In the process of web design, it’s usually a case that a client will want something flashy and amazing – something new. Over the years of using the web, they may have seen various design touches that really caught their eye – like reflections, drop shadows and shiny globes. When the designer produces a design that works (in their professional opinion) that comes without these features, the client may begin to make requests for such design elements to be integrated in to their new design.
One thing to remember, whether you are designing for yourself or a client, is that most users do not care about the design. Most users will want to find what they’re looking for and then leave.
When people are visiting websites or using applications, they don’t spend their time analyzing or admiring the design. They focus their attention on the task, the content, and their own data or documents.
As a designer, when I view most websites I will have more of an opinion (subconscious or not) about the design – such as what elements I find appealing, or what could be improved. However, the reality is that most people simply don’t care. Jakob Nielsen’s website, UseIt.com, boasts a very simple, and arguably a very ugly design. However, it is extremely usable – and there’s no fancy clutter – There just isn’t a need, so it isn’t there.
None of this however means that flashy designs are bad. They just have a time and a place. If you go to a web designer’s website, you’d expect it to look a certain way (that reflects their design style). If a web designer specialises only in producing corporate designs, it would make sense for their portfolio to reflect this. If however the designer specialised in producing music artists websites, it wouldn’t make any sense to go with a corporate approach.
In the average design, if there is such a thing, it’s important to note that too much jazz will just frustrate and slow down the user in their attempt to find the content they want.
