Elements of a Good Web Site1
- User-centered design
Interface is appropriate to intended audience and easy to figure out
- Clear navigation aids
-Clear, consistent navigational links/icons to get around.
-User can always get back to home page
-Local navigation buttons if necessary (Back and Forward buttons aren't always local).
-Graphic identity schemes present so user always knows where he/she is in the local organization.
Netscape's navigation bar
- No dead-end pages
Every page contains at least one link.
- Users can easily access content
Not too many menu layers and minimum of 5 - 7 links
- 10 second rule for download
Research shows that users have a frustration level of about 10 seconds. Make sure the page will download quickly with the network access speeds (generally 28.8 modem speed) or your typical user.
Pages aren't too long
Graphics download quickly
- Simple & consistent
Consistent and easy to figure out layout, graphic interface, editorial conventions.
- Design stability (editorial and design standards)
Info is up-to-date and spelled correctly. Good grammer. Graphics load. Links work.
- Feedback and dialog
Opportunity to respond to "webmaster"
- Designed for the disabled
Graphics have "ALT" tags. Navigation bar has text alternative.
- Design balance and visual logic
Graphics design creates balance between visual sensation and text information.
Visually stimulate user to investigate content.
Careful layout and typography
- Efficient use of graphic interface for the web
10 second rule (trade-offs between performance and "splash") for graphic menus.
Huge graphic menu designs often slow to download.
- Balanced text and graphic design
Balanced and careful layout of text and links with relatively small graphics seems to be the most efficient design for general Internet audiences.
- Page and graphic size are balanced to screen size
Graphics should fit into browser window--usually not more than 535 pixels wide or more than about 320 pixels high
1Yale Style Manual: http://info.med.yale.edu/caim/manual |
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