Yellow Fade Technique
If you've been following the progress of the so-called Web 2.0 you'll probably have heard of the Yellow Fade Technique (YFT), pioneered by the BaseCamp team.
It basically fades the background of one part of a page in order to draw the user's focus to that area (it doesn't have to be yellow, but that's a good default). It's a nice and simple addition to any page and something I'm finding myself using more and more. For example - you submit a form and the next page has a message that says "Thank you. Your form has been submitted". It's one thing to highlight this message to make sure the user sees it, but fading the message is pretty slick and helps make sure they notice.
Anyway, if you want to try it out there's demos and code here and here. Just don't over do it!
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The thing, I really like about the Web 2.0 is that those people really care about usability. And its completly different concept, but just "shiny visual feature".
I am currently working in a team, where there is a bit too much of the well known
- All users interpret usability in a different way,
- so it doesn't matter too much.
- There are too much other important issues
- which moreover qualify way better as work for real men
Needs patience, but I wanna change that.
Axel,
You have it. Try convincing a client you are contracting for that it's worth spending the little bit of extra time to pull together the libraries needed to build a killer USABLE interface.
I think I've done the convincing at my current client... and that's a good thing. Users will be much, much happier.
(ok another post!) ... funny really I am currently working towards building a skinning class, so not only do I agree with look, feel and functionality but getting feedback from the users actually using the product is fundamental. I co-developed a document management system for deloitte's many years ago and spent some time running through alpha versions with the end users which shaped the product and ensured nearly 100% acceptance of the system, and equally important good feedback to the client who paid for the work.
Talking of functionality look and feel, have you looked at {{Link} Avant, ok so its 'another' managed IE browser but I think it is excellent.
Just an update to say that the I Am Jacks Design link is broken but can be found here:
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