I am a web designer.  Well, not really.  I’m more of a web developer with the ability to put together moderately (according to others) attractive websites.  I like simplicity and focused.  I like readable.  I like content.

I am working as a web designer, according to my job description.  The position is more of a developer position, which is fine.  I am not redesigning web pages.  I have accepted this fact.  I do get to make changes to content, so maybe the job is more data entry.  This is also fine, not preferable, but acceptable. I make minor changes to any number of minor pages. If my job was simply this, I would merely have an issue with being bored. I don’t.

Once upon a time, I worked with a certain program.  This work was not primarily involved with the program, nor was the end result used.  I did use the program.  In my defense, the web was still in its difficult teenage years: drinking off of window frames, putting tables within tables, or any other idea that would make even Escher cringe. I used it, but I didn’t inhale. I swear.

The web is now a young adult. It still drinks from time to time, but usually on tables. Most people don’t even remember the frames incidents.  It uses big words like semantics and compliance. It gave up on the excesses of youth. I have to work to find a site that hasn’t graduated from HTML to XHTML. CSS is passe. Developers focus more on issues like RSS or AJAX, not on indiscretions so prevalent in previous ages.

Yet the drug remains. Usually it can be found on media sites: movies, bands, and high school web pages. Finding a user is easy. Simply look for the "skip intro" link below the garish visuals and garish sounds. Like many drugs, this one has activists who push it, often literally. The tell us to just give it a try. Just one hit, and we will know that it will be OK.

These last few days have included me being force fed that hit.

Having tried the drug allow me to tell you, my wary reader, some interesting facts. The plethora of changes in the last six years have not changed the poor feeling one gets from using it. Smokers cough the first time. This drug isn’t quite as obvious. You feel a sense of apathy and disgust deep down. Listen to it.

All joking aside, I will make a harsh generalization. The situation requires it.

This drug assures a poorly designed site. It is never done for the web site visitor, but both for the Flash designer and the client. The desire for something edgy and impressive neglects the user. That’s right. It neglects the user.

The user, and I know this because I am one, wants information. We want to know if your company will help us make sense of our lives. Why should I buy your product, use your services, or talk to a representative? Unless your services consist of overwhelming my viewpoint on your site, please let me get through to your site. Especially if you are a business. Would you buy a car from a salesman wearing a pink polka dot mu mu? Probably not. Why dress your web site in one?

This entry was posted on Monday, May 1st, 2006 at 5:53 pm and is filed under Writings, flash, simplicity, programming, design. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.