Web Pages That Suck -- Examples of Bad Web Design

These are the Daily Suckers -- Examples of Bad Web Design -- from WebPagesThatSuck.com. I couldn't predict every new sucky design technique that would come along when I wrote the book because there's always a new way to do something bad. This page will keep you up-to-date. Live examples.

My definition of "daily" is "whenever I'm in the mood."


Fixing Your(tm) Web Site Using Cheap/Free Tools

I realize in today's economy, there isn't a lot of extra money floating around. Here are some cheap tools you can use to fix your web site. I'm a Windows guy, so if the program listed isn't online, it will be windows-based.

The article can be found at my other site, but here's a condensed listing.

If I've missed any free/cheap tools that can be used by normal human beings (doesn't require an M.S. in computer science), let me know (windows only for software).

Secrets of the Cheap Tool Trade

  1. Use 2 or 3 colors on your site -- but make sure they're good colors. Unless you're a designgod, the colors need to be harmonious.
  2. Consistency is the key with type and text -- 2 or 3 good typefaces.
  3. Use these faces consistently. No mixing and matching.
  4. Use CSS.
  5. Make sure your text looks good on the page -- no bad linebreaks, etc. Use BrowserCam (see below) to check the look.
  6. Use "cheap" (inexpensive) art and graphics.
  7. Resize the file, not the WIDTH= and HEIGHT= attributes.
  8. Optimize your graphics and your code so your pages load quickly.
  9. Use graphics consistently.

Graphics

Stock Photos

Search Engine Optimization

Optimizing Your Web Pages

Testing and Validating Your Web Pages

Making Your Web Pages Accessible

Miscellaneous Tools

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Tuesday, October 14, 2003

The Daily Sucker Backgrounder

The Daily Sucker contains material that should be considered updates to the book, "Web Pages That Suck." and Son of Web Pages That Suck. I can't see the future -- if I could, I'd be picking lottery numbers and stocks. The Daily Sucker features new sucky design techniques not in existence when the book was written. Since Web designers are stubborn, I also include old sucky techniques featured in the book. Maybe if they see a bad technique featured enough they'll stop using it.

The suckers are based on user input. You see a site that you think sucks and then e-mail the URL to me. No personal pages (personal pages are supposed to reflect the individual's personality, artistic freedom, and lack of taste -- a commercial site is about making money) or Web site designers (it would look like a conflict of interest). If I think there's some merit to your selection, I post it along with some commentary -- and quality commentary helps determine whether I use the suggestion. If you know of a site that qualifies, let me know.

The sucky example will usually be available for only 24 hours (or thereabouts -- weekends and egregious examples are exceptions) -- never to be seen again. Well, probably. Somebody could always suggest them again -- and they do.

E-mail Vincent