At 10:03 AM 7/15/98 -0400, you wrote:
>> As I design sites I always have three basic questions running through my
>> mind as I try various effects and techniques, and if I heed them the site
>> usually turns out OK:
>>
>> (1) Does this addition have any essential function, or is it just
eye-candy?
>>
>> (2) Will it work on most browsers, without plug-ins or a specified OS?
>>
>> (3) Does it give the user a clear and unambiguous choice as to what he or
>> she can do next?
>
>This is a pretty good list. One question, though:
>
> When is eye candy justified?
>
>Ever?
>
>Kieran
Justified? I think it depends on the application, but eye candy, when it is
not overkill-kill-the-browser-burn-the-designer-in-effigy eye candy, it's
like the smile on the office receptionist or her/his cheery "hello." In
moderation and or tastefully done, it sets the mood like Suz's elegant
piece, portrays an image, sets the tone of a silent voice.
I once heard a speaker suggest that a Web site should have "shock effect,"
a mechanism other than the content to WOW the audience. I find it pointless
and just because the designer or the client was wowed doesn't mean that an
entire audience is going to ooh and aah. Just as people complain about
parfume samples in magazines, people are complaining about what is
_necessary_ to a Web site. Sometimes I ask, "why did they put me through
this?" and it always happens just when I thought it was safe to enable or
load images, Java, JavaScript and cookies on my browser.
A 20 min download to view a bleeding edge effect that adds little or
nothing to the message or does not benefits the user in some direct or
indirect way is IMHO inconsiderate.
The 1, 2, 3 checklist is very much appreciated. Designers, if you shock me,
be prepared to entertain me to the point that I don't care...until my
browser crashes any way.
Luana
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Luana M. Howard mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
ASCInet - Where Business and Internet Connect
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