Web pages
When we build web pages we fill them with contain many things:
An effective page is one that guides the eye to the main areas of the page, while still allowing users to find the secondary components.
Take a look at Google's home page, for example. Their content jumps straight out at you. Navigation and fine print; restrained. Ambience; the Google logo and spartanic page layout. Fluff? Zero. OK, not every page can be that simple and focused. Try Wired.com; the colours may be garish, but your eye can't miss the main content. And once again zero fluff.
Now try some telecom sites; Sprint, AT&T or Verizon. What do you see? Sprint (www.sprintpcs.com) has the improved lately, but it's still a challenge to find what the page is about. AT&T page "features" Flash. I need say no more. Verizon's main page has no less than 5 (five) non-content images (4 smiling women and one dog, when I last looked). I have no idea what, if any, focus was intended, but it's certainly not easy to find your way around such a busy page. Is it a coincidence that telecom companies enjoy a less than glorious reputation for customer service?
Web applications are hardly diffrent. Their "content" is the application window; often simialr to a desktop application's dialog window. Navigation offers other tasks or work flows. The fine print may read "Company confidential" and yes, non-content fluff sneaks in too. In my experience it's the company internal web applications that can be the worst. With a captive user group, comapnies feel less need for usability. "Blame and train" user interfaces abound. How much time (and money) is lost as a consequence? I don't dare think.
The basic principles have been known for a long time (small details apart, they are not much different from other user interface design areas). Good web page design is not that difficult.
Category: Web,Design
- Content – that's the main stuff, the focus and purpose of the page.
- Navigation – not part of the above, but ways to get to other pages
- Fine print – again, not prime content, but necessary stuff like contact details and legalese.
- Ambience – signs or hints that you are at the right place.
- Fluff – stuff that makes no contribution to the purpose of the page.
An effective page is one that guides the eye to the main areas of the page, while still allowing users to find the secondary components.
Take a look at Google's home page, for example. Their content jumps straight out at you. Navigation and fine print; restrained. Ambience; the Google logo and spartanic page layout. Fluff? Zero. OK, not every page can be that simple and focused. Try Wired.com; the colours may be garish, but your eye can't miss the main content. And once again zero fluff.
Now try some telecom sites; Sprint, AT&T or Verizon. What do you see? Sprint (www.sprintpcs.com) has the improved lately, but it's still a challenge to find what the page is about. AT&T page "features" Flash. I need say no more. Verizon's main page has no less than 5 (five) non-content images (4 smiling women and one dog, when I last looked). I have no idea what, if any, focus was intended, but it's certainly not easy to find your way around such a busy page. Is it a coincidence that telecom companies enjoy a less than glorious reputation for customer service?
Web applications are hardly diffrent. Their "content" is the application window; often simialr to a desktop application's dialog window. Navigation offers other tasks or work flows. The fine print may read "Company confidential" and yes, non-content fluff sneaks in too. In my experience it's the company internal web applications that can be the worst. With a captive user group, comapnies feel less need for usability. "Blame and train" user interfaces abound. How much time (and money) is lost as a consequence? I don't dare think.
The basic principles have been known for a long time (small details apart, they are not much different from other user interface design areas). Good web page design is not that difficult.
Category: Web,Design
posted by John at 9:36 AM
1 Comments:
I was thinking of the stuff you have to put on the page -- and that's usually in small font size, but people mostly ignore. But I'm fine if you prefer to call it supporting content. Whatever works for you.
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