You Wanna Web Design?
Web management is my job, not web graphical design; I’m just not creative enough. I specialize more in usability and the fundamentals of design. So, every day I make decisions revolving around these technical aspects of web development, and I hope you can benefit from my years of experience.
- Get rid of splash pages. The only exception exists for adults-only sites that warn about content not suitable for minors.
- Use colors that provide contrast and are easy on the eyes. Blue on blue, red on green, dark on dark, light on light are all examples of combinations to avoid. Not only will your site be more pleasant to look at, but users with reduced eyesight or colorblindness will appreciate it, not to mention the search engines will visit your site more often — low contrast text is often used by keyword spammers to increase their search engine ranking, a technique the search companies are savvy against. Oh, and this is my personal site; usability can just fly out the window here! Although, no one’s complained yet…
- Don’t mess with the status bar. Having animated text, blinking text, non-URL text, or just no text where you expect to see the full URL of a link is disconcerting at best, and may be perceived as you trying to hide the actual destination, another web spamming technique.
- One of my favorites lines from Jurassic park was “Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they never stopped to think if they should.” Just because you can use JavaScript, Flash, or the latest DHTML special effects doesn’t mean you should, and you probably shouldn’t. The web does not need another website filled with trailing cursors, hidden menus that pop out at you, or wiping screens.
- Speaking of Flash, don’t use its cool effects so much that your site looks like a highly polished commercial. What are you advertising?! You’ve already got the users at your site and already interested, so don’t chase them away with annoying videos and animations. Save the commercials for advertising banners on other people’s sites.
- Does anyone but you care how many visitors you’ve had? No! Get rid of page counters; they look unprofessional. If you really need to know, analyze your server logs instead.
- “This site is developed for Netscape Navigator.” “Best viewed at 800×600.” “Works best in Internet Explorer. Click here to get it.” That just sends the message that you’d rather send your viewer away rather than accommodate their possible technology limitations. Far more useful to say, “Designed to by viewed on a wristwatch worn by a self-opinionated, tantrum-throwing, foul-mouthed ex-Playboy Bunny while riding a unicycle naked through Times Square during the 17th Annual Gay Pride Parade.” At least you’d get a laugh as opposed to an alienated visitor. Try designing for all browsers instead. That being said, sometimes I could care less if something on my personal website works with Internet Explorer or not!
- Make navigation easy. Don’t use mystery-meat navigation (rely on users to hover over or click a confusing graphic before telling them where they’re going), 3D navigation, or metaphoric navigation. And, keep the navigation methods and menus consistent throughout the site.
That’s enough of a teaser. More to follow some other day. I’m heading to New York to see if I can catch that unicycle…
