The 10 Worst Web Sites of 2007

Web design is an art. Great web design occurs when design and content are seamless and you don't notice its greatness.

Unfortunately, 2007 was among the worst ever for great web design, but it was wonderful for bad design. Most of the sites look like the designer never read (or ignored) my article Does Your Web Site Suck? Checklist #1 — 149 Mortal Sins That Will Send Your Site to Web Design Hell.

Most of the sites featured on Web Pages That Suck also committed one or more of the Biggest Mistakes in Web Design 1995-2015 including the following:

1. We've designed our site to meet our organization's needs (more sales/ contributions) rather than meeting the needs of our visitors.
2. It takes longer than four seconds for the man from Mars to understand what our site is about.
3. Our site looks like we've never seen another web site.
4. We use design elements that get in the way of our visitors.
5. Our site doesn't make us look like credible professionals.

10. moiré — Go to moiré

They fixed the site, but that doesn't mean they can hide. Thank goodness for Archive.org. This site's "navigation" is unique, which is why I'm sending you to a cached copy.

Read moiré commentary

9. KC The Catalog — Go to KC The Catalog

This site blows. Read the commentary

 

 

 

8. Tally-Ho Uniforms & Accessories — Go to Tally-Ho

Why this site is included is obvious to everyone but the site owners. But it's always that way. Read the commentary.

7. Fred Frap and His Imaginary Friends — Go to Fred Frap

"Colorful" is the first word that comes to mind. Doesn't seem to work in Firefox, Opera, or anything that isn't Internet Explorer.

Submitter's comments: BTW, I think it only works on IE 6, I think the author created it in Word.

Vincent's comments: My eyes! Especially nice, is scrolling down this page. Wow! I wish this were an imaginary site. Read the commentary.

6. BVS Performance Center for Banks — Go to BVS

God, how I hate these "Metaphor Navigation" schemes (I think there's another, better name for this type of dreck, but I forget what it is).

Somewhere, someone had a label that made sense. E-mail me. Read the commentary.

5. OPEN BEXI — Go to OPEN BEXI

Vincent Flanders’ comments: (loud sobbing sounds)

Other comments: Horrible UI. I'd cry if someone made me use it. Read the commentary.

4. Usability Net — Go to Usability Net

There's a phrase called "unclear on the concept" that applies to this site. Flash navigation has usability issues and you would think a web site about the topic of usability would understand this fact. Read the commentary.

3. Creation Museum, Taxidermy Hall of Fame of NC and Antique Tool Museum — Go to the Museum

In my speeches I use an example of a business site I call "The Vincent Flanders School of Dentistry and Auto Body Repair." The name of the school always gets a laugh because...well, it's "out there." The #3 Worst Site knocked down, ran over and trampled the name of my school — "Creation Museum, Taxidermy Hall of Fame of NC and Antique Tool Museum."

This site is a classic 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." Read the commentary.

2. Microsoft — Go to the commentary

Quite frankly, a company worth billions of dollars can spend a few bucks and make sure there's sufficient contrast between the text and the background. It's not just about web standards, it's about making your site easier to read. The lack of contrast is either arrogance or stupidity.

1. Ace of Cakes — Go to Ace of Cakes

Yes, I know this site should really be included in the Worst Web Sites to Navigate of 2007 because of its use of Mystery Meat Navigation. Unfortunately or fortunately, that group of sites is so horrible and there were so many entries that I moved Ace of Cakes to this page. Read the commentary.