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Copyright © 1999 by Bonnie Skaalid |
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|
Elements |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page Layout |
7.5% |
82.5% |
1.3% |
16.3% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
|
Loading Speed |
5.0% |
90.0% |
0.0% |
5.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
|
Minimal Scrolling |
1.3% |
28.8% |
7.5% |
61.3% |
1.3% |
0.0% |
|
High content |
5.0% |
56.3% |
0.0% |
36.3% |
2.5% |
0.0% |
|
Extensive graphics |
5.0% |
2.5% |
8.8% |
68.8% |
15.0% |
0.0% |
|
Extensive color |
5.0% |
17.5% |
15.0% |
55.0% |
6.3% |
1.3% |
|
Consistent navigation |
6.3% |
85.0% |
1.3% |
6.3% |
1.3% |
0.0% |
|
Frames |
2.5% |
0.0% |
6.3% |
21.3% |
68.8% |
1.3% |
|
Text labels on icons |
5.0% |
62.5% |
5.0% |
26.3% |
0.0% |
1.3% |
|
Accessible pages |
2.5% |
63.8% |
6.3% |
26.3% |
0.0% |
1.3% |
|
Consistent page format |
0.0% |
82.5% |
1.3% |
15.0% |
1.3% |
0.0% |
|
Logos |
1.3% |
76.3% |
6.3% |
16.3% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
|
User Consultation |
2.5% |
51.3% |
5.0% |
37.5% |
1.3% |
2.5% |
Additional Elements Identified as Important
Ease
of navigation (5)
Concise Information (2)
Simplicity (2)
Design graphics and choose colors for 216 web palette
(2)
Good site organization
Ease of maintenance
Up-to-date content
Catering for various browsers on various platforms
Consistency of look and behavior across browsers and across
platforms
Maintain backwards compatibility (640 x 480 monitors)
Input from faculty/students re usefulness of academic
site
Audience centered design
Build content and user-based design
HTML Standards compatibility
Unity (thread by which pages are connected)
Pleasing design - use multimedia when appropriate
Clean uncluttered sites without distractions like animated
gifs or blinking text (No unnecessary Java or
Javascript)
Consider older browsers and slow modems
Planning
Use white space
Careful correspondence between links and destination page
names
Clarity of page design
Indexes, icons, color coding of content
Background color needs to be consistent and selected with
text color in mind
Dynamic pages
Test for usability on variety of browsers including Lynx
Give user ability to change font size (poor eyesight)
Choose link colors that complement page theme but stand out
strongly in text
Use new technologies (Java, Flash, Shockwave, Quicktime, VR,
streaming audio & video) depending on site - consider
the quality of browsing experience for those who can't use
those technologies
Most Important Elements in Web Design
When asked to choose the three most important elements in web design, several categories of responses emerged. Many were close but not exactly the same. I have tried to categorize them into topics which capture the essence of what they replied. Here are the responses:
Site Organization - this area included such responses as: ease of navigation, clear navigation, consistent navigation icons, navigational clarity, good navigation, intuitive navigation, ease of finding what user wants, chunking information into organized areas, clear site structure, plan (site structure and information structure), structure information in a logical navigational sequence.
37 respondents (46%) mentioned one of these descriptors about site organization as their choice for top 3 guidelines in web design.
Page Layout - this area included such responses as: control over page layout, consistent page design, consistent page format within site, consistency in layout/graphics, overall appearance, pleasing to the eye or senses, attractive, clean layout, consistent "look and feel" in page layout, consistent design elements so user knows where they are, short pages, location of graphics, color and design of material, dynamic pages, attractive design with white space.
35 respondents (44%) mentioned one of these descriptors about page layout as their choice for top 3 guidelines in web design.
Content - this area included the following responses: high information content, up-to-date content, useful content, concise information, important content, solid content, accurate content, pertinent information, clear writing, use of language (hooking the reader)
34 respondents (43%) mentioned one of these descriptors about content as their choice for top 3 guidelines in web design.
Quick Loading Speed - 32 respondents (40%) mentioned one of these descriptors as their choice for top 3 guidelines in web design.
Accessibility - interestingly enough, this area was defined as comprising two main elements in a lot of the comments: accessibility for differently-abled users and cross-browser and cross-platform accessibility. One respondent mentioned speed as a component of accessibility as well.
11 respondents (14%) mentioned one of these descriptors about accessibility as their choice for top 3 guidelines in web design.
Consider Users - this category included comments like: consultation with users (before design begins), consider audience: who are users, what do they want, what info do they want, audience, needs analysis, close collaboration with relevant people on content, user-driven design, keep checking with users.
10 respondents (13%) mentioned one of these descriptors about considering users as their choice for top 3 guidelines in web design.
Site Design - this category was one which was similar to both the page layout and organization categories but just a slight bit different. It included responses such as: unity of design within a topic, chunking information into organized areas, simplicity, validate your HTML & use efficient code, identify the goals of the site, general appearance, consistent format for site unity, clarity/readability, good design, keep it simple, interactiveness.
9 respondents (11%) mentioned one of these descriptors about site design as their choice for top 3 guidelines in web design.
Other choices mentioned in the top three guidelines included:
Color
Text labels included on icons
Content determines design
Last
Updated on 4/27/99 Results:
[Demographics]
[Types
of Sites]
[Elements
of Design]
[Other
Considerations] Main
Level: [Home
Page]
[Design
Theory][Site
Design]
[Page
Design]
[MultiMedia]
[Teacher
Resources]
[Table
of
Contents]
By Bonnie Skaalid