Importance of web design

[Wire]

I know there have been countless threads elsewhere, yet I wanna express my own unique opinion. Web designing always makes or breaks or company 95% percent of the time. At all costs you should try to make your web site:

Informative ( *don't just have a couple of pictures with no explanation)

User Friendly( *don't make us have to click a thousand links to get to what we want.)

Understandable( *make sure we know what exactly we are getting in full detail.)


These are just a few points I feel tons of designers leave out and don't think about. Anyone else?

[Chicken]

I seem to often feel this way with a flash site. Lots of eye-candy, but honestly I've seen text move from left to right before, I have to guess where to click (I know, that's supposed to be half the "fun" of flash sites, in theory), and the text is hard to read (your point about understandable). I've seen less of it lately, though I haven't been looking as much.

When you go to sites like http://apache.org/ you really get a fresh breath sometimes. Kinda makes me realize that all the eye candy isn't really needed all the time.

[Wire]

Exactly although i don't mind a little eye-candy every now in then just as long as its joined with informativeness ( a word? )

[SWR]

Don't get me started on flash!

Where's the :smash: emoticon?

[interactive]

Originally posted by SWR
Don't get me started on flash!

Where's the :smash: emoticon?

Good I'm not the only one who thinks that way. IMHO it's a over priced, half hazard pos.

[Wire]

i like flash:stupid:

[inogenius]

I hate flash because I can't make any good looking flash things. I'm stuck to HTML, and crappy graphics.

[Wire]

ever try reading tutorials. practice, read, think, and yoube better

[Chicken]

Originally posted by inogenius
I'm stuck to HTML, and crappy graphics.
The crappy graphics I've got covered (see hosthideout logo above, heh), but I can't even write up a decent HTML page (to my satisfaction) so be glad you have something.

<<NOTE: This was posted before Dave gave me the current, much better logo>>

[Dave]

Originally posted by Chicken
I seem to often feel this way with a flash site. Lots of eye-candy, but honestly I've seen text move from left to right before, I have to guess where to click (I know, that's supposed to be half the "fun" of flash sites, in theory), and the text is hard to read (your point about understandable). I've seen less of it lately, though I haven't been looking as much.

When you go to sites like http://apache.org/ you really get a fresh breath sometimes. Kinda makes me realize that all the eye candy isn't really needed all the time. Well said! Simplicity is better than complicated flash movies that take too long to load.

[vito]

1. Consistency throughout the site is important. That means colors, font type/size, navigation.

2. Easy navigation. Should be able to get anywhere in the site within 3 clicks.

3. No SPELLING mistakes. Nothing drains my confidence when visiting a site more than poor grammar and spelling

4. Straigh-forward and honest presentation of what you're selling. Visitors will sense when you're trying to pull a fast one.

Lots more, but those are the main ones. IMHO.

Vito

[TowerHost.com]

Vito is right on the money with that.

Consistency, easy navigation, real information (a purpose for the site!), fast loading, spelling, and no dark text on a dark background!

I hate sites that don't have any information on them

[nameslave]

>Wire: These are just a few points I feel tons of designers leave out and don't think about.

I guess you are talking about people who THINK they are web designers. :)