useit.com
Nielsen Norman Group / E3Media
Not wanting to lift completely from the recent .Net article, Jakob Nielsen is basically the most formidable force is 'web usability'. useit.com's Alert Box is possibly the most informative source of web usage and trend available and something as developers we take very seriously. What is more, the site flourishes with almost no graphics...potentially a lesson in accessibility and usability in itself!
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posted by Malcolm Garrett
on 15 December 2006
graphics hinder usability, really?
Nice to see a site posted that is based pretty much on the value of its content and attitude alone. That said, Mr Nielsen's take on graphics on the web is a little outmoded, and I would argue is somewhat restrictive from a usability perspective, especially in this post 28.8k world.
posted by Mike Staines
on 18 December 2006
not really no...
I agree that his stance on graphics is pretty over-zealous, and when even the most highly regarded xhtml strict and css sites such as www.csszengarden.com are using basic graphics to communicate their intrinsic values and style, then perhaps he may need to rethink his viewpoint! I do however find great value in his Productivity and Screen Size document...
posted by Jenni Lloyd
on 24 January 2007
information design aids usability
Mr Neilson is an incredible force in the field of web design but his approach is too proscriptive from my point of view. His 'rules' may be appropriate for some projects - and some target audiences - but certainly not for all. If the project goal is to engage consumers with a brand, or provide a rich, interactive experience the Neilson approach won't get you far. The site itself could also benefit from presenting the information in a more appealing way - at the moment all content links are presented with the same weight, and there is no visual interest. I use the site as a resource but I don't like to use it regularly.