Using Icons on the Web has Gone Too Far

The use of graphic icons for links has gone too far. Let me explain. A few years back web designers started to use icons as web navigation links. At first this seemed to be a good idea because it broke the blue text link monotony. Then sites were coming out with web pages with icons as their primary source for navigation. Many big named sites did this at first (Saturn car company is one that I remember). One after another they came out with new web sites that employed this icon structure for navigation.

The main problem with icons is simple. What does the icon mean? Were does it go? Where would an icon in the shape of a question mark lead? Would you think it would lead to an e-mail address, a search engine, a help page? My point is you don't know where it would lead.

This navigation method is horrible for a user looking for information on a web site. After a short while the big name sites noticed that users were having trouble understanding their icons. So what did they do?

The new concept was to make the icons a rollover. This way when a visitor goes to the site and moves the mouse over a icon, another image would pop up with more information on where it would take them. At first this seemed to be the answer and all web site designers were happy. Then once again the big name sites realized that this concept had problems.

First, they realized that not all web browsers support rollovers. This cut off a percent of their visitors from using the site correctly. Second, as for site usability it slowed things down. One thing you don't want to do is slow down the user even more than they already are by slow Internet connections. This led the big sites to abandon this concept of web site design. It took them a few years to figure out that icons, used as links, just do not work well.

Look at the major web sites and you will see very few icons. The problem is, many smaller web sites are still employing this concept. They should follow with the big sites by getting rid of icons as links for good. I'm not 100% against the use of icons. In some cases they build character to a web site. If you do use icons make sure that it has the text link in blue right next to it. Using this method will ensure that a visitor understands what the icon means. If you use icons be consistent. Don't put graphics on your page that look like icons and not have them link to anything, this will just confuse the user. Always use the alt tag to explain where the icon goes. But remember that icons are graphics and graphics make the page download slower. And you don't want to slow down the user. Right!

Web site design tips provided by scott@designmore.com visit his site at designmore.com

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