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How Simple Web Design Helps Your Business
smashingmagazine.com — It ’s crucial to have simple web designs to allow the user to quickly find the information they need, especially if you are selling a product. If the page is cluttered with useless text, widgets or unrelated products, the site becomes meaningless.
msaleem- 1512 diggs
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- OliverTaco, on 08/26/2008, -2/+47I wish people would read this. Ever try to order a Dell computer? Heck, try to change your credit card on buy-it-now on Amazon. Pfagh.
- BoonTobias, on 08/27/2008, -0/+11amazon defitenitely has the worst interface ever imagined by a big company
- normalkid0615, on 08/27/2008, -0/+1I have a few books I want to buy but I keep avoiding it cause its such a pain.
Trying to find the cheapest book? Forget it. - psaffire, on 08/28/2008, -0/+1Just imagine if an actual Amazon was neat... I'm sure they intended the UI to be like that, like a flee market...
- imakecomments, on 08/29/2008, -0/+2http://www.d-e-f-i-n-i-t-e-l-y.com/
- normalkid0615, on 08/27/2008, -0/+1I have a few books I want to buy but I keep avoiding it cause its such a pain.
- Katana314, on 08/27/2008, -2/+25 months later, Pfagh is published in the next Webster dictionary.
- Sparkster185, on 08/27/2008, -1/+1I wish the guy who designed that site would read this.
- Vich, on 08/28/2008, -0/+2dugg for "Pfagh"
- damack, on 08/28/2008, -0/+1I completely agree with you this is the best article on digg to date in my opinion, shopping experiences are becoming a pain in the ass with all the clutter and other unrelated products pushed down your throat.
People shop online because of the inconvenience it provides if you take away that convenience you take away the one advantage you had.
Apple store and iTunes is the shining light in this respect their very clutter free, to the point and let you get to what you want right away.
- BoonTobias, on 08/27/2008, -0/+11amazon defitenitely has the worst interface ever imagined by a big company
- mojotek, on 08/27/2008, -0/+5Simple enough concepts, but I don't see them implemented on the sites I have to use most often (bank, credit cards, car insurance, etc.)
- thezanman, on 08/27/2008, -0/+2The difference is that those people already have your business and are trying to market to you so you buy more, not provide a clean interface.
- elementop, on 08/27/2008, -0/+1How's that working for them?
- thezanman, on 08/27/2008, -0/+2The difference is that those people already have your business and are trying to market to you so you buy more, not provide a clean interface.
- iamner, on 08/27/2008, -1/+5Great advice. Simple is beautiful. ;)
- Nicoon, on 08/27/2008, -0/+13Well, I wouldn't call it "simple", but rather "effective" and "thought through".
There's a lot more work to these "simplistic" designs than what meets the eye ;)- kierucom, on 08/27/2008, -1/+3But "How Effective, Thought-Through Simple Web Design Helps Your Business" is way too long. People wouldn't bother to read it, it's not simple enough :D
- annjay, on 08/27/2008, -0/+2But this can help the guys who are willing to learn these.
- Whitey07, on 08/27/2008, -0/+6Sometimes 'White Space' helps sites. Great list for buddying web designers.
- ap1983, on 08/27/2008, -0/+5Its so easy to get swept up in the idea of adding Flash and java apps in websites--K.I.S.S and be done with it!
- adougy, on 08/27/2008, -2/+26http://www.arngren.net/
their products are right on page one!- kierucom, on 08/27/2008, -0/+19I clicked on that link... I saw that page... and on that day - my soul died.
- hmar2, on 08/27/2008, -2/+1And its so busy that I closed it immediately
- jsudesign, on 08/27/2008, -1/+3holy *****!
- digitalpencil, on 08/27/2008, -0/+2my eyes!
- skeeterbug84, on 08/27/2008, -0/+6Was expecting to see something about the page being created using FrontPage 2000 or something in the page header. Instead I found this:
meta name="generator" content="Created Using Yahoo! PageBuilder 2.61.90" - Katana314, on 08/27/2008, -0/+6Believe it or not, this was my Java professor (PROFESSOR, not "teacher")'s website...
http://www.jkang.com/- zip000, on 08/28/2008, -0/+2That is pretty horrible.
