October 7th, 2011 6:09 am
There is a lot of pressure put on some web designers, usually at their own accord, to be able to produce a fantastically eye pleasing web design project. However, with the public’s interest in mind, no matter how “pretty” a web site is, it’s usually at the cost of the website’s usability. A website that tends to be all “fluff” will typically not be user friendly.
No matter how visually appealing a website is there are certain design elements that if not used correctly, will drive the visitor away. One area that would need attention is graphics and their ability to load quickly. If the image takes too long to load, or even, if the entire site isn’t quick to process, the visitor’s attention span isn’t long enough to sit there and wait. They will move on.
Another area that is quick to turn visitors away is lengthy introductions without a skip button. There is nothing more frustrating than having to wait, especially for the Internet user; there are other places they can go. As a web designer, we shouldn’t expect potential visitors to have patience.
Additionally, and probably the biggest area for improvement, is the overall usability and legibility of the website. If the visitor can’t navigate or even read the content on the pages, they’re likely to leave without giving it a second thought. Be advised and stay clear of any clutter in your designs, regardless of how innovative or visually stimulating it might be.
A good non-web-based example is those tourist maps that you might see being used as a placemat at a local restaurant. Although, it’s somewhat nifty in the sense of entertainment, it’s not usable for actually finding a destination. This still rings true with websites, if there is poor navigation, scrolling problems and what have you, they aren’t going to use it.
Be sure that even if you want a unique website that stands out from the crowd, that you aren’t prioritizing visual appeal over functionality.