Design can make or break a site, but how much design is fad vs. really making a difference?
Saturday November 15, 2008
I've been thinking about design and how it impacts popularity. For example, does a website become popular because it's design is similar to other popular sites? I agree with the idea that ease of navigation will impact whether a site will be popular. But does the rest of the design matter? Yes, design matters - I'm not saying that. But one thing I've noticed recently is that many of the more popular websites seem to be very similar in design. Yes, that design is clean and clear and bright (many would call it Web 2.0), but how much of that is because that design is what works best on the Web and how much is because of fads in design. I was reading an article on You the Designer that was addressing the theory (proposed by an article on the New York Times) that Hulu will win over YouTube because it has a better design. I do like the Hulu design, but it is one of those "Web 2.0" style sites. So, do I like it because it matches what has become very common on the Web these days or do I like it because it's what really works?
Comments
I think most users don’t care about design UNLESS something is wrong with it (I doubt the standard surfer would care at how pretty your site is - most people are interested in getting what they want, and if the design doesn’t get in the way - it’s even better )
This is the first time I see Hulu (from the linked article), and I think the design is boring and even a bit ugly or too “cliche” (otherwise I like how it loaded several times faster than YouTube’s version in my FF 3.0.4, and that it has a better organization)…
On the other hand YouTube’s (uglier than Hulu) version of American Gladiators is very overcrowded (MySpace style, the result of giving content + some of the design in the user’s hands, which should happen only in the forums if you ask me, or should be well thought through)
Anyway I will never come back to a site again just to admire the design ( In my opinion - design on it’s own does not generate clicks ), but I would return to get something useful out of the site (and if it looks good I consider it as a bonus).
I also think maintaining a website’s design is a constant struggle for improvement beyond “your last best attempt”, and in this light, a redesign may not always lead to a better result (unless the old one got too cluttered, but a redesign is always like a new beginning)…
Yes, the problem with all the big and famous sites (Like YouTube) is that if they aren’t made with redesign in mind it is virtually impossible to make it work well (or at all), especially in a short time, unless you are satisfied with the concept of evolution…
I’d say two types of design matter, bad and great, anything in between is a matter of content and functionality.