NONE: Re: ONLINE-ADS>> Surfing w/Graphics Off - Rising Trend?
Re: ONLINE-ADS>> Surfing w/Graphics Off - Rising Trend?
Ken Greenleaf (greenleaf_at_maine.com)
Fri, 02 Jan 1998 17:11:22 -0500
The points raised by Jared Spool and his researchers in the book "Web Site
Usability: A Designer's Guide," and addressed a little on this list have
more to say about graphics than just loading times. It is clear from my own
experience, and quantified by UIE's research, that graphics are often
counterproductive if used for navigation purposes. It's clear that if you
spend a lot of time and money building that fancy imagemap, you're probably
making things worse. It's probably best to flush those buttons and go back
to blue-underline links (they work better).
The best sites I see (and the way I try to work) are the ones in which the
graphics add to the information being offered, either through illustrations
or by expressing the personality of my clients' businesses. Graphics bear
the expressive intangibles, imply professionalism, and make the site
pleasant and attractive. Graphics are not, though, where the strengths of
this medium are found.
Well-planned and thought-out architecture, good texts and links that lead
to where the visitor might want to go are the core of good web design. It's
an information medium augmented by graphics, not a graphics medium. If
visitors can find their way around, it's fine..if not, than no fancy
graphics work will save the site and help a potential customer build
confidence in the client's business.
BTW, UIE also found that motion on a screen is virtually always
counterproductive, and that people would often cover up an applet or
animated gif in order to read the text. So much for learning how to make it
wiggle.
Ken Greenleaf
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Ken Greenleaf
Threshold Communications
120 Emery Street, Portland ME 04102
Voice: 207.874.4030 Fax: 879.0532
email: greenleaf_at_maine.com
http://www.maine.com/threshold
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