Don’t forget the user
Whilst reading through a small corner of the web this morning over breakfast I came across this quote:
‘If your site breaks in IE10, let it break and force users to look for safer alternatives’
Having had conversations with peers and seen various posts on this subject recently, this quote got me thinking.
Imagine if you had new windows and doors fitted to your house but the door was broken. Now imagine the tradesman justified this by claiming it is for your own good as it’s safer — crazy, eh?
I see this kind of thing all of the time, web designers claiming they know what is best for the user when quite often it is simply nothing short of a manifestation of their own self importance.
Trying to force a user to bend to your will isn’t respecting the user, this is laziness at best, arrogance at worst. The user couldn’t care whether you are a Flexbox whizz, using the latest frameworks or Javascript whizzbangs — the truth is, the majority of casual users wouldn’t even know if you are using tables for layout; as long as it works.
I have recent first hand experience on how large organisations are often tied into out dated systems, including the now allegedly unsupported IE 8, 9 & 10. Admins of these systems couldn’t give a damn that they break your perfectly art directed creations, they work with there own bespoke sytems and that’s all that matters to them. Eventually, as equipment gets updated, browsers will be updated so you can show off your latest Javascript whizzbangs as much as you like. I can guarantee that won’t be for a few years yet.
I can see why this can be frustrating for web designers as we seem to have a new shiny whizzbang to play with every week, but restraint must be used. Whether we like or not, the web has constraints, it isn’t a free canvas where you can push your art on an unsuspecting public.
On a similar thread, I have seen a recent trend of web designers labelling themselves as Art Directors and people using the phrase art direction when they often mean good old fashioned web design. The thing is, art often challenges the viewer — in the majority of cases, the web shouldn’t do that. Web pages are rarely created solely for the purpose of art, they merely present information, whether that it is a selling message, the promotion of a service, gif laden blog posts or broadcasting news. This information should be as clear and as accessible as possible.
The thing I love about the web is its accessibility — I can publish something that can be seen in browsers all around the world almost immediately. We have a responsibility to not break this simple transaction. Jeremy Keith speaks passionately about progressive enhancement and I couldn’t agree with his sentiment more. Don’t get me wrong, I do long for the day when all browsers are equal so that the web can move on with the latest whizzbangs, but lets face it, this won’t happen by a plucky web designer forcing the issue. Progressive enhancement respects the user, and that is what we should all be aiming to do.
Web designers, get over yourself; its time to think more about the user.
