Top Ten Web Design Mistakes of 2005

November 7th, 2005 · No Comments

According to one random internet punter. Still, I tend to agree with most of the list.

1. Legibility Problems
I can understand why Font sizes and contrast was the largest issue. Make fonts large enough and a high enough contrast to be read.

2. Non-Standard Links
Non standard links confuse people, avoid them.

3. Flash
Flash, I can’t stand flash. Really. Despise it. Bane of the net.

4. Content That’s Not Written for the Web
The fourth point on this list is redundant, it can be summed up with ‘Write appropriatly and well.’ Um. OK then, moving along.

5. Bad Search
Ironically the fifth point is so badly written that it is difficult to understand. I’m assuming it means that if you have a search option on your site make sure the results are relevant.

6. Browser Incompatibility
You write for IE only? The ninth circle of hell awaits you. No, don’t pick up your coat, do not pass go, just leave now.

7. Cumbersome Forms
Forms, totally agree, requesting your readers to fill in unessacary information is a sin. My biggest bugbear with online forms is mandatory fields. Grr.

8. No Contact Information or Other Company Info
No contact information. I concur but advise caution, it isn’t wise to point people to where you live. This is required if you have a seperate business address.

9. Frozen Layouts with Fixed Page Widths
Point nine is something that was an issue, but I so rarely see it now. What I do agree with is the worse offender when it comes to rediculous frozen/fixed layout is pop up content. You are aware people hate pop ups, right? So stop using them.

10. Inadequate Photo Enlargement
The last point is tiny photos, if you are buying sonething you want to be able to see it up close, and not have it the size of a postage stamp.

See:
Top Ten Web Design Mistakes of 2005 (Jakob Nielsen’s Alertbox)