1. How does this reading relate to the concept of user-focused design that we have discussed in class?
In this article, Flanders emphasizes most strongly the importance of user-focused design. He even says, “Too many organizations believe that a web site is about opening a new marketing channel or getting donations or to promote a brand or to increase company sales by 15%. No. It's about solving your customers' problems.” Most of his points stress just how important it is for website designers to keep the user in mind, including Point #2 – which states that anyone who stumbles upon a website should be able to figure out who/what it is about within four seconds – and Point #4 – which berates designers for using design features that “get in the way of the visitors.”
2. What points do you feel are most important?
Although I feel that all of Flanders’ points are extremely relevant, I believe that Points #4 and #7 are the most important. Point #4 says that website designers should never, ever use design elements that get in the way of their visitors. This can mean, for instance, simply trying to purchase an item on a website, only to find that you must encounter many unnecessary pages before you are permitted to pay. Point #7 is entitled, simply, “Navigational Failure.” Flanders highlights the most important things to note regarding navigation. He states that navigation should always be simply and consistent and consist of links that function properly and make sense.
3. Create your own list of important design factors for a webpage.
- Visually appealing
- Easy to figure out
- Easy to use
- Amount of things that distract the user from what he/she needs to do = none
- Heroin content?
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