Kress and WebKinz

November 3, 2009 at 9:33 pm (Rhetoric Project) (affordance, children, color, design, development, images, Kress, webkinz)

The Webkinz website design relies heavily on the use of images. Because the design was created with children (the primary user) in mind, images are the most obvious choice to the site’s development.

Images help to create meaning for the user during the time he or she spends inside the Webkinz world. According to Kress, images entitle the user to assume that things are exactly like the image depicts it. For example, my little sister believes that the only way to play with her stuffed animal is online. She sees the life meter in her Webkinz’ home which constantly reminds her that she must keep it living. This image is especially important because the meaning of the stuffed animal lies within it. She must keep it alive or else what use the animal to her anymore? She “loves” the animal so much (as she tells me) that she gets online every day, after she has completed her homework of course, to replenish her Webkinz life source.

The placement of every image in the Webkinz world also affects the user’s thought process. In my sister’s homepage she sees every aspect of how her Webkinz stays alive. There is a clickable image that leads her to play games which give her points to keep her pet alive. There is another clickable image that leads her to the store, where she can buy furniture, toys, food, etc for her pet. If these images were not placed in a obvious place (i.e. the first page she accesses after logging in) would she remember all these things she needs to do to play this game? I believe the designer had in mind that children need to be reminded to do certain things.

The design of these images – color, size, order, etc – also afford the user to use them. Every image in the Webkinz world is vividly colored and looks exciting. At first, one might think the assortment and blast of color makes the site too busy, but I believe it is necessary to keep children busy. The color entertains them and gets a creative thought process going, in my opinion. The colors also help to keep the children’s interest. I know that if I were playing in a virtually pet world, I would want the colors to excite me.

I believe a combination of the images, color, and layout develop the design to afford the children’s interaction with the site and keeps them coming back to play more. The site becomes meaningful to the user as they want to continue playing with their pet. They are reminded they must keep them alive and all the ways to do it by placement and positioning. They keep coming back because the layout is inviting and fun to be around. Overall, the images are effective by creating a relationship with the user.