Common Problems in Web Design

**DirtDiga** · Feb 1, 2002, 12:11

Hi all,

Anybody knows of any good website that has something like an evaluation of poorly designed websites?

You know how www.coolhomepages.com covers cool websites.

What about a website that covers websites that suck?

**Saz** · Feb 1, 2002, 12:16

http://www.websitesthatsuck.com/

The domain name says it all really!

**smcausland** · Feb 2, 2002, 02:43

You can check out this article at:

http://www.webmasterbase.com/article/160

evem though they list Coca-Cola as one of the examples it is still a great article:-)

**iTec** · Feb 2, 2002, 07:19

Originally posted by smcausland
evem though they list Coca-Cola as one of the examples it is still a great article:-)

when that article was first writen, coca colas website did suck! it has gotten a little better now, but back then it was a shocker!

**Bill Posters** · Feb 2, 2002, 08:18

Re: www.websitesthatsuck.com

<GRRR>

Try not to take all of Vincent Flanders' conclusions as (web design) gospel.

"Web design is not about art, it's about making money (or disseminating information)"

It's about time 'gurus' like him and Nielsen stop selling their singular, BS vision of what the web shoud be?

Yet another wannabee personality trying to carve himself a larger piece of the pie by being fundamental.
I just wish they would open their minds as eagerly as they open their mouths

Where are all the 'gurus' preaching about design 'appropriate' to the 'target' audience when you need them?

</GRRR>

Question- why are all usability 'gurus' 55+ heavily balding, bespectacled men who insist on growing the few gray hairs left on their head long?
is there a secret lab somewhere cloning usability gurus?

**iTec** · Feb 2, 2002, 10:16

i wonder if flanders included his site in his new book, because it really does suck!

**Dan_K** · Feb 2, 2002, 22:43

I totally agree!

-Dan

**beley** · Feb 3, 2002, 23:21

LOL - it was funny 3 years ago... but it's getting a little old. His website hasn't hardly changed since the first book came out! Come on... get with the times!

**AngelEyes** · Feb 17, 2002, 03:42

I agree with you on www.websitesthatsuck.com. I think that site is offending to web designers. I don't need or want some old guy with absolutly no taste to tell me what makes a good or bad design. His site--the colors, graphics, everything--makes me cringe.

**sjoerdsantema** · Feb 24, 2002, 15:37

Whatever you say, Whatever you think....

IT'S TOO DAMN FUNNY!!!! I'M TOTALLY PISSED OFF BY ALL THOSE LAME *** WEBDESIGNERS TRYING TO GET A PIECE OF THE PIE USING MICROSOFT FRONTPAGE!!!

**leed** · Mar 1, 2002, 20:09

Originally posted by Bill Posters
Re: www.websitesthatsuck.com

<GRRR>

Try not to take all of Vincent Flanders' conclusions as (web design) gospel.

"Web design is not about art, it's about making money (or disseminating information)"

It's about time 'gurus' like him and Nielsen stop selling their singular, BS vision of what the web shoud be?

Yet another wannabee personality trying to carve himself a larger piece of the pie by being fundamental.
I just wish they would open their minds as eagerly as they open their mouths

Where are all the 'gurus' preaching about design 'appropriate' to the 'target' audience when you need them?

</GRRR>

Question- why are all usability 'gurus' 55+ heavily balding, bespectacled men who insist on growing the few gray hairs left on their head long?
is there a secret lab somewhere cloning usability gurus?

Of course web design is about art! Its about a lot of things, it certainly isnt only about making money thats only 1 use, just like TV. anything goes, somethings work somethings dont.

Cheers

**Bobocito** · Mar 4, 2002, 18:56

Not exactly what you are looking for, but worth seeing...
http://www.ouguru.org.uk/~kindahelpf.../yuck/yuck.htm

**Ian Glass** · Mar 5, 2002, 00:40

It always amazes me how much resistance usability gets from many designers. It's mostly unwarranted, to me.

Nielsen has serious studies he's been commissioned to do that backs up what he says, while Flanders seems to take a more anecdotal approach. To tell you the truth, I prefer the former, but that doesn't mean Flanders's works should be rejected. Both provide a ton of good and useful information -- useit! (my apologies for the pun -- I am very bad at resisting puns)

Originally posted by Bill Posters
Where are all the 'gurus' preaching about design 'appropriate' to the 'target' audience when you need them?

That is what these "gurus" are saying in so many words. If you design a site for yourself, you're the target audience -- and, most likely, the only audience who will visit the site with any regularity. It's really not too complicated; in fact it's quite a simple concept, but maybe that's just me.

When in doubt, test. Don't rely on your preferences and instincts or you're just setting yourself up for failure and reaffirming how odd you are, because a study of one just isn't large enough. :-D

~~Just My 2¢

**brokenvoice** · Mar 5, 2002, 02:54

Originally posted by Ian Glass
It always amazes me how much resistance usability gets from many designers.

I think you have missed the point a bit Ian, it isn't so much usability that gets a bad rap from designers, it's usability experts. The way they market themselves is purely evangelical and often offensive. A proper designer will do a proper balance of usability vs accessibility (one thing I agree with Jakob about is that usability != accessibility) vs graphic design.

**rkosmic1** · Mar 5, 2002, 16:23

i think that their advice is practical, however we dont have to follow their words to the letter

=)

**dolharz** · May 4, 2002, 07:01

A little offtopic, but...

Perhaps it shouldn't be www.websitesthatsuck.com

but

www.websitethatsucks.com

However, I highly agree with (most) of the contents on that sitey.

**mtgm** · May 4, 2002, 15:03

Originally posted by dolharz
A little offtopic, but...

Perhaps it shouldn't be www.websitesthatsuck.com

but

www.websitethatsucks.com

However, I highly agree with (most) of the contents on that sitey.

LOL.

I'd have to agree. http://www.websitesthatsuck.com/ does not consist of any striking or out-of-the-ordinary template or design.

**dolharz** · May 5, 2002, 04:09

Hmm. I just noticed the new design.

Besides being fixed width, I really think this site makes some good points.

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