Good - Bad Gann

Good Web Design:

Text
Background does not interrupt the text
Text is big enough to read, but not too big
The hierarchy of information is perfectly clear
Columns of text are narrower than in a book to make reading easier on the screen

Navigation
Navigation buttons and bars are easy to understand and use
Navigation is consistent throughout web site
Navigation buttons and bars provide the visitor with a clue as to where they are, what page of the site they are currently on
Frames, if used, are not obtrusive
A large site has an index or site map

Links
Link colors coordinate with page colors
Links are underlined so they are instantly clear to the visitor

Graphics
Buttons are not big and dorky
Every graphic has an alt label
Every graphic link has a matching text link
Graphics and backgrounds use browser-safe colors
Animated graphics turn off by themselves

General Design
Pages download quickly
First page and home page fit into 640 x 460 pixel space
All of the other pages have the immediate visual impact within 640 x 460 pixels
Good use of graphic elements (photos, subheads, pull quotes) to break up large areas of text
Every web page in the site looks like it belongs to the same site; there are repetitive elements that carry throughout the pages

Bad Web Design:

Backgrounds
Default gray color
Color combinations of text and background that make the text hard to read
Busy, distracting backgrounds that make the text hard to read

Text
Text that is too small to read
Text crowding against the left edge
Text that stretches all the way across the page
Centered type over flush left body copy
Paragraphs of type in all caps
Paragraphs of type in bold
Paragraphs of type in italic
Paragraphs of type in all caps, bold, and italic all at once
Underlined text that is not a link

Links
Default blue links
Blue link borders around graphics
Links that are not clear about where they will take you
Links in body copy that distract readers and lead them off to remote, useless pages
Text links that are not underlined so you don't know they are links
Dead links (links that don't work anymore)

Graphics
Large graphic files that take forever to load
Meaningless or useless graphics
Thumbnail images that are nearly as large as the full-sized images they link to
Graphics with no alt labels
Missing graphics, especially missing graphics with no alt labels
Graphics that don't fit on the screen (assuming a screen of 640x460 pixels)

Tables
Borders turned on in tables
Tables used as design elements, especially with extra large (dorky) borders

Blinking and Animations
Anything that blinks, especially text
Multiple things that blink
Rainbow rules (lines)
Rainbow rules that blink or animate
"Under construction" signs, especially of little men working
Animated "under construction" signs
Animated pictures for e-mail
Animations that never stop
Multiple animations that never stop

Junk
Counters on pages--who cares
Junky advertising
Having to scroll sideways (640 x 460 pixels)
Too many little pictures of meaningless awards on the first page
Frame scroll bars in the middle of a page
Multiple frame scroll bars in the middle of a page

Navigation
Unclear navigation; over complex navigation
Complicated frames, too many frames, unnecessary scroll bars in frames
Orphan pages (no links back to where they came from, no identification)
Useless page titles that don't explain what the page is about

General Design
Entry page or home page that does not fit within standard browser window (640 x 460 pixels)
Frames that make you scroll sideways
No focal point on the page
Too many focal points on the page
Navigation buttons as the only visual interest, especially when they're large (and dorky)
Cluttered, not enough alignment of elements
Lack of contrast (in color, text, to create hierarchy of information, etc.)
Pages that look okay in one browser but not in another

02/14/05
Well, well, well

I finally got my cable up and running a week or so ago, but I haven't had much time to update. Hopefully I'll be able to do a proper update in the next day or so.

I want to know how people keep finding this site.

Hey Kim.

