IL2007 - The New Rules of Web Design October 29, 2007

Jeff Wisniewski, University of Pittsburg

Rule of Seven

• Limit your content categories to 7 +/- 2
• This isn’t necessarily true
• Very context-dependent; if your content is well-organized, you may be fine with more than 7

Three clicks rule

• …is dead
• Users will click through on a longer path, as long as they feel that they are really getting to their desired page

Design for 800×600?

• No
• Nielsen says optimize for 1024×768 now
• Focus on flexible, rather than fixed width designs

Don’t look at other library websites for redesign inspiration (this is sad)

Banner blindness

• Users are used to seeing ads at the top of web pages, so don’t put mission-critical information there
• You can put information there, but make sure it’s also linked elswhere

Pop Up windows

• No

Flash

• It’s not taboo anymore, but the technology has to be used properly (I’d like more information on this)

Mouseover menus

• Slower and not scannable

Opening links in new window can be okay, but let people know you’re doing it

Keep it above the fold?

• You don’t really have to, research indicates that users will scroll — still, it’s best to keep your most important info above the fold

Put pictures of people on the website, but not if they’re too good-looking. people don’t trust them

“It’s never a bad thing to delight users”