Confusing information

Building on from the earlier post webrevolution, I felt I needed to post the areas where currently the web world is failing people starting up in web design. It has become a real bug of mine regarding the quality of many tutorial based websites regarding web design. I do not deny that there are some great resources out there, however still there is a huge majority that come up high in search engines that really are not practicing good standards and practice in web design. A great many of these are also seriously hypocritical in the sense they preach such greatness as accessibility when make it impossible for the user to get anywhere apart from a web brick wall.

I don’t need to name names here as just a quick google (the usual route for anyone trying to get information of course) will bring you some little horrors of hypocrisy. I have experienced first hand the difficulties these sites create for those learning web design. These people are keen and should be commended and encouraged not mislead or have to have their own web designer in their pocket just to know the wheat from the chaff. At the start of learning anything if you pick up bad habits it only makes the process harder. Remember the old dog learning new tricks? This is the same idea if you learn the best way from the start you don’t have the nightmare of having to go straight back to go.

As if the misleading resource were not enough, what is often worse is the fragmented delivery of the web design message. One site often contradicts the one before and the new initiate is found swimming in a sea of confusion and ends up loosing patience and their way before they have even started the process. I am sure this entire farce results in more than one talent not even making it to the surface. It is all about the right places not being such a closed circle and people actually being lead the right way. I often dream of a delete button when I see websites touting how to learn web design when they only use tables for layouts or completely ignore the simple user is the most important person rule.

This mass of misinformation is key to the success of the web standards movement. If it is not conquered then there is still going to be a certain percentage of people learning wrong from the start. I am warmed by the increase in the number of good resources, it is all about getting to the non converted though – preaching to the converted is good for the ego and that is about it really. What is the point of a website spouting trendy words like usability and standards whilst failing basic validation and confusing the user?

I think the focus has to be on delivering the message to the wider user. Say you find a small community or charity website that is not standard compliant, visually horrendous, a copy writing nightmare and about as close to doing it’s job as a wrench made of jelly; how about rather than laughing at it and posting it on the world’s worst websites, that you actually contact them and offer your services maybe even for free? Practicing what you preach is the only way forward. A web designer should be part teacher and part designer. Invest in the people learning now otherwise you might as well forget a future for web design.