- Zaeboes, on 08/27/2008, -0/+1Why does that remind me so much of the prize catalog for some crappy school fund-raiser?
- psaffire, on 08/28/2008, -0/+11. How the hell did you find that website?
2. It must have taken a LOT of time and effort to make something that chaotic...
- Kamacurus, on 08/27/2008, -0/+6I just applied for a job and they asked for a dummy site to see what I could do, I made a simple site and they said it was too simple, I think some people think that the more crap on a site you have the better it looks...wankers
- GalacticRerun, on 08/27/2008, -0/+10You might have driven yourself crazy working for people like that. Maybe a blessing in disguise.
- kierucom, on 08/27/2008, -0/+2Good point. Clients don't always know what's best for them. Then again - there is a 'simple design' and an 'elegantly simple design'. Fine line of difference between the two... Smashing probably ought to have shown some examples of 'bad' simple layouts vs. 'good' (elegant) simple layouts.
- uracre, on 08/27/2008, -0/+2Don't you have a portfolio to show your previous works? Why would they ask a dummy site? I am really wondering, not trying to be a wise ass.
- WhoDoneIt, on 08/27/2008, -0/+2Because it's a scam. I've seen companies do this and then if they like it, they use the design and you get shafted because they aren't paying you.
I'd never do this. If they don't like my portfolio they can suck it. - Kamacurus, on 08/28/2008, -0/+1I don't have a portfolio, it would have been my first web design job and also it was mostly I.T. but I was going to back up the designers. which looking back on the interview process they prob would have stuck me with a lot of work they didn't want to do.
- WhoDoneIt, on 08/27/2008, -0/+2Because it's a scam. I've seen companies do this and then if they like it, they use the design and you get shafted because they aren't paying you.
- tony23, on 08/28/2008, -0/+1I'd like to see what you gave them..
- 5xSTUN, on 08/27/2008, -6/+56This is how an interview for a web designer should go:
BUSINESS OWNER: So, do you work with Flash at all?
WEB DESIGNER: Yes, I do work with Flash.
BUSINESS OWNER: Do you really like to use Flash?
WEB DESIGNER: Oh, yes, I love Flash.
BUSINESS OWNER: Thank you for your time.- TheAngryMob, on 08/27/2008, -0/+5Amen to that!
- stutimandal, on 08/27/2008, -0/+14Flash works like magic for sites like Youtube, Tinysong, Google video, etc.
Flash it not evil. But mimicking an html navigation system using flash is outrageous and stupid. - digitalpencil, on 08/27/2008, -1/+2Flash is often used in places where it is not warranted but just because there are bad designs executed through it, does not make it a bad platform any more than crap html designs make html a crap platform..
In my experience it is often the other way round; clients requesting Flash sites and having to justify to them that Flash is not the way to go for their specific goals. Although i have had clients attempt to reduce my work to 'a glorified PowerPoint presentation' when i informed them that implementing a CMS would take longer than a day..- 5xSTUN, on 08/28/2008, -1/+1I recently went to the website for a touring Broadway show. I already knew that I want to see the show. I was planning to see the show. I wanted to see the show. I just needed to know where the show was going to be and when, and who was in it.
The website for the show is aaaaaall Flash.
So instead of seeing, say, show times and cast info, I have to wait, oh, three or four minutes for this huuuuuuuge SWF file to load and for my not-brand-new computer to render it, which, of course, it ends up not being able to because I'm using Safari.
Then, when I finally give up on using Safari to view it and pull it up in Camino, and waaaaaaaait for it to looooooaaaad into that browser, I have to wait another two or three minutes while this opening splash screen slowly executes, because, again, not using the latest-and-greatest computer, here.
