A FEW THOUGHTS ON WEB DESIGN
1996, Christian Sauvé
I'm not an HTML professional, but (in the grand Internet Tradition) that won't stop be from issuing a few blanket recommendations on what should and shouldn't be done in Web Design.
(These thoughts assume that you want your web site to be read by as much people as possible. It's ironic that several developers lose sight of this simple objective.)
The Golden Word of Web Design: Simplicity.
KISS (Keep it Simple, Stupid!) applies to the Web for several reasons:
- Complicated means large: A complex design takes more time to load than a simple HTML file. Given the current state of Internet Connections, the shorter the file, the better the chances of the browser NOT hitting the dreaded STOP button. And if the reader doesn't get the chance to even SEE you site, you're *dead* anyway.
- Complicated means confusing: In an effort to give the information in a "non-simple" way, web designers often create confusing mazes of sub- pages, redundant links and superficial information. This is to be avoided at all cost: A TV ad that's confusing lasts only thirty seconds (but will be repeated dozens of times) but a Web page that's confusing just irks the reader (and *won't* be repeated)
- Complicated means non-standard: Java, VRML, RealAudio... Granted, these are astounding, exciting technologies, but do they warrant being put at the foreground of your web site? A large percentage of Web surfers still use Plain Netscape, Lynx or other sub-cutting-edge browsers. Newer standards are lost on these surfers. Logically, less-advancer browsers shouldn't be cut out of your site: After all, a reader is a reader, whatever his browser is. Remember: You want to be read by as much people as possible.
- Finally, complicated just plain means complicated: It's more expensive, difficult and time-consuming to maintain a site burdened by hundreds of graphics, external files, mandatory outside links and other doodads that a plain assortment of HTML files. The less time you have to pass on maintaining the mechanics of your site, the better.
The Silver Word of Web Design: Content.
Perhaps the biggest problem concerning the Internet today is the lack of useful information. Ten million channels, and nothing on. More and more, the Web is becoming a web... of empty, superficial sites: Witness the thousands of pages saying nothing more than "Hi, my name is John Smith, this is my resume and theses are my favorite Links." That's not bad per se, but one gets the feeling that there should be something more to this much-ballyhooed new "Information Age".
And that's why, in coming years, the advantage will shift from technical people to creative people: As the ability to create Web pages will be more prevalent, the ability to put interesting stuff on these new pages will be more and more in demand.]
There is no magic potion to get that elusive "content" so beloved of web surfers. Do you write? Draw? Compose? Do you have access to information that's currently unavailable anywhere else on the Internet? Or are you able to bring the current existing information in a meaningful way? If so, you have chances of having an interesting site where people will link again and again. Corporations, or other large organizations, already have built-in content: Annual reports, financial news, on-line newsletters, product catalogue...
Remember: return value is built on accurate, original, frequently updated content.
Ideally, every Web designer should know HTML enough to be able to compose Web Pages in an ASCII editor without the help of a specialized HTML authoring tool. Why?
- "Commando-style Web-editing": The ability to make fast adjustments to your pages, without going to the extra step of loading the HTML editor. Sites constantly change addresses, and that can rapidly become a problem when your site contains hundred of links. The ability to make changes "on the fly" can be invaluable in these situations.
- Simpler, shorter pages: Sure, it's possible to use the new Microsoft Word to compose professional-looking newsletter-quality Web pages. The only problem is that these pages will be unreadable, and will take forever to load. Web design isn't newsletter design, and vice-versa. By knowing the guts of HTML, you slowly get the instinctive "feel" of single- column, linear, hypertext good Web design.
- Bragging rights: Believe me, it's much more satisfying to say "I composed my page with EDIT" that to say "Uh... I used HoTMetaL"
Please, PLEASE take the time to spell-check your pages. I'm not arguing for a thoroughly grammatically-correct site, but at least make an effort at eliminating the biggest mistakes. "Awsome" is spelt "Awesome" and "Awesome" is cliché anyway.
Provide opportunities for surfers to contacts you. Be certain that your address is on every page, provide a "mailto:" link...
Don't be afraid to put plain-text files (like this one) on your site. For some things, hypertext HTML conversion isn't worth the effort and is more time-consuming than anything else.
- Don't go Link-happy on your main page. If necessary, keep the better links on your index.html and create a new "link page".
- Never forget that a good portion of Web surfers don't get to see your fancy graphics, either by choice or by necessity. Put ALT tags in your graphics links, and don't, DON'T use ISMAPs without an alternate way of going to the sub-links.
HTML and Web design is a complex matter that can't be adequately resumed by a few superficial pointers and comments. The best way to learn is still to imitate superior examples. Look, examine and learn from the most successful sites. Why are they popular? What's so special about them? Common characteristics will emerge: Simplicity and Content are only two of them.
Much like the desktop publishing revolution of 1985-1995, Web design is going through its infancy, with enthusiastic but misguided newcomers coming on the scene and wanting to revolutionize the form. There is still place for innovation, no doubt about that, but the basic tenets of the form have already been established. Only time, effort, patience and humility will teach us the form of the future.