Why do I obsess over something like a cutesy sidebar widget? Because it’s much more than cutesy.
In simple visuals, this little sidebar widget
- draws your attention
- is aesthetically attractive
- displays the most-commented article and the 4 runners-up
- is understandable at a glance
- is easily scannable
- allows a user to see the exact number of comments per post
What else this widget does for the reader
- creates curiosity
- gently urges the user to click into the other articles
- allows user to be comfortable leaving his or her own opinion (a form of social proof)
Essentially, this is a good design worth emulating because not only does it look attractive and fits the rest of the Engadget site well, it also communicates a wealth of information with the least amount of clutter possible. All design should serve a clear purpose and solve a problem, and this little sidebar widget does a good job.
A not-so-great example?
I had to think about this one for a bit, and even after clicking through to the product review, I’m still not certain I understand this graphic.
What are the colors signifying? They seem to be in disarray and with no obvious order of intensity. How about the larger offset numbers to the right? Do they represent the amount of reviews for each of the latest products? Are they some sort of scoring system?
At first glance, for the Jolicloud Jolibook I assumed the number 6 was in reference to the number of reviews that this particular product had. That doesn’t make the most sense, considering Engadget’s a large site and products would probably get tens if not hundreds of reviews (assuming they were user reviews).
I clicked through and realized, oh, well it’s a scoring system, and this product received 6/10. It makes sense AFTER you click through, but not so obvious on the home page.
This design is okay for the Engadget crowd, considering most readers are loyal and understand how the site works. Plus, that audience is more technically-inclined, internet savvy, and are more apt to pick up on these cues.
Your particular audience may not be the same way.
If you sell sewing machines, for example, and used this futuristic-looking scoring system for your inventory, Bev the Home Sewer won’t have the slightest clue what you’re trying to tell her, and she’ll most likely close her browser window, assuming she knows how to even do that.
Be as clear as possible in your design. Good design reaches far beyond beauty, and it is more important a site be easy to use than simply a nice thing to admire.
What are your opinions? How do you usually judge sites, on looks alone, or ease of use? Go crazy in the comments below.
Is Your Sidebar Clear or Confusing? An Example of How One Style Can Go Both Ways
Tweet Follow @barroncuadroWhy do I obsess over something like a cutesy sidebar widget? Because it’s much more than cutesy.
In simple visuals, this little sidebar widget
What else this widget does for the reader
Essentially, this is a good design worth emulating because not only does it look attractive and fits the rest of the Engadget site well, it also communicates a wealth of information with the least amount of clutter possible. All design should serve a clear purpose and solve a problem, and this little sidebar widget does a good job.
A not-so-great example?
What are the colors signifying? They seem to be in disarray and with no obvious order of intensity. How about the larger offset numbers to the right? Do they represent the amount of reviews for each of the latest products? Are they some sort of scoring system?
At first glance, for the Jolicloud Jolibook I assumed the number 6 was in reference to the number of reviews that this particular product had. That doesn’t make the most sense, considering Engadget’s a large site and products would probably get tens if not hundreds of reviews (assuming they were user reviews).
I clicked through and realized, oh, well it’s a scoring system, and this product received 6/10. It makes sense AFTER you click through, but not so obvious on the home page.
This design is okay for the Engadget crowd, considering most readers are loyal and understand how the site works. Plus, that audience is more technically-inclined, internet savvy, and are more apt to pick up on these cues.
Your particular audience may not be the same way.
If you sell sewing machines, for example, and used this futuristic-looking scoring system for your inventory, Bev the Home Sewer won’t have the slightest clue what you’re trying to tell her, and she’ll most likely close her browser window, assuming she knows how to even do that.
Be as clear as possible in your design. Good design reaches far beyond beauty, and it is more important a site be easy to use than simply a nice thing to admire.
What are your opinions? How do you usually judge sites, on looks alone, or ease of use? Go crazy in the comments below.
Tweet Follow @barroncuadro