After ten minutes or so, when I finally am actually looking at some sort of interface, I click on the link to "Schedule," and it says, "COMING SOON!" I click on "Cast," and "COMING SOON!"
I'm not going to see that show. Screw them and SCREW THE FLYING HELL OUT OF THEIR FLASH-ONLY SUCK-PILE WEB DICK.
- 5xSTUN, on 08/28/2008, -1/+1I recently went to the website for a touring Broadway show. I already knew that I want to see the show. I was planning to see the show. I wanted to see the show. I just needed to know where the show was going to be and when, and who was in it.
- Icebox3, on 08/27/2008, -1/+7Flash is just a tool that should be used where it works best - mainly for delivering video, like YouTube etc. If something can be done in html/javascript then it should be, instead of resorting to Flash, I believe.
- jsudesign, on 08/27/2008, -0/+4Agreed
- jeexbit, on 08/27/2008, -0/+2Flash is fine for certain things - if used responsibly there is no problem.
- Fubeman, on 08/27/2008, -1/+4Really? That's what your ingenious brain tells you? Really? That's like saying "I just saw some god awful black and white photography. From now on, no more black and white photography. It sucks"
Flash doesn't suck. ***** designers suck. If you can't realize the difference, I wouldn't work for you anyway.
As a designer (and mostly in HTML, Print and motion graphics but some Flash), most of what I saw in HTML in the early days (there was no Flash yet at that time) sucked donkey dicks. Does that mean that ALL HTML sucks. No. But obviously you wouldn't know the difference, would you?
And if Flash sucks so much, how come there are so many ones that win awards year after year in the premier design community, Communication Arts?
http://www.commarts.com/interactive
But I guess you ARE the expert. and by your question, I'm assuming you don't own ANY business (at least not one that would actually hire a designer).- elementop, on 08/27/2008, -1/+1Flash sucks. Or at least the Flash player plugin for Firefox sucks.
It crashes Firefox on multiple machines that I use. Remove the Flash plugin and Firefox is as stable as anything else I've used. Install Flash, and it crashes as soon as it opens a page that uses Flash. - irishjays, on 08/28/2008, -0/+1lucky donkeys
- ratsg, on 08/28/2008, -0/+1You are probably still trying to set cookies on users systems, aren't you....
- elementop, on 08/27/2008, -1/+1Flash sucks. Or at least the Flash player plugin for Firefox sucks.
- GalacticRerun, on 08/27/2008, -1/+26I think the worst website I've ever had the misfortune to be signed up to was GoDaddy. It's horrendous.
- zantos420, on 08/27/2008, -1/+1was doing freelance web development a few years back and a customer had their website set up via godaddy... i logged in and i was so disgusted i called my client and told him if he doesn't transfer his account from godaddy to brinkster i couldn't complete his contract. He agreed (thank God) and ever since I put in the contract that I would not work on sites hosted via godaddy.
brinkster ftw.- thezanman, on 08/27/2008, -0/+4If you didn't mention Brinkster so many times, I may have dug you up.
- digitalpencil, on 08/27/2008, -0/+2seconded, i'm still signed up to that *****-storm of a webhost.. i really need to move!
- jeexbit, on 08/27/2008, -0/+2A-***** MEN! I can't stand Godaddy - it is the absolute opposite of intuitive. And it's slow as hell too.
- diggerphelps, on 08/27/2008, -1/+3Yeah, but their site is MEANT to confuse.
So it's brilliant.
[bury me] - psaffire, on 08/28/2008, -0/+2I don't use their interface, its a ***** hole. I charge extra for people on godaddy and 1&1
- morningchai, on 08/28/2008, -0/+1Agreed to the fullest extent! Thankfully, once you're signed up, there's really no reason to have to go back to the site very often. *phew*
- zantos420, on 08/27/2008, -1/+1was doing freelance web development a few years back and a customer had their website set up via godaddy... i logged in and i was so disgusted i called my client and told him if he doesn't transfer his account from godaddy to brinkster i couldn't complete his contract. He agreed (thank God) and ever since I put in the contract that I would not work on sites hosted via godaddy.
