A main problem is clients who force you into using certain images or design choices that inevitably are not what you yourself want.

However at the end of the day it is their website after all (even if it isnt as good as it could be).

Down with the haters!

Constructive criticism is always nice, but smashing on peoples design without recognizing the good or potential good just makes a bigger mess.

Well said, Christian.

I would like to see Mr. Nielsen make sure he had permission from the site owner before doing an public evaluation. I think there are plenty of website owners that would love an honest evaluation. I'm sure if offered, he could get plenty of takers.

Well posted. I've read from serious critique from Nielson before but this actually takes the cake. I suppose if we all had the luxury of focusing 100% on usability for every website we build, ignoring comments from clients and actual website visitors then the internet would be a better place - but I don't think so.

In the article, Mr. Nielson does actually make a few comments about stuff that he likes about each of the mentioned sites. It's not all negative. Yes, he's harsh, and doesn't recognize the myriad decisions and compromises made along the way of building the site, but he does seem to make some attempt at being fair.

I read site evaluations on many different blogs all the time, and I'm betting that most of the time, the site author did not seek permission from the business or organization who owned the site first. We don't seek permission from book authors or movie producers before writing reviews of their work - I don't see why web sites should be any different.

How about Neilson actually follows his own opinion and use some of these usability factors on his own rubbish of a website. To be honest I actually do not read his rubbish and have very rarely even agreed with what he has said.

He lives back in the pre 2000 days back when you didnt use images due to modem restrictions....

Usability is not the main goal of website design like your triangle example. usability is just a part of the ingredient of the perfect cake we call a website.

I don't know about the rest of you, but those kind of posts are what inspires me to do better work. Feedback is a good thing.. Bad or good IMO..

couldn't agree more. from someone who has some experience in watching websites been built in-company, you just never get in the end what you started with in the blueprint.

Neilson is so 2oth century. Fergeddaboutit.

Maybe the first question to ask is; "is it designer' s or clients' fault?" As David said before, sometimes "clients who force you into using certain images or design choices that inevitably are not what you yourself want".

This is absolutely what you have to face in small countries like Turkey which I live to get the job. Most firms or clients do not understand positive criticism or but just pure insult.

Maybe this is the best way to get their attention on "the force of web".

Design is so subjective that it's not fair to criticise a design. However, it is fair imo to criticise bad usability or strucutre!

Tom

I think, in a corporate environment online marketing / SEO should take the responsibility equally along with designer for any flaws.

Maybe a good Idea is to concentrate on the best designs you praise and tell us why they are the best:-) then we all learn faster I think

I have to agree (at least in part) with David who said:

"A main problem is clients who force you into using certain images or design choices that inevitably are not what you yourself want."

I design affordable web sites and have given them the option to preview and comment upon the design as the project evolves. Although this does of course guarantee their satisfaction I do sometimes have to 'put my foot down' because a Web Designer is a Designer after all and there is more to good design than pretty colours and cool fonts.

I would summarize in saying that we as web designers have to create a happy medium between what the client thinks they want and what we know will work.

Sometimes it's very difficult to speak with clients about design, especially if this is a littel bit original ;)

When you are forced to do something "wrong" (in design) u can not sign your work ;)

It's a matter of the difference between the individual's opinion of the aesthetics of the design and the individual's opinion on how effective the design has actually engaged them (often without owning up, the individual will have been engaged even if they have a doubt over the aesthetics)

I don't think Nielsen's theories can be faulted for pure usability - but if you built a site based purely on his recommendations alone, no-one would buy anything from it. A professional design can be as big an influencing factor on potential shoppers as any of his usability techniques

I think it is fair to comment on quality of a consultant's work, how else can you establish a case for what you do as an IT consultant? It's important to not exaggerate but be clear open and honest of what you see in front of you. So I think it's an important aspect in Technology in general to be able to have openess, testing, and getting other's perspectives how else can you build a strong case for a product or even a strong product?

I think it's certainly fair to criticize bad design when you see it. Having said that, it can be done in such a way as to be constructive and not so biting. Having said that I feel like designers need to learn to take and learn from criticism, regardless of how it's worded.

If Jakob saw one of my designs and made some valid criticism in public I'd be a bit miffed, sure, but if my design was improved in the end I guess I should be thankful.

(Oh, and, BTW - that goal triangle thing? That was me. Not Brian.)

Christian, Heres my 2 cents...

Dr. J was a heavy weight in the 90s on the internet, and since UI was not a very hot field he automatically rose to the top. In 2008, his site maybe web standards compliant [in the 1996 format], its very unaesthetic (therefore he has no moral right to pass judgement on others). I am not commenting on his professionalism or standing in the community.

I believe that more than sharp criticism, a compassionate approach is always nicer and people listen more. Picking on innocent 3rd party sites who are trying to make a difference in their business is not the way. Also design is subjective, quite like food.

I myself have critiqued a few sites, but always by writing to the webmaster/contact person. I sometimes get an acknowledgment, stoic silence or arrogant replies.. Cest la vie.

I just think that self linking [sad SEO technique adoption], and offering gazillion amounts of photographs for download is an outer manifestation of inner ego, or a closet celebrity at least.. :)

In my mother tongue we have a saying "pichuka(sparrow) meeda(on) brahmastram(equiv. of a nuclear missile)" That should summarize.

And I do agree that very often its politics that generates bad design, or just too much meddling from key decision makers. Very often the designer is the least culpable, sometimes s/he is!

I agree it's not really fair to criticize another designer. After all, the designer is working on behalf of a client who ultimately controls what gets produced. And some clients have the design skill of a potato but think they know more about design than the designer.

Maybe the designer does know better, but the client insisted on a flash intro!

It is easy to criticize and point out flaws and much harder to actually put advise into practice. That explains Jacob Nielsen's horrible site which may be "usable" but is so horribly ugly and boring.

Jacob Nielsen should practice what he preaches.
http://www.useit.com/

I think it depends on what aspect of a web site you're criticizing, and whether it's obvious that the designer it lacking a few clues about usability or whether it may be the client who is demanding some inherently bad elements. Sometimes clients do demand (not ask!) for some really stupid things, and that's hardly the designers fault. If it's helpful to anyone, I'm putting together a list of good Melbourne web designers that wont make this mistake.

I agree, useit.com is no better than the websites they/him criticized. Shouldnt we walk the talk before we call other people 'stupid'; one way or the other?

I think if you've designed a page and put it in the public domain, its fair game. Although I don't agree with a lot of what Nielsen says, I do believe that any feedback should be taken on board by the designer. ALL criticism can be constructive if its taken the right way.

Having said that, I've just taken a look at Nielsen's own web site (www.useit.com). Blimey! That's taking usability to the max! Even at the expense of having a web site that people actually want to look at.

It's not necessarily fair to criticise a design without knowing the reasons why due to the following reason... chances are the design process hasn't been left to the design professionals, no doubt there will have been a bit of design by committee going on by the bosses or thos that hold the purse strings. We've all had to deal with this at some stage in our careers and this can/will heavily and negatively impact the final product. It's a very frustrating thing when it happens and often beyond your control. If someone then criticises your design it reflects badly on you as most people aren't aware of the background goings on.

However, criticising a design is non-the-less part of the design process and regardless of reasons why a design is bad, it should and will be critiqued. As long as it's done objectively it's a good thing.

Its not always good to criticise designs as such, but you can let people know areas which can be improved. It should also be understood that your taste can differ from someone elses.

Scott