Web Design Crimes

Here are ten commandments that outline mistakes so heinous that they should be classified as crimes by internet society. Please never make these mistakes as they turn users away and make them look for alternative content providers.

javascript:window.open()

This is my number one pet peeve. Its the ultimate way for me to not link to your site because the browser clipboard and even search engines have no idea what it means. I also browse with disabled JavaScript. In addition to your site looking like crap the links don’t work. The rule is if the code is <a href=”xxx”> the xxx should never be javascript:some.function().

Example: CNN Video

Pop-Ups

Everyone still hates them. Users don’t want you to decide to open a new window for them. Middle mouse button or ctrl-click has the functionality. Let the user decide.

Reinventing the browser

This is for the sites that think they need to reinvent the wheel. A perfect example is back and forward buttons. Next page? No thanks. Go back? My browser history can do that.

Splash pages

A page that previews a page is the fastest way to convince someone that your site is just advertising spam. People have been trained to have extremely short attention spans and having to do 2 clicks instead of 1 or wait 5 seconds more for a redirect is a crime. If it takes about 5 more seconds to stumble past your splash page you will waste 1 day of human life every 20,000 visits.

Example: ign.com

Sound

There is no reason to ever play sound on a web page unless its in a widget that is specifically made for the sole purpose of playing that sound. It should be disabled or muted and require a click for the user to start listening.

Example: any myspace profile

Multi-page articles

If anywhere on your site you have next page, last page, links to page numbers. This is mainly done to make it seem like people spend more time on your site. The general rule for identifying a problem is if the printer friendly page is more reader friendly than your article. This sort of falls under reinventing the browser. Use bookmarks damn it. #page_2 is more effective than page2.html or crappy_article?page=2.

Example: Tom’s Hardware

Stories without pictures

A picture is worth a thousand words. If you have content that is about imagery and you don’t have an image. Posting random art that isn’t directly related to the subject at hand also falls under this category.

Example: 50% of AP news websites.

Resizing the browser

Never resize a users browser. Either use a fixed width or a fluid style.

Bad spelling and grammar

The only acceptable place to look like an idiot is instant communication. Text messages, especially with your phone, are the only place you shouldn’t really worry about appearances. Bad grammar and punctuation is only acceptable in forum posts. Every good browser and email client has a spell checker. Those red lines under words mean you have to click them and find out where you went wrong.

Example: digg.com - sure its all user submissions but they have a spell check and people still butcher English.

Requiring a specific browser

Theres no excuse for not at least testing how your code looks in Firefox and IE7. If your really good you will turn off JavaScript and see if someone can use your website. Your site gets bonus evil if you lock out users that aren’t using the browser you want them to.

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