Forget Usability, I Want a Sexy Web Design
It is sad but true; this can be the mindset of some graphic designers. It’s my opinion the ‘user first’ rule must apply whenever it comes to website design. If you create a web page accessible and easy to use your conversion rates should increase, this is usual the business owners intended outcome for a new website design.
Before thinking about putting Flash animations or heavy graphics in your site design you must think about how useful this content is and how it serves your prospects. I am not suggesting your website should be ugly either, of course it should be designed in a way that makes your business look professional but never at the expense of usability.
Before designing a website, you must understand that usability and accessibility are critical aspects of a website design. It is also important to remember that prospects that you are dealing with don’t necessarily understand the jargon you speak so they may not understand the flow of your information and how to find the content they need if the menu system or web design isn’t easy to follow.
Site maps, navigation charts and perhaps diagrams explaining the sales process are all helpful tools to improve accessibility and usability of your website. Visual elements can also help communicate a message quickly and effectively and make a site more of a pleasant experience. This will in turn help usability.
You should consider your target demographic when designing a website not only for the look and feel but also usability. Some target markets will be more IT savvy and therefore can handle more bells and whistles while other markets will require very simple to understand websites.
It is important to seek professional advice when it comes to accessibility and usability of your website. Before commissioning a designer for your next website project, make sure they understand your goals and objectives and are willing to work towards them.
