Web Aesthetics: What is an interface?

The "interface" is the means by which we access information and interact with the system. On the Web, the interface is the graphical or textural design or layout that users interact with to access the information within the site.

The browser is the interface to the Web; a tool to access Web sites

Look at different kinds of interfaces

Factors that contribute to an effective user interface

As a result of information overload, web designers have to become much more user-oriented and provide updated information in a timely manner to attract traffic to their server.

In designing web media, web developers need to be aware of the various factors that contribute to an effective user interface. These factors include:

Load Efficiency

Current bandwidth issues, such as modem speed and access providers' connection speed contribute to the efficiency of information retrieval from web media. In developing your site you need to be aware that not all users have fast modems or speedy access points. Try not to present your information in one extremely large page; instead, break it up into smaller pieces or pages making it easier for the user to load your information efficiently. Be careful not to break it up so much that users are constantly clicking, and wishing they could retrieve everything at once. Other issues to consider include document or element file size and bit depth/ compression of your imagery. If you include large, uncompressed image files, you could potentially lose a user to excessive load time.

Developers also need to be aware of the various design elements included in their web media. Try not to incorporate too many elements (i.e. multiple fonts, javascript overload, animated gifs, etc.) or haphazard, unorganized information (i.e., imagery and text all over the place), or excessive mixing of these elements (i.e., loud, overly-textured backgrounds making text unreadable).

Cross Browser Support

Another consideration is making sure that your information is available to multiple users. Be aware of the various browsing environments available to users. A page loaded in Netscape will not look the same on a page loaded in Microsoft's Internet Explorer. Taking the careful time to configure your information for a particular platform will be fruitless. Testing your site in various browsing environments throughout the development process, will give you the opportunity to see how others see your information and to make sure that it is formatted correctly. You should consider offering a modified or text-only version for other browsing environments.

Clear Navigation and Consistent Cues

Not everyone will know that the little rubber ducky on the side of your screen will take you to software, or that the bottlecap that you meticulously crafted links to a section about the history of the organization. You have to make these things apparent. The user never likes to feel stupid.

Although you can't control the users' behavior or browsing environment, you can make the trip easier to navigate. Be aware of false or inappropriate cues, such as "go back" or "go forward." You want to avoid this linear style of navigation because the truth is, you don't know where your visitor entered the site. In the virtual world, every door is potentially the front door. Not everyone may understand the symbology or imagery you might choose to use for your site. Unless the context for how these pieces are being used has been clearly stated, you run the risk of confusing or losing a user. One way to help orient users is to offer navigational tools such as menu bars or running links on every page. These tools allow users to get your information from a cohesive and consistent source, in the order they wish to retrieve it.

Usability

A good way to analyze the performance and structure of your site is to conduct a usability test on the site. How easy is the site to use? After spending a few weeks designing, it's easy to think your site is simple to navigate and the cached images load quickly. Test it out on other people, other browsers, your roommates, parents-- whoever's scrutiny you can enlist for your cause.. Have them check for load time, page readability, and if navigation cues function well.

People have very little patience for poorly designed sites. The more well-organized a page is, the more faith they will put in the content. Also on the user hate list are server error messages and under construction signs. Don't put something up if it isn't finished.

Users want to be able to find the information they came for as quickly as possible. Make topics easily accessible from the first page, so there isn't wasted time and frustrating confusion clicking from screen to screen in vain. Make sure that the information available is highly structured and organized. There is an art to information architecture.

Users don't want to read: Not only are reading speeds 25% slower on screen than on paper, web users overall would prefer to have information visually illustrated. Tables, graphs, and bullet lists are preferred to straight text. Also, most users recklessly skip over any welcome messages and introductory paragraphs, and head right for highlighted terms or hyperlinked text.