WebDesign

I like:

simple pages where I know what to click if I know what I want to do (instead of *here*, *here*, and *here*)
simple pages without too many graphics, frames, side bars, menues
no security hassle with javascript
accessible pages that can be read by my blind friends, and that I can read with my favorite text browser
cool ideas that are useful instead of good looking only

Strangely enough, many other people seem to like:

fancy layouts
tiny fonts
animated graphics
pop-up ads
logins
javascript
confusing structure
significant loading times

You can hire me as your no-nonsense web consultant. 😄

Do not give in to bad web design group pressure. Just because most web sites suck does not mean that yours must, too! The pointy haired bosses have taken over marketing departments, have ordered web designs based on their ludicrous specs, and now look at what we got. Web design from hell! This is not bad technology. This is bad design.

Instead, I am going to offer you sound advice:

1. Read through the alerbox articles by Jakob Nielsen

2. Read some text on accessability; I recommend Mark Pilgrim’s Dive Into Accessability book available online

alerbox articles by Jakob Nielsen

Dive Into Accessability

From the alertbox articles, I recommend Web Design Mistakes as a starter. There’s also Weblog Usability: The Top Ten Design Mistakes.

Web Design Mistakes

Weblog Usability: The Top Ten Design Mistakes

Some of the interesting points:

**Small Fonts** – fixed font sizes are usually too small for elderly people or owners of big monitors. See KleineSchrift for a German comment.
JavaScript – links that aren’t links but little Javascript fragments to open popup windows are a nuisance
http://www.browsercam.com/ – your site for other browsers, “Prices start at a Buck a URL!” :__

KleineSchrift

JavaScript

http://www.browsercam.com/

Some of the mails I sent to webmasters – add your own if you don’t have a place to publish them!