Good Bad Web Design
Good Web Design: Text Background does not interrupt the text Text is big enough to read, but not too big The hierarchy of information is perfectly clear Columns of text are narrower than in a book to make reading easier on the screen Navigation Navigation buttons and bars are easy to understand and use Navigation is consistent throughout web site Navigation buttons and bars provide the visitor with a clue as to where they are, what page of the site they are currently on Frames, if used, are not obtrusive A large site has an index or site map Links Link colors coordinate with page colors Links are underlined so they are instantly clear to the visitor Graphics Buttons are not big and dorky Every graphic has an alt label Every graphic link has a matching text link Graphics and backgrounds use browser-safe colors Animated graphics turn off by themselves General Design Pages download quickly First page and home page fit into 640 x 460 pixel space All of the other pages have the immediate visual impact within 640 x 460 pixels Good use of graphic elements (photos, subheads, pull quotes) to break up large areas of text Every web page in the site looks like it belongs to the same site; there are repetitive elements that carry throughout the pages	Bad Web Design: Backgrounds Default gray color Color combinations of text and background that make the text hard to read Busy, distracting backgrounds that make the text hard to read Text Text that is too small to read Text crowding against the left edge Text that stretches all the way across the page Centered type over flush left body copy Paragraphs of type in all caps Paragraphs of type in bold Paragraphs of type in italic Paragraphs of type in all caps, bold, and italic all at once Underlined text that is not a link Links Default blue links Blue link borders around graphics Links that are not clear about where they will take you Links in body copy that distract readers and lead them off to remote, useless pages Text links that are not underlined so you don't know they are links Dead links (links that don't work anymore) Graphics Large graphic files that take forever to load Meaningless or useless graphics Thumbnail images that are nearly as large as the full-sized images they link to Graphics with no alt labels Missing graphics, especially missing graphics with no alt labels Graphics that don't fit on the screen (assuming a screen of 640x460 pixels) Tables Borders turned on in tables Tables used as design elements, especially with extra large (dorky) borders Blinking and Animations Anything that blinks, especially text Multiple things that blink Rainbow rules (lines) Rainbow rules that blink or animate "Under construction" signs, especially of little men working Animated "under construction" signs Animated pictures for e-mail Animations that never stop Multiple animations that never stop Junk Counters on pages--who cares Junky advertising Having to scroll sideways (640 x 460 pixels) Too many little pictures of meaningless awards on the first page Frame scroll bars in the middle of a page Multiple frame scroll bars in the middle of a page Navigation Unclear navigation; over complex navigation Complicated frames, too many frames, unnecessary scroll bars in frames Orphan pages (no links back to where they came from, no identification) Useless page titles that don't explain what the page is about General Design Entry page or home page that does not fit within standard browser window (640 x 460 pixels) Frames that make you scroll sideways No focal point on the page Too many focal points on the page Navigation buttons as the only visual interest, especially when they're large (and dorky) Cluttered, not enough alignment of elements Lack of contrast (in color, text, to create hierarchy of information, etc.) Pages that look okay in one browser but not in another
Web Design
02/14/05 Well, well, well I finally got my cable up and running a week or so ago, but I haven't had much time to update. Hopefully I'll be able to do a proper update in the next day or so. I want to know how people keep finding this site. Hey Kim. After 3, that's THREE, separate appointments with Time Warner I still have no internet acces nor cable. First time: the guy said I'd have to have someone else come out and put in the actual coax since the wit before me tore it all out. Second time: they never showed up. I got up early on Saturday just to sit around waiting for nothing. Third time: Last night, the same guy that came over the first time was there. I asked him why he was back since he said someone else would have to do it. He's answer was his company (he's sub-contracted) wouldn't have gotten paid for what he would have to do then, but now they knew and he would get paid. Jerk off! So, he left with me in the same boat, because I had to get permission from the landlord to do what he wanted to do. WHY WOULDN"T THEY DO A LITTLE RESEARCH? I AM TRYING TO PAY THEM!!! Earlier today, I got ahold of the landlord and they said it was OK. FINALLY! Maybe I'll have cable someday soon. Mat threw this cap at me...here we go. 1. What is the total amount of music files on your computer? 