What Makes a Good Web Design?

Grand Master Math asks: "I'm currently redesigning my website and I have checked out tons of various web sites, gone from link to link, etc...to find the best web design techniques, layouts, and features. Wow Web Designs proved to be a pretty useful site, as it showcased virtually 'the best of the web' in design and creativity. I was wondering what the Slashdot community has to say about web design and what the best web design should implement and address. From browser compatibility, to simplicity and complexity, and customization to user interaction, what should a perfect web design incorporate?"

Comments

K.I.S.S.

[Em Emalb]

Keep it simple
To the point
Searchable
Flash-non flash versions
no unnecessary plugins
no popups/unders, etc.

two versions of the same website is cool.

Not everyone has a blazing net connection, so remember the little guy sucking on a 33.6 dialup connection.

that's it.

Here's what not to do...

[XaXXon]

Web Pages That Suck
http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com/

Check out Jakob Nielsen's website

[gmag3]

useit.com. It's a great resource for usability information, including a lot of stuff on web usability and design.

Re:Don't Make Me Think

[richieb]

Don't make the user think. That's fairly depressing. Yeah, yeah, I know, "that's just the way it is, so deal with it/get a life/quit whining/get a job/go outside/computers aren't everything(tm) ©©©®®®"

You misunderstand. The book advocates a way to design websites so that it's easy to use and you don't have to waste your time trying to figure out how things work.

Imagine that the reply button on /. was at the very bottom of the page and you had to enter the number of the comment you were replying to.

Or think of doors, where you have to stop and figure out whether you need to push or pull to open it (sometimes instructions are taped to the door to make this task easier).

If you are interested in good user interfaces, I recomend this book.