1. Web Design Tips College of Alameda pmcdermott@peralta.edu Copyright © 2008 Patrick McDermott

2. Web Design

3. Whose Side Are You On? Browser Side HTML/XHTML CSS JavaScript C#/Java Applets AJAX DataBase Cookie Server C++ C# Java PHP ASP Perl Copyright © 2008 Patrick McDermott

4. Sources of Variation Different Browser Browser Version HTML Language Versions How strict to enforce Standards Dilemma: – Use features some users can’t accommodate driving them away – Keep your up-to-date users in the old technology denying them improvement

5. Static or Dynamic Static – Always the same, for everybody Dynamic – Database – User – Time of Day – Whatever Price Discrimination at Amazon

6. Internet Categories  Content – Entertain or Inform: Eyeballs  Community – Social YouTube, Amazon reviews  Commerce – Sell, Sell, Sell Meta Categories – ISPs – Portals – Web Services “Both Magritte and Escher use realism in exploring the worlds of paradox and illusion; both have a sure sense for the evocative power of certain visual symbols, and—something which even their admirers often fail to point out—both of them have a sure sense of the graceful line.” —Crab (Douglas Hofstadter, GEB)

7. TNSTAAFL “There’s No Such Thing As A Free Lunch” This Class – Size of Files – No Music + Illustration – What might Blow Up

8. BUI vs. GUI Browser User Interface Penny McIntire sez Browser has built-in facilities HTML ez 2 learn HTML ez to update Portable On server so no PC update

9. Colors/Brand Visual Studio & MSN have the same color palette. BAD!

10. Where to Click Everywhere! Click or control click to link Blue and Purple Multiple Ways to Navigate

11. New Window Or current window You don’t want them to leave your site… “I’ve also thrown away the TARGET="_blank" attributes that open links in new windows or tabs. This is usually not what the user wants, and it’s rarely a good idea. Let the user use the back button and history list if necessary, but otherwise open most links in the same window. If the users want to open a link in a new window, they can easily do so from the context menu, but the choice is now theirs.”

12. You Gotta dance… … with the one that brought ya Many interface books suggest things that HTML or VS don’t do. It’s not nice to fool the browser If you do, it’s your fault

13. Usability Test You’ll be Surprised Even one is better than None – Take HTML tag: shift Focus Group – I’d pay $100 for one – You can have this one for $50 – No thanks