Misconceptions of Designing for the Web

1. Websites should look pretty and that’s all that matters.
   They should be well designed, but from a usability standpoint. It’s not a magazine ad, where the audience just looks at and reads it. Think about how the user will navigate through the site, their Internet speed, browser support, search engine optimization.
2. I don’t know HTML so I’ll just use Flash to build my website.
   If it was 1999, maybe this would fly, but not today. Building websites purely in Flash is a misuse of Flash and an alienation of web useres. Flash is a motion graphics program, not a website editing program. Flash is meant to enhance  well programmed and designed websites. You will alienate visitors because they won’t find your website in the search engines. What about your grandma? She might not have the newest browser or Flash player which will allow her to view your website.
3. I’ll welcome my visitors to my website with a “click here to enter” page. (see the screenshot)
   This is usually only done with Flash websites, but this is the silliest thing someone can do. By typing your web address in, it is a sign that they already wanted to “enter” your website. Keep the front door open and let them land right there in your living room, aka: your full homepage. Even if this page is only here so users know they need flash player to view the website, they most likely not going to take extra time to get the flash player just to view your website, unless it’s your very devoted mom.
4. I’m using tables to lay out my website, because I just don’t get this new fandangled CSS thing.
   The Internt began as a way to present and transfer content in purely text format, with no layout needed or required. Tables were added shortly after so that tables of data could be displayed. Then someone decided that they could use a table to design their whole website. They even began nesting tables inside one another to create their complex web designs. Tables are to be used for “tables” of data, and CSS should be used for the layout and styling of a website . Cascading Style Sheets separate the design from the content. This means that when you want to redesign your website in a year, it will only take a few minutes. For example, I recently changed color schemes on my approx. 50 page portfolio website and it took about 10 minutes. If I was using tables, I would have had to open each of my 50 pages and change colors manually. I admit, in high school I learned to use tables, and it took 6 years to make the switch, and what a change it has been.
5. Image maps are the best thing ever! I can create a website in seconds!
   What about visitors to your website who are disabled and use a screen reader? When they visit a well programmed website, the contents of the website is read to them out loud by special software. If your website is primarily image-based or even Flash, then all the disabled visitor will hear is silence. You can also alienate your visitors with dial-up Internet, because they will wait many times longer for your website to load. I will admit I’ve used image maps. Just check out http://www.sargent-construction.com The whole circle motif is an image.
6. I just make my paragraphs of text images so that the user will see exactly what I want them to, in the correct font, size, and color.
   It is true that the user might see a different font or size if you use real text, but that’s part of the beauty of the web. The user can decide, via their choice of screen resolution, font size, etc how they view your website. By making your text an image, you take that right away from the user, while also blocking that content from search engines and slowing the load time of dial-up users.

These ideas are ones I’ve spent eight years learning. I’ve made all these mistakes at one time or another, either for my convenience or because I truly had no idea what I was doing. The biggest idea above that can actually be a good thing to do would be ‘all flash’ website. For product promotions and mini-sites, it is definitely appropriate to use primarily flash, because you want to sell the product with a “flashy” design… Pun intended But if you are creating a corporate website, or even a band website, think about search engine optimization, usability, functionality etc.

The era of ‘pretty websites’ has passed. People now demand more usability, interactivity and functionality. If you can create a well designed website that is usable, functional and interactive, then you’ve figured something out.