Useful Links

Some good places to go for information on Web design:

1. Web Sites That Suck:

http://www.websitesthatsuck.com

This Web site offers tips on how to build a good Web site. Specifically, it gives advice on what NOT to do. The site gives examples of some of the worst Web sites out there. Included on the list for 2007 are the Web sites for Brita, the Department of Energy and the Department of Architecture. It's obvious that something is "off" when I visited each of these sites, but it was hard to point out just what, but I guess that's why they're on the worst Web site list.

Additionally, websitesthatsuck.com offers checklists to make sure your own Web site doesn't suck and some interesting videos of bad Web sites.

Unfortunately, this Web site is a little confusing and hard to read because of poor design and annoying ads. Maybe this site needs to follow its own advice.

2. Top Ten Web Design Mistakes of 2005

http://www.useit.com/alertbox/designmistakes.html

Among the top ten web design mistakes are legibility problems, content that's not written for the web and bad searches, all of which I've experienced first hand while browsing (especially legibility problems...very frustrating). This site is brief and to the point and offers some really helpful tips. I found this to be one of the better sites of Web design because it was so easy to read and understand.

3. Dmitry's Design Lab

http://www.webreference.com/dlab/

Dmitry Kirsanov offers 25 tutorials on Web design. These tutorials are aimed at educating Web designers on font, color, animation and other design issues. These tutorials come with titles such as, "Designing with Chaos", "Logo Design Revisited" and "The World of Color." Each tutorial goes in depth about a specific design issue, making it a great site to visit for the Web designer who wants history and theory, as well as tips.

4. Prioritize: Good Content Bubbles to the Top

http://www.useit.com/alertbox/991017.html

Jakob Nielsen gives advice on how to put the most important items and stories at the top of the Web site. One excellent piece of advice he gives is "When everything is emphasized, nothing is emphasized." Nielsen also offers important tips on how to bring out content hidden within a site and to use server traffic to see where users are going the most.

5. Is Navigation Useful?

http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20000109.html

Another site by Nielsen, this one dealing with the all important subject of Web site navigation. According to Nielsen's research, users tend to be more concerned about a Web site's content rather than its navigation. In fact, in most cases, users don't even understand the basic idea behind Web site navigation. I didn't really see an explanation to Nielsen's question of "Is navigation useful?" but he does raise some interesting points.

6. Resources for Web Workers

http://plaza.ufl.edu/mmcadams/design.htm

Myndy McAdams' Web site is perhaps the most useful to consult for Web design issues. McAdams discusses seemingly boring issues, such as font, color and layout, but makes them seem interesting and presents her information in a way that is easy to understand, especially for a first time Web site designer. She breaks down information on design issues and what she has to say really makes sense. I found that this Web site summarizes a lot of the other Web sites listed, so you may want to start with McAdams' site first, as it gives a lot of general information.

All in all, the above mentioned Web sites offer great advice on what to do and what not to do in terms of designing a Web site.

I don't know much about computers and Web sites, but after browsing these sites I'm finding that I'm starting to get a better grasp on to dos and don'ts of Web design.