Web Watch - Jan08

http://www.weavetoshi.co.jp/

This site has been making its rounds for a while now, but it is worth bringing up again if only to highlight a wonderful example of what a site can achieve when all the buttons that the interactive medium has to offer are pushed. This online catalogue of a leading Japanese manufacturer and retailer specialising in hats, reels you in with an aural and visual experience that conjures up a mixture of nostalgia and whimsy. The unconventional mode of navigation ties-in with the concept; drag the mouse as you would the hands of a clock, and the visuals move, staccato-like, unveiling various images of a boy and girl, playfully showcasing the various items in the collection. Why should an online catalogue be a detached, point-and-click exercise? A masterfully-crafted piece with an emotional weight most websites can only hope to achieve. Beautiful.

Rating 4/5

Not KFC Singapore

http://www.kfc.com.sg/

I use this website on a regular basis (the rate of my visits is directly proportional to the amount of workload I have in the office) so I have, therefore, a vested interest in the appeal of this site. Or more accurately, the non-appeal of this site. This website really does not do justice to the brand. It's not terribly appealing, the navigation is schizophrenic and the all-important homepage is uninformative (shouldn't the delivery number, at the very least, be on the homepage?) and uninviting. Sure, with a little bit of effort, you could technically find the information you're looking for, but this is akin to walking into a cheerless restaurant and being served by a non-communicative waiter. Sure the food might be good, but this will no doubt leave you pining for a better experience.

Jason Chan

Art Director

Kinetic Interactive