[Web4lib] What's wrong with this picture?

[Stacy Pober]

Our school has redesigned the college website without asking for input
from the librarians (or any other faculty as far as I can tell).  Most
of the content is the same, but the colors, fonts, and layout
have been transferred into a template.  Splash screens have been added to
each section, and a large scrolling image gallery takes up most of the
landscape on the first screen of every page.

You can view the new design at:
<http://www.manhattan.edu/library_mc/index.shtml>

I agree that our pages could use some design help, but instead of improvements
we seem to have gotten a complete overhaul where flashy and slick design
has been given preference over design choices that make pages clear
and easy-to-use.

Our school colors are green and white, but for some unexplained reason,
the library pages have been assigned a white text on a hot violet/maroon
background.

My first reactions were "eeeew" and then "aauuggh"

In my opinion, the site violates many basic usability rules, as well as not
being compliant with guidelines for writing pages that are accessible to
people with visual disabilities.

The fonts are small, and to increase them in Internet Explorer, users must
go into the IE Tools --> Internet Options --> Accessibility and choose
"ignore font sizes".  Most of our users do not know how to do this.
When I mentioned the ADA  I was told that, as a private college, we need
not worry about the Americans with Disabilities Act.  But, putting aside
any legal issues, it seems rude and unkind to offer web pages that are
difficult for people with visual difficulties to use.

It's just the first day they introduced the new design, and I've already
heard four or five complaints about the small fonts and odd color choices.

I'm writing a list of my concerns, and I'd like to get input from you folks
in two ways.  I already have a list of what I consider to be some of the
most glaring design faults of the new layout, those that violate basic tenets
of web design usability.  But I may be missing some things.  So if you
could send me your comments on the site, I can incorporate any things
I have missed in the list I will be sending to the powers-that-be.

I have seen many web design guideline lists on the internet. Which ones
would you consider to be most authoritative?  (I need to voice my concerns
soon, so I'd prefer sources that are available on the web.)

This is reminding me of one of those kid's games where they draw a picture
with objects out of place or people doing things wrong, and you have to find
all the errors. Look! I found upside down priorities!

--
Stacy Pober
Information Alchemist
Manhattan College
O'Malley Library
Riverdale, NY 10471
stacy.pober at manhattan.edu

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