[Web4lib] Web technologies and public access

[Richard Wiggins]

I hope my words earlier in the thread didn't come out this way.   The
discussion was about how a site that still looks like 1995  no longer
carries credence.  This is a purely informational site, more like a series
of pamplets from the local Ag Extension service than a slick magazine.

Sure, design matters.  Good design draws the reader and makes for a more
enjoyable experience.

I've even noticed that I'll see the same article from the NY Times in 3
places:

-- the print Times
-- the Web edition
-- syndicated to another paper's print or online edition.

Often I'll catch myself a paragraph or two in and go "Wait a minute, you
already read that."

Publishers of books wouldn't spend so much time and money coming up with a
good design if not for a purpose.  But when the book comes out in paperback,
the words are the same.

/rich

> While it's certainly true that "content is king" when it comes to the
> internet, I can't accept the statement that design is thus completely
> unimportant.  A good design, far from being something people will just
> coolly sit back and say "That's a nice design" about, is what will make or
> break your website.  Websites which are well designed with the users in
mind
> make it far easier to 1) get to and 2) understand the content than sites
> which are just text thrown on a page with little to no formatting.  This
is
> the same in business, and other forms, of writing: If your content is not
> well laid-out it doesn't matter how beautiful or concise it is, because
> nobody will read it anyway.  (See someone else's example of shakespeare in
> garish colours)