Rants Archive

Style-over-substance Web-Design Why do so many sites, primarily corporate sites fall into this trap? It's annoying, because it means that otherwise-credible companies have an online representation that, although very pretty, is very little practical use. Spawning extra windows, use of Flash (with sound and animation), and concentration on product placement make them all-but-impossible to navigate at times. If all you want to do is find out the contact details for a company, having to sit through an animated introduction, turn down your speakers, and hit several links before finally finding the information you need suggests very sloppy design. The problem is, I'm pretty certain that it's nothing to do with the actual Web Design staff. And where it is, it will be indirectly. All too often, the design of the website (and the hiring paramaters of the Design Team) are dictated by the managers. And Management Mindset does not a decent website make. Management-types see that Flash technology is pretty impressive, and they insist it gets used. Flash The thing is, though, that Macromedia Flash is impressive. But only, really, as an enhancement to content. It has to be used when appropriate. Record companies and Film promotional sites are perfect for Flash. They are the kind of site that requires that extra edge. Also, more often than not, the Designers put in an HTML-only alternative for people with slower PCs, or slower connecitons. Normal companies, on the other hand, don't really benefit from Flash-heavy sites. Especially when they don't have a non-Flash alternative. Hidden Information and Links When going to a company's site, you usually have a good idea of what you're looking to find. Sometimes it's just contact info, occasionally it's some background on exactly how the company works, and a lot of the time it can be to look some troubleshooting informaiton on their products. Having informaiton about their latest product (which you already know about, or already don't want to know about) isn't exactly useful. The links to products, support, or contact details always seem to be well hidden. Or, in the cases where a company has several arms, they never include links to their other subsidiaries. The thing is, though, that even though from a business perspective they may be different companies, from the Public Point of View, they're all part of one copmpany. Not including links to other sites is not a good thing. Expecially seeing that the very nature of the World Wide Web is that you can interlink different pages and different sites. I guess what really gets to me the most is when you just can't find a way to give them feedback. Especially with TV companies. If you want information on what they show, or who to complain to, or even (sometimes) who to thank, it's well-nigh impossible to find out how to tell them. I guess it's just the standard corporate viewpoint that they know what we need to know, and they don't need us to be able to get back in contact with them.

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