- mplsdigg, on 08/27/2008, -1/+27GoDaddy's site is the absolute worst when it comes to this.
- jj2me, on 08/27/2008, -0/+2A while back, when I stupidly was listening to GoDaddy podcasts, I wrote a comment on his site saying the site was terrible. The CEO responded to my, and maybe others' complaints in a subsequent podcast asking, "What's wrong with it?" It's obvious to everyone except the guy at the top. So it remains terrible to this day.
- Zaeboes, on 08/27/2008, -0/+1Did you come up with a reasonable response as to why it's so terrible? I agree with you, but he was probably hoping for constructive feed-back. Most site designers/owners like constructive feed-back.
- jj2me, on 08/27/2008, -0/+2A while back, when I stupidly was listening to GoDaddy podcasts, I wrote a comment on his site saying the site was terrible. The CEO responded to my, and maybe others' complaints in a subsequent podcast asking, "What's wrong with it?" It's obvious to everyone except the guy at the top. So it remains terrible to this day.
- SheVibe, on 08/27/2008, -3/+3Um that site's entire right column needs to be removed!!
- Wamzlee, on 08/27/2008, -4/+2I really wish I could show my company's website...haha. One look and all of you will be like "Oh...my...god" and then head explosion.
- cadmiumpaint, on 08/27/2008, -1/+3i'm glad there are some people that are willing to get away from stupid 3 column design and actually get design onto the internet.
the problem with most "web designers" that i've met is that they are not designers at all. They are programmers and code people that know how put together functioning web sites which explains why stuff works but its ugly.
there definitely needs to be more collaboration between graphic designers, interface designers and programmers to truly take that next step to help the internet evolve out of the dressed up ugliness (rounded corners and gradients on a 3 column site) that we see everyday.- elementop, on 08/27/2008, -1/+1Given "works, but is ugly" and "non-functional, but sure is beautiful" and I'll take "works, but is ugly" any day. YMMV, but I believe form follows function, not the other way around.
- cadmiumpaint, on 08/28/2008, -0/+1yes you are right form should follow function. but we've evolved design to a point where you can have both. web "designers" continue to rely on a "its good enough because it works" mentality.
- cadmiumpaint, on 08/28/2008, -0/+1yes you are right form should follow function. but we've evolved design to a point where you can have both. web "designers" continue to rely on a "its good enough because it works" mentality.
- elementop, on 08/27/2008, -1/+1Given "works, but is ugly" and "non-functional, but sure is beautiful" and I'll take "works, but is ugly" any day. YMMV, but I believe form follows function, not the other way around.
- AzAkers, on 08/27/2008, -0/+1Fantastic reminder of how "Keep It Simple Silly" is still the best motto for website design!
- KaivenTor, on 08/27/2008, -0/+1Great article. I like the stress on white space and use of focus. These are core concepts for not only web designers, but designers in general and unfortunately, thise stuff gets passed over in a lot of web design classes because of the more glamorus and technical stuff you can do on the web.
At the end of the day, you should be able to communicate something quickly and easily to a user. Especially for eCommerce. - YsoSerious57, on 08/27/2008, -5/+1I totally agree. Just because you are a great designer doesn't mean your designs are great
- KSUdesigner, on 08/27/2008, -0/+8Uh yes it does. If your designs aren't great then you aren't a great designer. What the hell else would make you a great designer?
- kierucom, on 08/27/2008, -0/+1Even great designers have bad days. They can't all be amazing, thought-provoking unique websites.
- YsoSerious57, on 08/27/2008, -0/+0I'm just saying, people can try and do too much sometimes
- KSUdesigner, on 08/27/2008, -0/+8Uh yes it does. If your designs aren't great then you aren't a great designer. What the hell else would make you a great designer?
- markmckay, on 08/27/2008, -0/+3Smashing Magazine rules.
- Br3ach, on 08/27/2008, -1/+3All the best sites are also the ugliest.
