My Blog
Simplicity Vs. Complexity : Web Designs
Subtitle
- March 25th, 2008
- COMMENTS 5
This is a guest post by Gary Hess from Impnerd.com.
. .
.. The first thing visitors notice when visiting a web site is the design. Where you have your logo, the content location, and the navigation.When a visitor comes to a website, the best thing for them is to be accustomed. It helps visitors navigate a site and will help them find what they are looking for quickly, which will raise the likelyhood of a returning visitor and more page views.
. . Traditional:
- Logo on left
- Navigation under logo or on the top left or top right next to content.
Where the choice comes in is within the images. How many to have and where to have them. Even with simplistic designs there can be several images, especially small gradients... What almost all web developers agree on is the need for a fast loading website, at least fast for cable, if not for the sake of your visitors, the sake for your wallet. For a website to be fast, images have to be condensed and few..Gradients are considered very web 2.0.. Visitors like to see flashy graphics and in most cases is considered professional. However, a website can just as easily look professional without the glints and glamor of gradients (such as Elite By Design).
. .Simplicity:
- Small number of graphics in the design.
- Mostly CSS only design.
- Generally fast loading.
- Smooth.
.Complexity:
- Many graphics.
- Might use tables, if oldschool.
- Possible background images.
- Possible header image.
- Possible use of flash.
.
Conclusion:The choice is yours. What it comes down to is design preference. Personally, I enjoy simplistic websites the most. Not only are they fast loading, allowing visitors to easily go page to page in only a couple seconds, but also allow visitors to focus on the content instead of the design... What is your favorite web design?
i certainly agree with you that a visitor should focus on the content and not the design (i.e. background graphics that steal your focus). i’m currently redesigning my website and always love to hear what other people have to say on this subject.
.details.
Now your talking. Simple, minimal is one of my ideals. However you can often be too constrained with a too minimal or simple site. It really depends on the subject of the site to whether you can pull it off or not. Some sites and subject just need bell’s and whistles to function.
A portfolio site for example is a perfect candidate for a simple look.
I am really getting into Tumblr right now, have a blog set up at the moment. And some of the themes here are just so clean. I mean Tumblr itself is just a mastery of simplicity and class.
If you are interested: http://www.imjustcreative.tumblr.com
My own site is still too busy for me, but it’s having to weigh up the practical needs and message. I have a lot to convey, design, blogging, music, photo’s and the message needs to be obvious and clear. I can’t afford for it to be too simplistic for fear of loosing the message entirely. For this reason is why I am so into Tumblr, allows me to have another channle of communication, one that is simple in looks and operation. It’s mostly to showcase my fav photo’s, like a mini portfolio. Takes just seconds to add a photo form my Flickr account into a Tumblr post. No headaches at all, nothing to worry or think about. Perfect.
Good subject for post, you will always get me talking about stuff like this.
Graham you are right. The best sites that do well with simplistic designs are sites that fill the void of bells and whistles within the overall design with bells and whistles within the content.
Elite By Design is a great example of this. The design is very simple looking. Two main colors, no gradients, with sections divided by a simple 1px grey line. However, you will often see images within the content that will make up for the lack of flare within the design.
Yes, the images then take on more of a feature. So when Brian does his various lists, and he adds the almost full width screen shots or images, it looks so much nicer. As there is not too much else fighting for the attention.
I think it’s ideal for what Brian is doing, and I did like his re-design also.
There is only one thing about it that keeps popping into my head. An almost overload of white space, it’s like it needs a frame, like a traditional Blog page. A very light subtle grey background running down both sides, which in my mind ties things together center stage.
But that’s just my own opinion which frankly wasn’t asked for.
Graham, yeah it is all in the eyes of the beholder. Brian seems to enjoy more of the traditional media type designs such as newspapers and magazines which absolutely LOVE whitespace, which I do too.
IMO adding anything to the sides would take away the uniformness of the site. But, to each his own.
But also, I do like how your design is coming along.