Criteria

We advise you to study this criteria thoroughly as it will provide you with a good understanding of what type of evaluation(s) your site will be subjected to.

Awards are valid at the time of their presentation only, and are based on the criteria set forth at that time. Nodus Awards will not be held responsible for subsequent changes to a site and reserve the right to modify criteria after giving two (2) weeks prior notice, for the purposes of improving the standard, ethics and integrity of the program.

 

Public Evaluation Overview

Nodus visitors and users of the members website are encouraged to provide a 'Public Evaluation'. The system asks for the site to be marked in three key sections; Appearance, Usability and Content. There is no bonus point available with Public Evaluations (see Official).

The visitor is asked to rate each of the three sections on a scale of one to five. Each section is worth a maximum 5 points, giving a 15 point total.

  • 5/5 Outstanding
  • 4/5 Very Good
  • 3/5 Good
  • 2/5 Average
  • 1/5 Poor

Gold, Silver and Bronze award levels are NOT available for Public Evaluations and can only be earned via an Official Evaluation.

 

Official Evaluation Overview

Your sites theme is not part of the Official Evaluation criteria as we believe it is unfair to allow our personal interests to influence our affinity with the website. We try to stay as impartial as possible.

Your website will be evaluated by the Nodus Awards judges in 4 sections. Each section has a certain amount of points allocated to it which when added together give a 16 point total.

Nodus Bronze Award  Nodus Silver Award  Nodus Gold Award

  • Gold Award - (14+ Points)
    Winning sites have demonstrated outstanding quality in all areas of web design and have few equals. Very hard to win.
  • Silver Award - (11-13 Points)
    Winning sites are of a high quality but lack the 'wow factor' needed for Gold status. Fairly difficult to win.
  • Bronze Award - (8-10 Points)
    Winning sites are of a good quality in most areas but lack a 'polished' feel overall. Relatively easy to win.

 

Judges Score Card

Please note that the marking system outlined below only applies to Official Evaluations and NOT Public Evaluations although visitors are more than welcome to use it as a guide when evaluating.

 

Section 1.0 - Appearance

This section contains 5 points made up of 5 questions with each "YES" answer earning a point.

  • 1.1 - Is the appearance cohesive, maintaining an identifiable look and feel throughout?
  • 1.2 - Does the look convey the right message, in keeping with the theme / content?
  • 1.3 - Are the graphics professional, free from pixelation, distortion or any other poor execution?
  • 1.4 - Is the appearance memorable, distinctive and appealing to you personally?
  • 1.5 - Is the site visually exciting, innovative and does it provide a unique experience?

 

Section 2.0 - Usability

This section contains 5 points made up of 5 questions with each "YES" answer earning a point.

  • 2.1 - Is the navigation consistent, intuitive, effective and free from broken / dead links?
  • 2.2 - Does the site fit within the width of your monitor and are all page elements positioned as intended?
  • 2.3 - Is the structure for the content well thought out with good use of borders, dividers and spacing?
  • 2.4 - Is the site load time acceptable and void of annoying / unnecessary elements that notably impact speed?
  • 2.5 - Does the site have features / functionality that set it apart and make it a joy to use?

 

Section 3.0 - Content

This section contains 5 points made up of 5 questions with each "YES" answer earning a point.

  • 3.1 - Is the content written in a logical order, making it easy to follow / understand?
  • 3.2 - Are all pages and sections free from duplication / unneeded repetition?
  • 3.3 - Is the content legible with appropriate use of headings and paragraphs?
  • 3.4 - Is the content void of spelling, punctuation and grammar mistakes?
  • 3.5 - Are the topics informative and generally of benefit to the target audience?

Note(i): Non-English sites (or without a good translation option) will not score points for 3.1, 3.4 and 3.5.
Note(ii): Ecommerce sites will not be eligible for 3.5 unless they have content beyond product info, delivery, returns and terms.
Note(iii): Forums and other user generated content sites will not be eligible for 3.5 unless they have content added by the owner.

 

Section 4.0 - Bonus

This section contains 1 point made up of 1 question with a "YES" answer earning a point.

  • 4.1 - For whatever reason, do you believe the site to be special and an outstanding contribution to the web?