There are thousands and thousands of websites on the Internet, and every single one has a different message to their viewers. Each website wants their viewers to get something different from their website for example newspaper websites want as much information on their page for the reader to view, and shopping websites use pictures so viewers can see products. Websites each have a different design, and type of language so their reader will be able to navigate and use the website in the appropriate way.

One website that I often frequent is, www.gap.com. I work at the brand store, and every time I visit the website, I am very satisfied and find it easy to use and do what I want when I am on the website. After discussing the many different type of web designs and layouts, I noticed that the Gap website falls into two of the categories. When I first arrived at the Gap homepage, I found it to be designed as the ideal and real model. In The Language of New Media Design book it says, "Advertising has exploited the Ideal-Real principle frequently and to a great effect. Its function of selling..." (pg. 20). This fits perfectly with what I believe Gap is trying to accomplish on their homepage; they are a large brand and their homepage advertises their products in a way that makes me want to shop and find out more. The book also says that the logo is usually found in the top-left corner of the web page which is true with the Gap homepage, and the other store brands that Gap owns follow after it in the top heading. Like the example website from the book, "Koala page from Encarta," the task buttons are at the top as the ideal, and then a photo displaying some of their popular products is shown below. Gap's homepage is a good example of how the Ideal and Real models works, but once the viewer navigates away from the homepage, the model changes.

Once the viewer clicks on one of the items on the task bar such as women, men, or Gap kids, they are taken to a different page which is set up like the given and new model. From the book again it says that "the given and new model divides information into two halves, or 'poles,' which contrast with each other in one way or another" (pg. 15). This relates to the different sections of the Gap website because on one half is the product descriptions such as shirts, pants, dresses, etc. while the other half displays pictures that correlate with the description that the viewer is looking for. On the left side in the given, or the past information and on the right side in the new, or the present of future information. The Given side on the Gap website has the descriptions of the items which never changes so I think that information is in the past. On the right side is the products which either are in the stores right now, or will be coming out in the future. The given and new model works very well and helps the viewers shop easily on the Gap website.

I never knew how important it was for a website to pick a model and layout for their website. I realize now that the model has a great impact on the viewer and how they navigate through every website.