Vogue.co.uk has been revamped to make the site accessible to users visiting via all devices, from iPads to other tablets, desktops and smartphones. Those who work in digital marketing will know there is a delicate balance to be struck when creating any website, for any brand – it must look good, be accessible and useable, but it must also make all the right moves in terms of optimisation.
Vogue’s redesign is proof that a website can tick all the right boxes, and that the balance between looks and function is achievable. It looks as eye catching and stylish as its predecessor, but has simple and intuitive navigation too.
Like the print version of the fashion bible, the Vogue website is heavily advertising-based, and as part of the redesign, the site can now host bespoke HTML 5 adverts which are designed to adapt depending on the kind of device the site is being viewed on.
Fashion giant Ralph Lauren has already utilised this new feature and has been showcasing its autumn/winter collection around the site.
I first looked at the new site on a desktop, and found it really simple to find what I was looking for. Regular readers of Vogue’s online version will recognise the destinations in the left hand navigation bar, including People and Parties, Street Chic, Trends and Today I’m Wearing, a popular blog on which a chosen celebrity details their daily outfits for a month.
For a quick browse, the trending bar along the top of the site is a great addition. Split into person, events and topic – when I visited these were Kristen Stewart, Fashion’s Night Out and Best Dressed – the bar allows for fast navigation to the most popular bits of Vogue online.
Buttons to follow Vogue on Twitter or to like Vogue on Facebook can be found at the bottom of the home page, and the What People Are Reading feature shows how many times a particular page has been viewed today, navigating fashionistas to content that is really popular at the time of their visit.
Checking Vogue.co.uk on my HTC Sensation was easy – the site loaded really quickly, and there was no need to scroll from side to side to view the whole page, a bug bear on so many poorly optimised websites. The use of black text on a white background is simple and striking, and it was good to see that the smartphone optimised version still featured plenty of fashion photos, which is what most browsers are after.
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