| Many people understand far more about good | | | | functional, reliable interface, these sites remain |
| Website Design than they know. They know | | | | hugely popular. |
| what makes a website attractive and effective | | | | Another major advantage of emphasizing Form |
| seconds after they first view it. That's because | | | | over Function is that updating the functionality of |
| people autonomously judge everything about a | | | | a website can be a far more time-consuming |
| website before they even consider using it. If you | | | | process than updating its visual style. This could |
| can't capture the viewer within that split second, | | | | be likened to a house; you install the wiring and |
| they're gone. | | | | framework before you fit the interior, which |
| The effectiveness of a website as a promotional | | | | makes it far easier to re-paint the house than it is |
| tool can be decisively split into two categories: the | | | | to add internal wiring. |
| short-term and long-term benefit. This is an | | | | Many Web Designers already understand this |
| important distinction as understanding how to | | | | balance, and routinely Focus on the form over |
| exploit both will help you conquer the web with | | | | Function mantra in everything they do. In |
| the minimum effort and resources necessary. | | | | Australia, BRTSPRK Media ([ send out a regular |
| In the web design world, Aesthetics and visual | | | | newsletter which often touches on this issue, and |
| design are usually viewed as a short-term benefit. | | | | relates the Form over Function analogy to many |
| Not just because styles and designs become | | | | aspects of the world as a whole. |
| outdated, but because after your potential client | | | | If you are looking to maximize the effectiveness |
| base have seen the site the first time, the visual | | | | of your online marketing spend, focusing on form |
| impact it has on those viewers decreases. On the | | | | over function is a simple way to ensure "Bang for |
| other end of the chart is usability. | | | | your Buck", and keep visitors coming to your |
| Usability is best viewed as a long-term benefit. | | | | website for years to come. People will eventually |
| Some of the best websites on the internet have | | | | disregard the visual elements of a website, but a |
| had minimal aesthetic changes since their inception | | | | functionally superior website will keep people |
| (such as yet thanks to an easy-to interpret, | | | | coming back. |