It generally follows the themes and
format that most University websites take. Every click on the UHD emblem takes the user back
to the homepage and that is very important. This feature of stability is a very important part of
any website because the heading is the same on every page therefore, it is always easy to get
back to the homepage or to the myUHD page anytime. There are a few flaws on the website and
I will strive to enumerate them and propose solutions. Some of these problems on the page
include the overall theme colors. They do not completely match. The quick link theme also does
not match the overall theme colors. The mobile site is not completely suited to accommodate the
user’s need because the options available are not completely user friendly and, the myUHD sign
is not very noticeable. The ‘inquire, visit and apply’ link takes the prospective student to a page
that doesn’t look related to the school, mainly because the themes don’t match. The inquire link
should be moved to the future student page, and the success stories images draws the focus away
from the main reel, while the UHD online link should be enlarged an placed at a different spot.
Theme Colors
The UHD theme colors appear to be blue, red and black based on the heading of the website
page. Various variations of it seem to be scattered across the screen but what really ties it
together is the grey background. This is a flaw. The basic color themes are not being followed
through. A black background will be beneficial towards really tying the page together. It will
make it look modern and the colors will pop against the black background. The colors of the
pictures on the main reel cannot be helped but the black background should take care of the
abundance of colors that would constantly change.
Quick Link
The quick link option is very helpful and that is something I recently discovered. This is a
testament to the invisibility of the link. The quick link link seems to summarize the entire
website but it is very tiny and located at the top of the page under the search bar. It would be
really beneficial for the users if the font was bigger and probably colored one of the theme
colors. It should then be placed next to another tab of a different color of the same theme.

2. English 3302
Business and Technical Report Writing
MyUHD
The myUHD page is probably one of the most important pages for a user. It is actually one of the
most developed and helpful pages on the website but the link that connects it from the homepage
to the actual page is tiny compared to its function. The colors separate it from the background
and that is very important but it not the appropriate size for a link that is probably second only to
the UHD homepage link. It would be valuable to the users if the sign of the link was bigger.
Inquire, Visit and Apply
The inquire, visit and apply link is very important to prospective students but it is not required to
be on the homepage twice.
i. Inquire: The ‘future students’ tab on the left hand side of the page already has also
has an ‘inquire’, button as does all the links on the left hand side. I think that it should
be removed from the homepage and left on the ‘Future Student’ tab only because
while it performs the same function of assisting future students, it doesn’t help current
students, alumni and the countable other tabs on the left had side. The inquire link
takes a prospective student to a page that requires them to fill out a long form. This
page is done in white and while it does have the UHD emblem, it doesn’t link back to
the main page and the UHD emblem on this page also includes the spelled-out name
of UHD in gold. This is not reminiscent of the theme of the main page.
ii. Visit and Apply: The visit and apply link is also on every page on all the links
on the left side of the homepage. It should only be in the a few of the pages on the
link on the tabs such as the future students, visitors & family, and the Business
community pages since these are directed towards people other than the students.
Success Stories
The success story idea is very inspirational and enlightening but it also serves the double edged
function of cluttering the page. If it was added to the main reel permanently, it could simplify the
process and draw user’s attention the reel in question.
UHD Online
Distance learning is a very important part of UHD; it houses an adequate percentage of UHD
students. The link on the homepage is placed directly under the UHD success story “read my
story line” and the largeness of the people being recycled detracts from the usefulness of the link.
It should either be added to the list of tabs on the side of the page, or moved to the area of the
heading of the homepage, preferably next to the myUHD link.
Conclusion
If you would like to contact me about any questions or more information you can get hold of me
through my email (jelilatwebsite@etc.org) or my phone number (713-000-0000).