1+1=an asst load 2. The cd you last bought is: The Hives: Your New Favorite Band (To get the DVD) 3. What is the song you last listened to before reading this message? The Twilight Singers version of Too Tough To Die 4. Write down 5 songs you often listen to or that mean a lot to you: The Twilight Singers: That's Just How That Bird Sings Bobby Bare Jr'Young Criminals' Starvation League: Don't Follow Me Old 97's: Salome Smashing Pumpkins: Porcelina of the Oceans Vast Mr. Bungle: Merry Go Bye Bye The first time I've been able to check my mail in a while I and I get these!!! Author: Jason Gann AuSTRALIAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! (IP: 203.40.162.80 , DC-162-80.bpb.bigpond.com) "My name is Jason Gann and I live in Australia. What the f* is your site about man??? A lot of Americans think the world gives a sht about their pithy lost lives. Let me tell you straight up... WE DON"T GIVE A F!!! If you've got nothing interesting to say shut the fck up and do something in your life worth commenting on. F ME DEAD this is trash! You think you're hardcore do you sunshine??? How about you write back to me and explain why I shouldn't hack up your site... and your green goulish graphics... what a joke. You think you're a tough cnt with your rock music reviews and junkie crp. Try f* in with the St. Kilda boys, rat, and see how tough you are. Look, you were probably once an ok kid and dull suburban life made you rebel against your own mediocrity, boo-fcking hoo, I'm very sorry for you, now how about banging that arm up properly and stop soiling the good name of many decent fking humans. I've been to the states twice now and I'm coming back. I guarentee there's another Jason Gann a lot badder than you and I'm fcking seething!" But wait there is more... "This just gets fcking worse" Where are you going? "Back tracking now dude..... Read on to learn more about YOU!!!!!!!" I'll answer your questions and comments, my friend. "How about you write back to me and explain why I shouldn't hack up your site... and your green goulish graphics... what a joke." How about I just write about it on my blog. That way you and the St. Kilda Boys now have something interesting to read. The green ghoulish graphics were for Halloween, just haven't gotten around to changing them. Looks like they fit the bill though...may keep 'em longer now. The joke is you getting your panties in a bunch about this site. "You think you're a tough cnt with your rock music reviews and junkie crp. Try fckin with the St. Kilda boys, rat, and see how tough you are."* WTF!? I'm tough because I have a music review...are the St. Kilda Boys a rogue band of music reviewers? I'm confused on how you got that I thought I was tough. I think you may want to reread the part I talk about being a junkie...INTERNET JUNKIE. Read it slowly once or twice. "Look, you were probably once an ok kid and dull suburban life made you rebel against your own mediocrity, boo-fcking hoo, I'm very sorry for you, now how about banging that arm up properly and stop soiling the good name of many decent fcking humans." I'm guessing you're referring to "being a junkie" again...see above response. "I've been to the states twice now and I'm coming back. I guarentee there's another Jason Gann a lot badder than you and I'm fcking seething!"* Hope you had a good time and have a safe trip next time. Check this page out before you plan your next trip so you have something interesting to look at. I guarantee your guarantee is true...somewhere out there is a Jason Gann badder than you, me or the devil. Maybe he has a page too, now that would be fun. Let's see where this goes. It's good to be done moving. I didn't think it was ever going to end, but with the help of BenC and Bionic-J I got all of the big stuff. THANKS GUYS!!! Now it's cleaning, sorting and the graphics work doesn't seem to be letting up, it will as soon as I'm settled in and actually have time to focus on it. The work doesn't bother me, because I NEED money for a decent couch and normal furniture type of things. So, if you drop by right now I can offer up a recliner and four folding chairs, which are on loan from the Bionic house. Other than the constant moving and sorting, the actual living alone part is fan-friggin-tastic. There are a few things that I'm not liking about the place (Tourette's kid next door randomly squeaks and squeals as he walks his dog, dishwasher is broken and the house smells like cigarettes), but nothing I can't deal with. Internet, on the other hand, is something I can't live without...Hi, My name is Jason and I'm a junkie. I called today and set that up, so by the end of next week (when all of the design work is due) I'll have the worderful world of high speed internet back where it belongs. Once I get up and going, I'll let everyone that doesn't read this page, like my family, know that I've moved.

Good Bad Web Design

Good Web Design:

Bad Web Design: