Top 10 Web Design Problems
What are some things you should avoid implementing when creating a website?You know what I am talking about. They are those floating images that move all over the page, making it impossible to click or do anything at all. Why do people include these? I understand it's to make the pictures stand out, but when it impedes the user's ability to use the site, then you have a problem.
The single most annoying thing about browsing on mobile, especially since you can't actually see what you came to look at. Even worse: floating ads.
I have experience in web design. The CSS float property is problematic, and managing floating images is pretty hard. Floating divs are even worse!
I am all for Flash games, and I even think Flash sites are good if they are meant to attract the attention of younger kids. However, when sites use Flash unnecessarily when they could easily be a standard website, then I think a few changes should be in order.
For those unaware, Flash has several issues with browsers. One major problem is the excruciatingly long loading times they often include. If the user has a poor Internet connection (not everyone's Internet connection is flawless), it can be frustratingly slow and laggy.
Moreover, accessibility is key when creating a good website, and Flash-based websites aren't always available on certain browsers and mobile phones.
Splash pages can be useful if you need to display a quick piece of news for the website, but when it is nothing but the site's logo, it becomes pointless. Why do you need to see what site you are visiting when you probably already know? Wouldn't it be best to remove the splash page and leave the logo in the corner of the site?
This is more or less the opposite of Walls of Text, but it is still equally annoying for a visitor. A good website provides a usable amount of information based on what it is for, who its target audience is, and where to go to use its facilities. When the website doesn't offer anything substantial, the user is unlikely to stay because they don't know anything about it. Too little information also leads to too little trust in the site!
<rant>
While too many ads are annoying, and so are walls of text, too little information is consistently the most annoying problem I have ever experienced as a web designer.
Sometimes I come across websites (usually a consulting firm or a startup) that have absolutely no information about their business. If a person can't tell what you're trying to sell them at first glance, they are going to click away. The same goes for putting what most viewers want at the bottom of every page in a tiny link. Additionally, some designers tend to put the address and phone number in an extremely hard-to-spot area. Nobody cares about your Papyrus "Founder's Message". Give more information about the actual business!
</rant>
These are a major issue in web design. Not only do they look rather tacky and unprofessional, but they also often render the text on the website completely unreadable. Some picture wallpapers are alright if they are faded or simply a pattern, but when they are full color and there is no text box around the text, it makes them a nightmare to read.
This could be fixed by highlighting the text or copying it into a Word document, but that only works if the visitor cares enough to do so.
Yes, I know ads are used by websites to generate revenue. However, when there are so many ads that you can't navigate without being bombarded by "try out our new product, it's amazing," it can be the equivalent of a cat wailing in your ears every time you try to make a move. It's certainly not fun for anyone.
I'm not against putting information on your website, but when text is all you see, then you have a problem. Not only will the visitor likely not want to read it, but it can also be quite an eyesore as well.
Remember, not all humans are patient saints!
I'm not against music on a site if it's a media or music website. However, autoplaying music can lead to major embarrassment if you are not expecting it (true story), and it adds to the loading time of the page. You could easily remove the music and have the page load quicker.
I hate these! I see them in ads a lot.
Font choice is a major consideration in web design. When you use a font that is so curly and fancy that it can't be read on a small screen or in a small size, that doesn't help anyone. This issue could be considered similar to psychedelic backgrounds, but at least then it works if you select the text. In this case, it doesn't work at all!
I have seen these many times before. These are those hyperlinks and buttons that don't tell you where they go until you hover your mouse over them or, even more annoyingly, click them. These are frustrating because, in the worst-case scenarios, they can leave the visitor confused and irritated, which is likely to result in them not using the site.
Sites are meant to be tools for the public, not a maze game!