Web Gurus with Gross Sites

Jakob Nielsen: He’s one of the most recognized names in the world of web design advice. But I can’t stand his website.

Yes, his use of large, Verdana font and lack of graphics means the site loads quickly and old people with vision problems can read the text easily. But I’m sorry; the thing is just plain ugly.

And for me, I don’t like spending time on ugly sites. For one thing, I don’t respect them, and I tend to doubt their credibility. When I first found Nielsen’s site a couple years ago, by searching for articles on writing for the web, I found his text and data to be crowded, unscannable, and confusing. I thought the 1998 look and feel — the nasty yellow bar across the top being the only color on the page — meant the content was also outdated. Still, because at the time there was a paucity of information on how to write for the web, I slogged through. Only when a prospective employer mentioned Nielsen with reverence did I get the clue that the guy is considered to be the authority on many issues of usability and standards.

Seriously, Mr. Nielsen: I respect your adherence to purity of content. But yellow, pale pink, and that hideous web-blue — these colors do not go together. Don’t tell me your web URL in the title of your homepage. And please, Verdana looks like schoolbook text. It’s awful and big and just stinks of stupidity. The web is a visual medium; you have to respect that, too!

Web Gurus with Gross Sites  by Eliot on Red Inked

Comments

[haa]

shiiiit

[Todd Epp]

Indeed. I'm no website design genius, but Jakob's website is not simple, just unattractive. And frankly, a little hard to read. I didn't know who this guy was until a few moments ago but yet I was completely underwhelmed by what he practices compared to what he says. Maybe I'm missing something?