May 20, 2008
Website Design tips
A common misconception is that usability and accessibility are one in the same. These terms are quite different, yet the importance of one is usually seen as not as important concerning the other. It’s true that many ideals surrounding accessibility still apply to usability and vice versa, though both should be taken seriously.
The more usable a site is, the easier it is to make it more accessible and, thus, it provides a better foundation upon with to build. If your wider audience finds the site hard to use, it’ll almost certainly be problematic for those with disabilities or learning difficulties. By the same token, the degree of consideration that goes into addressing accessibility is just as valid when it comes to usability.
In many web design courses and schools accessibility is a very important step because Internet is a medium made for people and with the web 2.0 technology this is everyday more true.
You should begin with the idea of creating a page for people to use and plan the Web design based on that premise. Minimize the use of Flash applications for users with lower bandwidth to create excellent content delivery. Web design isn’t about how fancy you can design the site, but instead is about how easily the information within can be accessed and used. Remember that designing anything from shoes to sites is judged on how the final product performs.
