420 Design Blog
Design is crucial on the web
16 Jan 2006 | Angie H
Update (3.21.06): The link to the article (below) now requires a paid subscription in order to view/read it. What a shame...
A recent article on Nature.com discusses how web surfers make a literally split-second decision on whether to stay at or leave a site.
If you can snare people with an attractive design, they are more likely to overlook other minor faults with the site, and may rate its actual content ... more favourably.
There's always been a popular belief in advertising, sales, and marketing about the "unspoken message", whether it's a poorly designed ad or a salesman in a cheap, ill-fitting suit. This study shows that it's really true on the Web... if your design is out of synch with your content, visitors will be less likely to believe what the content says - even if they aren't consciously aware of why they feel that way.
NeuroGuy
20 Jan 2006