"And they're going to improve it even worse!"
The punch-line from a joke I read a long time ago, the title-phrase of this post beautifully sums up my feelings towards a site I recently worked on. It is possible, when you attempt to "simplify" or "improve" a feature or component of a website, to reach the point where your well-intentioned clean-up has actually made things worse.
I recently was asked to update some styles on a website which asked its users a great many questions. Each of the questions required an answer in order for you to proceed to the next step. This would all be well and good, were it not for the fact that the questionnaire was half a dozen steps long, and each step was comprised of more than a hundred questions. From a design standpoint, it was a nightmare for me. There seemed to be no way for me to save the answers I had already inputted, and every time I made a major change (which then necessitated a hard refresh of my browser) I was sent back to the beginning of the questionnaire. A perfect example of simplifying and condensing to the point of ridiculousness.
And lest you think that I am pointing out a problem that only the CSS editor need worry about . . . let me point out to you that the average internet user has developed severe S.I.N.(See It Now) disorder. Anyone who had to go through this process, even just on the front end, would a.) leave after the first 3 questions, or b.) (if the questionnaire was something they were required to do) develop carpal tunnel and a severe case of "not really caring what answer I put, I want this to be OVER."
The lesson here is a very basic one. When considering simplifying or consolidating something on your website, make sure that you are taking into account the amount of time it will take to update in the future, and its impact on user satisfaction. Don't improve things to the point where they stop working.
I recently was asked to update some styles on a website which asked its users a great many questions. Each of the questions required an answer in order for you to proceed to the next step. This would all be well and good, were it not for the fact that the questionnaire was half a dozen steps long, and each step was comprised of more than a hundred questions. From a design standpoint, it was a nightmare for me. There seemed to be no way for me to save the answers I had already inputted, and every time I made a major change (which then necessitated a hard refresh of my browser) I was sent back to the beginning of the questionnaire. A perfect example of simplifying and condensing to the point of ridiculousness.
And lest you think that I am pointing out a problem that only the CSS editor need worry about . . . let me point out to you that the average internet user has developed severe S.I.N.(See It Now) disorder. Anyone who had to go through this process, even just on the front end, would a.) leave after the first 3 questions, or b.) (if the questionnaire was something they were required to do) develop carpal tunnel and a severe case of "not really caring what answer I put, I want this to be OVER."
The lesson here is a very basic one. When considering simplifying or consolidating something on your website, make sure that you are taking into account the amount of time it will take to update in the future, and its impact on user satisfaction. Don't improve things to the point where they stop working.
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