14 annoying things...

[agentxi]

This list of 14 annoying things is a txt file I found on my computer today. I didn't make the list. It was found in a graphic design magazine (the name totally slipped me for the moment, but once I find it I'll post credit where due)
So here's the list:

top annoying things put on websites

1. Unidentified icons
(also known as mystery meat) why is it a good idea to create navigation buttons that no one can understand?

2. Music
"i'm listening to my own music, i don't appreciate your clashing with my music"

3. Flash intros
"use flash if it helps sell your work- if, for example you're a web designer and you want to show that you can use flash, but don't use it because it seems like a cool thing to do. I'm busy i want to get to the portfolio- a flash intro only slows me down."

4. Entry pages
"why would i come to your site if i don't want to enter?"

5. Too complicated
"clean, simple designs are best. Makes it easy for me."

6. No Contact Information
"make sure your name and profession are on every page. Whereever i am in the site i should know who you are, what you do, and hot to get in touch with you" include a mailing address in contact info"

7. Bad copy
"i recently saw two examples of this from 3d artists. One said, "don't mind the typos- I'm fixing them when i move my site to a new server." the other said, "welcome to my site, i threw it up one day when i was bored, so don't expect too much, but you'll find some examples of my work here.""

8. Trying to include everything
"be very selective and show only the best of the best. Choose only the work of which your're more proud"

9. including unrelated stuff
"if you're a short-story writer or photographer, your design portfolio is not the place to showcase your work- unless you're somehow marketing your writing or photography skills as part of the design package."

10. Bad Structure
"lay out the portfolio in a way that makes sense to your visitors, not you. How will your target customer or employer navigate your site? what will they be looking for? if you don't know, find out before you lay out the site."

11. Can't download resume or bio
"do you exsist only in cyberspace?"

12. No Personality
"You must use your portfolio to communicate what makes you special - not just to showcase disparate pieces of work. Decide on your marketing message and then design a site that works with that."

13. Getting Lost
"the navigation bar must be visible at all times and you must be able to find your way back from wherever you are."

14. Monster files
"i won't wait for three minutes for that great animation to load onto my machine! and what's more, I"ll leave because i get irritated easily."

[Trigona]

Really good list. I have to agree with it ^^
Especially point no.8, I've seen far too much of it, but not just on sites, other places aswell.

[Jimbo Jones]

I've seen a lot of sites that include a large number of those annoying things lol

It's true though, you need to try and follow a list like that as much as you can. But in saying that, don't always follow those rules if you're designing a site for someone else. Whatever they want goes, even if it looks crap and you disagree with it.

[agentxi]

lol yeah the most annoying ones to me are flash intros, music and the mystery meat icon/buttons...


just last night about 4am I went to a site, and it had LOUD music on it, with NO MUTE button for the sound, I was soo choked, it woke the house up, and very nearly gave me a heartattach

needless to say i stayed a solid 5 seconds before closing the site.

[unleash]

Wow 5 sec?? that's much the maker of that site should be proud i think

I tottaly agree with the list,
I especially hate music and unrelated stuff. Like your searching for brushes and one of the sites offer you loud music, with no mute button(as usual), and games...and o almost forgot some brushes

That makes my really sad....

[KashifAsrar]

The most annoying thing is the WAIT that i need to do before some page is loaded! that delay is frustrating. Belive me I am using a high speed connection but still faces the problem of traffic congestion on some sites.
But your list look quite IMPRESSIVE too.
Kashif

[Jimbo Jones]

The main problems web designers make is not knowing their target audience.

Mega Flash wowing files, loud music, complicated layouts and hard to navigate sites and such like all appeal to someone. You just have to know when to use something and when not to.

One of the first things I got taught at uni was not to design for yourself, but to design for others. To find out what others want to see you need to do your homework

[turvas]

I do officially hate entry pages and flash intros.

Nice list.

[MoodsR4Cattle]

One thing I'd like to add to this list are javascripts and the like that the designer used - but didn't check on other browsers. They either just don't work, or they crash the browser. Always check your site on as many browsers as humanly possible. No matter how cool the script might be, if it crashes browsers or just don't work on some other browsers, don't use it!

[ecntrc]

i love the list. everything is so true. I hate flash, not only because its hard for me to comprehend but sometimes I dont want to sit there and look at your flash, i mean certainly if you want it there then ok but make sure you have a skip button for those that dont wanna sit there and watch it.. definately music also. if a client wants it explain to them why its a good reason and make sure theres a stop button.. i also hate annoying pop ups welcoming you to the site. Ive seen very few but still its rather annoying!!

[mishk]

good list, i also saw many websites with a lot of those points !

but i can't _always_ agree with all of them, some of those points can't be anoying in an X place but are very well integrated in an Y place, so of course it is a general list, but the main points are listed

good list for those like me who wants to create their own online CV or journal with some creation

thank you

[Tamlin]

I think a lot of those 14 original points have been mentioned on one of my favourite sites concerning web design: Web Pages That Suck learn usability and good Web design by looking at bad Web design
Well worth a look.

[ultranet]

well viewing all the points above give me only one reason is mere and pure BAD LUCK..

nobody likes BAD LUCK because it ANNOYS you and drags you deep down...

[Tamlin]

Originally Posted by ultranet

well viewing all the points above give me only one reason is mere and pure BAD LUCK..

nobody likes BAD LUCK because it ANNOYS you and drags you deep down...

I'm not sure that luck (bad or otherwise) has much to do with web design...