Web design dissected

I believe good websites should work effectively for the people they are designed to serve.

Presentation is of the utmost importance, image is everything particularly if you're a brand or business.

The primary criteria for any good website is the effective use of colour, font, format and graphics. Essentially this can be defined as 'the look'.

We are visual beings therefore it makes sense to create websites that appeal to and stimulate this part of our nature.

However I should note that if a website merely looks good but is lacking in content I will simply close the window and conduct a new search.

Pop ups and banner ads are an annoyance, however there are some that can complement a page. Images are only necessary if they add value to the content on the site

Secondary to the aforementioned, but of equal importance is site navigation, how easy is it to find what I'm looking for. No-one likes being lost in the real world and the same is true when in cyberspace.

A good website should make it easy for the user to get to internal and external links. A sitemap or search box is a great tool for ensuring this is the case and a link back to the homepage is essential. Navigation should ultimately be logical and clear.

The content of the site or in literal terms, what is on the page and does it contributes to its usability. Is it relevant?Does it communicate to its audience effectively? Does it speak their language? Is it informative and kept up to date?

Download times are another factor. How long does it takes for an image or video clip to download or to navigate to another page. Something I can't stand to see with media on websites is the message 'buffering'...how frustrating!

I was shocked to discover just how many high profile organisations and global brands have mediocre websites.

Direct.gov.uk is an example of this. The site employs the use of garish colours and is sparse on images, it seems as though no consideration has been made for design. It is not difficult to navigate as content is clearly categorised however there is literally too much going on, on the page. Hailed as the website of the UK government, a place where individuals can get info on and links to any public service, the logo is not even instantly visible anchored in the topleft hand corner of the page. The design creates a negative impression of the organisation and its ideals. If this were a business site I'm certain it would be considered a liability.

Style.com however is pleasing to the eye, has a user friendly interface, effortless navigation, bold menus, the right type of font for its content, thumbnail browsers and toolbars situated on the left of the screen. A minimalistic colour palette of blue and white is used throughout. The name alone makes a bold statement so the format doesn't have to.The pages tend to be a little cluttered and after using this site for nearly 3 years I think it's in need of a mini revamp to make it look fresher and bring it up to date.