The dark side of the web

There are a fair few types of sites that the a-list designers seem to avoid and galleries seem blind to. These often include sites such as online shops (getting less though), but the worst missing hole is the ever so common directory site. It could be a shopping directory, a link directory, resource directory, advertising directory – there is just a lack of any type of directory. The odd one might be shown but in general the online directory is the dark side of the web.

Many reasons probably are the cause; from them generally using inaccessible linking using javascript to pull ugly flashing gif adverts for underpants, to the lack of imaginative thought in designing these directories. Often with directories it’s money first, looks and function last. They are usually just a collection of random links without much cause for anything like accessibility, community or design. Ugliness plastered in a table with a yawn fest description or gastly list of cheap bras pulled through.

The thing is that lately I’ve been starting to think that the dark sides of the web really are the last ground with accessibility and should be fought on. A short while ago it was corporate websites that were the focus with a wave of re-developments and designs to bring them out of the mundane. We think nothing now of a standards compliant sexy corporate website (maybe not sexy but you get my meaning). I don’t know if it’s some reaction to the run of similar site types that have come out of my fingers over the past year, but I’ve always loved a challenge when it comes to websites. Galleries are full of great company sites, wonderful communities, lovingly crafted to a pixel of their validation blog sites and portfolios. We’ve all seen the endless conveyer belt of glorious design. Online though there is a mass of ignored sites that frequently bring the site down and a large amount of these is actually directories.

Whether you think link directories are valid or not, whether you even care to get the best deal at an electrical store or not – this is not the point. Many see this as a way to get money and oddly despite their sites many do, many don’t of course but that doesn’t stop them being made. Blog linking directories have shown the way a bit and there are some attempts I’ve seen that use a community aspect to bring in something different to the mix. It’s all a step in the right direction. I think as web designers we should sometimes look to the dark side of the web and think about what we can offer and do towards creating a better looking web as a whole. I’m not saying it’s going to be done in an instant but by not just refusing these jobs, but finding a way to do well is really a good option. Of course, there are many issues with this that I have also found myself.

The number one priority is money – it’s a shame but most directory makers just don’t see the importance of spending on these monsters. I am over generalising but it’s something I’ve experienced. Aside from this there is a far greater hinderance that I myself have had the misfortune to stumble upon. A lot of these directories use affiliate sites that basically you sign up and get clicks to cash from placing images, banners and text on your site. You can get these in a range of various degrees of annoyance – from animated happy clappy gastly gifs to lists of the latest gadgets for sale at mr x’s gadget shack (what a great name for a site time to buy that one).

The big issue I came across was that the javascript and html used is so invalid that I could hear the god’s of coding cry just by using them. I even went as having an email discussion with one of these companies whose ultimate conclusion was nobody had the need for what I wanted and the only option was the direct link. The client wanted to show the latest offers but there was just no way we could without using horrendous code. I even had to go through about 4 emails to get what I was on about across as they had never heard of invalid code. Even for a non-fully paid up standardist freak the code would have brought on an episode.

I guess that part of what I am on about is to do with not just resting on our laurels as far as making the web better. There are always sites that are left to convert and spread a little pixel love. As a freelancer I am not a high end agency that only does the cream jobs – this is actually something I love and I always see these dark side sites as a challenge. Lately, I’ve done a lot of great sites but the ones that interest me seem to be the ones that traditionally have been ignored by pixel fairy designer dust – maybe I should sell that for christmas? The battle for standards is often assumed to have been won and the crowing seems often endless. In reality the battle may have been in a tiny percentage of the web but not only in directory sites, there is so much ugly on the web and so much code still being browsed that would make anyone cry in disbelief and feel they have time warped. Whilst companies that many rely on for business such as affiliate linking, still see nothing wrong with offering what they do, there is still a long way to go. Suddenly our laurels seem really tiny and more token leafs really.