The Worst Web Sites of 2007 #11-20

The year 2007 was a good year for bad web design. I assume you've checked out the 10 Worst Web Sites of 2007, so here are the next 10 bad designs of 2007 that appeared on Web Pages That Suck..

It's important to note that the worst web pages are not simply car wrecks on the Information Highway. Many of the sites that are featured on Web Pages That Suck have only one or just a few glaring faults.

Anybody can throw up sites like Video Sonic Labs or Rockley Park Owners. Yes, such sites are occasionally featured here, but you gain more understanding by seeings sites where the solution is more than "Let's nuke the site and start over from scratch." (Apologies to my readers in Japan.)

The following sites comprise the runner up group of the worst web sites that appeared on Web Pages That Suck during 2007.

#20. Restaurant Guide Atlanta — Go to Restaurant Guide Atlanta

They may be doing something right, but it looks like they're doing a lot wrong. Personally, I'm amazed s/he found the Guide. My eyes went over to the right side looking for information. The top-left corner should be reserved for the logo, but that's where the link is for the Guide.

Read the commentary.

#19 Freemap.com — Go to Freemap.com

Nothing says "this sucks" better than animated globes from 1996. One of these days they'll disappear and I'll get all misty-eyed and nostalgic about them...No I won't. I won't miss the trailing cursor, even though it may be the longest trailing cursor in web history.

Read the commentary.

 

#18 CPA Infrastructure — Go to CPA Infrastructure

This site reminds me of a story I tell about Ampy, one of my favorite former co-workers. Back in 1995, I had to surf the web to find sites to recommend to our clients and I ran across what I thought was the most horrific site on the web. Horrific in the sense of content, not design. I showed the site to Ampy and he was properly horrified but then I uttered my immortal phrase, "It can always get worse." Two days later, I found something even worse.

It can always get worse. Read the commentary.

#17 International Home Fashions — Go to International Home Fashions

The Web site of International Home Fashions…or is it "International Ho?"  Wait a minute, didn't Don Imus get in trouble for saying that? I guess that’s why it’s called Shockwave.

This is pretty darn funny. This is the kind of mistake that just makes you look stupid and it's hard to fix because the "typo" was made in Flash.

#16 Fiber Optic Products — Go to Fiber Optic Products

The opening sound also pops up on at least one other page, which scares the heck out of me. This site uses almost every bad web design technique that shows up in my article Does My Web Site Suck? Checklist 1.

OK, OK. It doesn't make all 149 mistakes — it just feels that way.

Read the commentary.

#15 Qssis Banquet Halls — Flash version — Go to Qssis

I don’t know about you, but I don’t like being scared by an explosion when I enter a site. I’ve written about using music on your web site before — or should I say "not" using music on your web site unless your in the music business.

I also find it a little bit weird that the music on the home page is Billy Idol’s White Wedding. I like a lot of Billy’s music, but it doesn’t quite seem appropriate. Then again, maybe Qssis' audience looks like Mr. Idol.

Anyway, the site is a trip. Read the commentary.

#14. Gamequarium — Go to Gamequarium

Submitter's comments: I don't know if this site should be in the top 20, but is definitely bad.   The site is supposed to be for teachers and elementary school students, but I don't know how anyone could get past the home page because it looks so bad. 

Vincent Flanders' comments: I certainly couldn't get past the home page.

The following is boilerplate for this type of site:

This is a really good example of Mistake #5 from Biggest Mistakes in Web Design 1995-2015 — "Have you ever seen another web site? Really? Doesn't look like it." I call this type of design the "I haven't taken my antipsychotics in a while school of web design."

#13. Hong Kong Young Design Talent Awards — Go to HKYDTA

Submitter’s comments: I think you will love that the “English version” text moving around in the screen when you mouse over. Also, the left menu is sideways.

Vincent Flanders’ comments: I also like the fact the TITLE tag is “ydta.” Yeah, the search engines are going to know it stands for “Young Design Talent Awards.” Sure.

Other comments: It took me a couple of minutes to even realize the gray bars on the left were the navigation. i just thought it was some artsy-fartsy white space filler.

#12. 1001 Pens — Go to 1001 Pens

Vincent's comments: It's pretty horrible. I don't think I've ever seen such horrid navigation that was labeled so clearly.

Other comments #1: Clear labels are no help. You can't find anything even after you click on the links.

Other comments #2: Click the links and nothing seems to change. Scrolled down and found out below the fold has changed. How do the expect to sell anything?

#11. MH Manufacturing — Go to MH Manufacturing

I'm really tired of the 1996 globe and I hate the menus that follow you around.

Submitter's comments: I came across this manufacturing web site. You don't have to go far to find several issues with their web design:

1. It has "Welcome to..." on their web site.
2. It has a poor contrast. i.e. white text on the black background.
3. The audio/music plays automatically.
4. The navigation menu follows you when you scroll.

To make matters worse, this web site. automatically refreshes your browser...every 20 to 25 seconds on their homepage!! Luckily, they don't do that on other navigational links.