The Brilliance of Thomas Edison

When I re-visit a website, I don’t want it to be like turning on a TV. I want it to be like turning on a lightbulb.

When I turn on a TV, I see what was on last time. When I turn on a lightbulb, I know what I’m going to see.

When I turn on a TV, conversation stops. When I turn on a lightbulb, conversation starts.

When I turn on a TV, I need to make sense of my surroundings. When I turn on a lightbulb, my surroundings make sense.

When I turn on a TV, I can do what the TV wants me to do. When I turn on a lightbulb, I can do anything I want to.

When I visit a website, I want to be entertained, informed, or anything else the website may intend to do. When I re-visit a website, I want to build on that past experience – on my own terms – and not simply repeat it.

What would happen if the lights went out?

Dr. Usability (Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Web)

I'm a big fan of usability.

There are a LOT of people out there, designers included (especially flash designers, as much as I love their work) who don't understand the concept of usability. If a website isn't functional, then it's useless.

Usability covers more than just load times and depth. It looks at everything from the way the colours integrate and draw the eye, to the layout of the page, to the font, embedded information, notice that a new page will open or popup, navigation issues, compatibility for ages 3 to 103, usage statistics of the target market...it goes on. It gets very involved in Human-Computer Interaction, and is better known as User Centered Design.

I'm by no means an expert. One of my closest friends is though, and we occasionally (re: once a week) get our drink on and wax lyrical about websites with poor usability. Government websites, at any level, are PAINFULLY atrocious examples of bad usability. The example I just gave sends shivers down my spine. It's by no means the worst I've seen (I wish I'd taken a screenshot of the old Harvey Norman website...), but it just...eew.

The problem with usability is defining it. Something may strike us as completely wrong about a website, but we just can't put our finger on it. The experts can, but then again, that's why they're experts. We're just normal people.

Sometimes, though, we find a website that we love. And we'd go back again and again, just to marvel at it's prettiness. If you want to see a few sexy websites, check out your local boutique ad agencies. Sometimes they're shit, but they're updated about once every six months, so chances are they'll be close to 'cutting edge' stylistically. It's a touchpoint for potential clients, so the agencies will try to sell themselves.

Me? The one website I can't live without is my local online newspaper (and online trade mags). Sure, sometimes the articles suck, and the design isn't great, but it keeps me informed faster than reading the paper.

Ultimately, I want information from my websites, not gratuitous creativity. I don't mind what they look like, so long as they do the job. I won't be hanging around on the site long enough to care anyway! I'm Gen Y, I've got people to do, things to see, attention span of a goldfish...that doesn't mean, though, that I don't appreciate good usability for others when I see it.

Clutter on Zappos

So I've heard a lot of word of mouth (and blog) praise for zappos.com. I've heard that they have great prices, compelling customer service and good business ethics. And I love shoes...

But I HATE their website. As soon as it opens, I am hit with a barrage of clutter. All colors, sizes, and all wanting me to click on them. I feel overwhelmed, like I need a to-do list just to navigate their website.

Ok, just an example: the very first screenshot of the page, I can see two search bars, which search the exact same information. Even if these search bars had distinctly different purposes, please do not put them on the same page, it's confusing. If they don't, then it begs the question, why do I need two? In fact, why do I need any of this?

It reminds me of a recent trip to Mexico when I was walking through an open market, and all the stall owners where shoving their wares under my nose, trying to entice me into the shop.

Hi, Zappos? I'm already here, in your shop. You don't have to lure me in, you want to keep me now, and I'm currently scared and about to dart out (my mouse is aching for that back button). I really don't need to see all of your awards at this very moment, I don't want your popular searches and you can take back your three links to the return policy, remove your ding-boozelers and to-tinkers...sorry, switched to seuss-isms...

I can shop by specialty sites, shoe size, price range, category, gender, lifestyle, department all, on the first page. Yes, I want options as a consumer, but at some point, too much is too much.

Sorry Zappos, you lost me...shame too, because I was all set to love you...

Round Two

So here's your prompt for day two:

What makes a website re-visitable or not? What do you love in a website or what do you hate? Examples are great.

The goal for this one is to have a series of short, quick posts that don't take too long to throw together, each post about one site and/or attribute. Feel free to make as many posts as you want though.

Happy Examing!

Oh, and if you're new or just didn't get chance to post an reply to round one and want to, feel free to just throw it in there, just be sure to use the correct labels.