Take even Digg itself- Has no flashy Web 2.0 graphics, just simple colors and logical button placements. This equals finding exactly what you were looking for within the first 3 seconds of being on the site.
Honestly, as I think most people do, if I can confused by your site in the first few seconds of being there, I leave and find another one that is better.- JeremyKrins, on 08/27/2008, -0/+3I actually find Digg's aesthetic pretty nice in its simplicity...
- jeexbit, on 08/27/2008, -0/+2Google is nice and simple.
- Zaeboes, on 08/27/2008, -1/+0If every site portal was a logo and an input bar, then nothing would stand out.
- psaffire, on 08/28/2008, -0/+1I go to google to search and right there in my face: search!
I go to Amazon.com to buy a silly (semi-awesome hack book) and bam! In my face: nothing!
- oleoleo2, on 08/27/2008, -1/+0DUH!!
- springboks, on 08/27/2008, -6/+1Wow what ground breaking *****! How'd this get 600plus diggs!
In other news 70% of Americans are Obese! - AdeleMor, on 08/27/2008, -1/+3Ah the irony of a crappy website telling you how to make a not-crappy website...
- theadvinci, on 08/27/2008, -0/+1Something that I've been preaching for a long time. Less is more.
- BehnoodMarvazi, on 08/27/2008, -0/+1Yeah, simple design has not only worked for apple's website but it has also worked for their product line as well. Their products have sleek, simple designs with no extra buttons all over the place.
- Zaeboes, on 08/27/2008, -0/+0Technically, the touch and iphone have more buttons than any other comparable device. They just deliver your buttons better.
- Lostthenfound, on 08/27/2008, -0/+1If people knew how to make a easily indexed website that is easy to navigate as the end-user then I wouldn't have a job :) As the old saying goes.. "less really is more"
- mt1955, on 08/27/2008, -0/+1I really wanted to read this article but when I didn't see any text above the fold I just X'd it.
- Fubeman, on 08/27/2008, -0/+6Maybe they should start taking some of their own advice. Seriously, 25 ***** ads to the right? Main content appearing only on half the page because some idiot who thinks he can design decided to make the entire right hand side full of other navigation crap PLUS ads? Really? Gimme a ***** break! I'm so tired of these web sites that "proclaim" on what good design is, yet put this information on bloated, crappy POOR DESIGNED sites! That's like someone driving a Yugo telling me what a good car should be.
Even though they make some good points in the article, it's hard to tell someone to go to this site and adhere to their advice when they are not practicing it themselves.
BURIED!!!! - starshinecruzer, on 08/28/2008, -0/+0Ugh ugh ugh. I just went to godaddy.com. Never have so many beautiful women looked so ugly...
- rumblestrut, on 08/28/2008, -1/+1I'm an Apple fan, but I'm getting tired of authors always using Apple as an example for greatness. There are other great companies out there, bloggers. Think different.
- GLSmyth, on 08/28/2008, -0/+1I wish more people would read and believe this article. After simplifying GLSmyth.com, one of my websites, I initially thought that it was too simple. However, almost immediately I saw a dramatic increase in traffic. The dumbed-down look has meant that people no longer have to push their way through the design just to find the content.
- morningchai, on 08/28/2008, -0/+1I'm sure many other Canadian diggers feel my pain when I mention the awful Rogers.com site. Awful navigation, inconsistent UI and considering it's the country's leader in cable/internet services, their website is slow as hell and is often broken here and there. I mean, as I'm typing this out, its homepage (!) is STILL loading in my other browser tab. *ugh
- ishafaat, on 08/29/2008, -0/+0KISS - Keep it simple stupid.
- WebzDezign, on 09/05/2008, -0/+0I love Simple Layout, Simple Design, with SEO objectives. However I find it hard to convince clients that they really do not need that 2 minute flash intro! With CSS you can create a compelling look while retaining traffic.
- oceandragon, on 11/14/2008, -0/+0Design to xHTML slicing service http://www.9xhtml.com (PSD to HTML)
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