So many possible replies to that comment… 
I’m in such a weird mood today. Maybe something to do with spending 2 hours stuck in a traffic jam on the M20… :sure:
I don’t see why there has to be this rift between Style and Design.
Have you ever read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance? In it the author talks not about a tradeoff between art and functionality, but about an integration of the two. Neither is sacrificed because both are an integral part of the final product. If done rightly, webdesign is both beautiful and usable, in neither order. That said, there’s a lot people out there not doing it right. Me included, probably. Easier said than done.
Enhanced style adds to usability. It is easier to absorb information off a site that looks professional and cool. But lets face it, flash is an easy tool to misuse.
His site is usable, i’ll give him that, but heck it’s too difficult to read the text because of the mediocrely place background stripes!
Flash design basically boils down to two words:
Common sense.
I like stripes.
I agree kit!
If people are going to be dozy muppets and make beautiful looking sites with mystery meat navigation, unending intro sequences and no real content or point, then they can’t complain when someone says their site isn’t useable.
Hello? McFly?!?
At least we are all sensible people. 
Same goes for people who make unaesthetic, black on while, ugly html, relentless information overload pages.
College lecturers are a good example. Obviously interested in web design but leave their own course pages a jumbled mess of ugly text and unordered links.
Sorry if I’m generalising any lecturers reading this.
lol
No, it’s true… My web design lecturer at University (this was back in 1998/9 though) made the most hideous sites and slides and stuff. Truly appalling. Of course at the time we all thought it was fantastic.
In fact you know the battle with the ugly sites? My first website looked like those, and I was so proud of it… 
I certainly wouldn’t be as harsh as Jakob is, but you all have to admit that there is a lot of crap on the internet. This guy is like Simon (simeon<g>) from American Idol… he’s right… he just happens to also be an *** about it. Arogance does not invalidate opinion.
Anyway… I think that everyone who seeks to design should read as many of these types of articles as they can… even if it hurts to listen too.
Neilsen raises a lot of good points, he just manages to annoy 90% of web designers / developers while he’s at it. )
I would agree that everyone should read the article. The more information you have the better you can make critical decisions. Even if it’s information you don’t agree with. Both sides of the story, etc.
David: Of course there’s a lot of crap out there. But there was plenty of crap before Flash became widespread too. Content can be just as irritating as design.
I kinda like kit when enraged!
*Originally posted by Pierce Gleeson *
I would agree that everyone should read the article. The more information you have the better you can make critical decisions. Even if it’s information you don’t agree with. Both sides of the story, etc.
Agreed. If you know what’s considered to be ‘bad design’ and ‘bad usability’ then you can try and avoid it yourself.
oh I wouldn’t say that Flash is the cause of bad design… it’s a lack of understanding of what “design” is, that has caused all the crap.
Flash is not the cause of bad design. But it’s an extremely powerful tool in the hands of a bad designer. Perhaps more powerful than it is in the hands of a good one. If you get me.
floating popup anyone?
I agree, people talk about Flash like the program is bad for design, but it isn’t, Flash opens up a new door to design that people take advantage of. It seems many people think the more animation you can do (no matter what useability is sacrificed) then the better your site will be, but that is never the case.
Flash is no more a bad design tool, than SUVs are the cause of all the accidents in the world…
People make bad HTML sites as well… They look nice, but don’t function well… they have mystery meat navs as well, they just don’t get the publicity Flash sites do.
That said, gratuitous animation, and general laziness is rampant amongst young web designers today. A lot of designers think that since they can do something, then they should (sound for instance).
this is one of my very sore subject… sorry for the rant…
Rev
i think both style and design can be effectively balanced within any project… but thats just me thinking
