[Sigia-l] Faceted classification browsing tool

[Boniface Lau]

> From: sigia-l-admin at asis.org [mailto:sigia-l-admin at asis.org]On
> Behalf Of Listera
>
[...]
>
> > But some users thought so because the page was not displayed in
> > the font face and size that they deemed appropriate.
>
> (Actually, she explained later that her objection ran deeper than
> mere font size but focused on text/picture ratio as well as the tone
> and level of explanations.)

While the mentioned page does have additional problems, it doesn't
change the fact that the giant font is like yelling at users.


>
> It's impossible to design something that can please everyone.
> Therefore some users will be displeased. The 'solution' to this
> 'problem' is not to give up designing altogether and just rely on
> users' browser defaults.

Coming up with a design that works well for a particular font face and
size is much easier than coming up with a robust design - one that
works well with various font faces and sizes.

Thus, using default font face and size does not mean giving up
designing. It means doing much more designing.


>
> I find the notion that, in the year of our Lord 2002, the look of
> the entire web should be limited to what a user's browser defaults
> dictate, well, naïve and absurd.

Isn't a key element of proper design is acknowledging the constraints?
Here, the user default font face and size are the constraints.

Of course, ignoring the constraints is so much easier for the
designers. But I wouldn't say acknowledging the constraints is "naive
and absurd".


> Especially given the fact that very few users know about and fewer
> understand where and what those defaults are.

Mind you, what you have stated is just your opinion, not fact.


[...]
> Catering to users begin by understanding that they are not
> designers.

But that does not mean ignoring user preferences. In fact, a designer
ignoring user preferences is hardly a good designer.

Designers need to remember that they are designing for the users, not
for the designers themselves.


Boniface