The following article from this week's list of reading, http://www.webdesignfromscratch.com/basics.cfm, really hit the nail on the head as it relates to incorporating design elements into the launching/designing of a web site, as well, as those key points that must be considered when you are thinking through the navigibility, flow and purpose of your site. Throughout my career, I have worked on several teams to redesign and/or relaunch web sites, and it is sometimes very easy to fall into the trap of designing something with your own point of view in mind (i.e. how it should look, work, etc.) versus keeping your site visitor's point of view front and center.
However, another variable to include within this equation (which I'm dealing with right now!) is the need to address and incorporate whatever template/design mandates that have been developed within your organization into your site redesign plans. I am currently leading the redesign efforts of my unit's section within the overall agency's web site. Because of the sheer size of the site, we have had to assess every possible entry point into the site so that we know the locations of all of the respective links. Additionally, we have been handcuffed to a certain extent as to the design elements that we can utilize because of the mandated templates, which is extremely frustrating as those templates and the embedded navigibility code (that was developed over 10 years ago) goes COMPLETELY against the notion of putting the visitor's visual/usage needs before anything else.
There's often times we feel like pulling our hair out and banging our head against the wall simultaneously, but we continue to plug along b/c we know we are accomplishing some good design work and have improved the navigibility flow for the benefit of state of ohio employees.
G. Feldmann, 2/10/08
I couldn’t agree more with the designfromscratch.com idea that Web design, and all design for that matter, is about the end user having an experience they find enjoyable or the least understandable. There is a great book by Steve Krug called “Don’t Make Me Think, “ which is all about a common sense approach to Web usability. Steve is a Web usability consultant, if you can believe there is such a thing. His point is designers and there masters get carried away and they need to keep the site clean with a clear hierarchy.
Hank 2.11.08
I also think all the principles of web design suggested in designfromscratch.com are right on the point.
Discussion about web usability also reminds me of the concept of universal design because accessibility is as important.
In particular, for the websites of public organizations, accessibility is much more important.
Universal design is, briefly speaking, a design for everyone.
It was originally developed to make an accessible environment for the disability community.
However, it later became a broad-spectrum solution which aims to help not only disabled people but also everyone.
Ron Mace, who is called father of universal design, formulated the seven principles of Universal Design.
They are
1) Equitable Use
2) Flexibility in Use
3) Simple and Intuitive
4) Perceptible Information
5) Tolerance for Error
6) Low Physical Effort, and
7) Size and Space for Approach and Use.
Since Mace was an internationally recognized architect, universal design at first was more about housing or architecture.
However, it later became more about all the consumer products and at last the web design, "Universal Web Design."
You can find some guidelines for universal web design in the next link.
http://ada.osu.edu.proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/resources/fastfacts/Web_Content_Accessible_to_All.htm
Woong Jo Chang 2.11.08
The Web Design from scratch page was very informative and the part about Mapping your visitors’ attention reminded me of a discussion we had in one of our marketing classes (I don’t know if the website talks about this.) We were introduced to a concept Seth Godin talked about in his best-selling book “The Big Red Fez.” He says “The best way to get what you want is to make the “banana” the most obvious thing on the page,” the idea being web visitors are like monkeys looking for a banana J Visitors are not there to carefully read everything you have to say on the site but are there to get information, buy something or be entertained in a very short time. Therefore if the “banana” is not obvious to them as soon as they come to your site, they lose interest and leave. Every page on your site should have a “banana” of some sort and should help the user understand immediately what he can get there or do there.
Probably it’s more difficult for public sector organizations to make use of this idea as they are not essentially selling a product to the consumer that they can prominently display, however from my point of view I also see the new www.globalgiving.com site that Sarah talked to us about last week as having the “banana” displayed prominently. In this case, it would be the links “Find a project, Do more, and See results” on the left.
Here’s something from Seth Godin’s blog about “How to create a good enough website”
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2007/10/how-to-create-a.html
Darshana 2/11/08
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