Web Design Myths

Web design is like most things in life: just when you think you have it all figured out…you’re wrong. Many of the web design beliefs we have held for years are no longer applicable. Here are three design myths that may surprise you.

Myth #1 – “The Fold”

“The Fold” is a graphic design term that refers to the upper half of the front of a newspaper. It is commonly used on the Web to reference the area you see on a website before having to scroll down the page.

As designers, we have long held the area above “The Fold” to be sacred real estate. We have responded accordingly by adjusting our sites to fit as much content as possible above the fold, we have broken content into multiple pages, and condensed our navigation into drop-down menus all in an effort to limit users’ need to scroll. I even recall seeing in-page scroll boxes used within designs in an effort to get content above the fold and prevent scrolling, which never made any sense to me!

I am here to tell you: the sanctity of “The Fold” is officially a myth. The once forbidden act of scrolling has now been embraced by the increasingly web-savvy masses. In fact, eye tracking research conducted by CX Partners has shown that visitors are starting to use scroll bars to assess page length and indicate content below the fold.

While the most important content on your site should still display above the fold, new reports have shown that having less content above the fold may actually encourage more exploration below the fold.

Here are a few design tips to encourage exploration.

• Break the Fold
The best way to indicate that there is content below the fold is to position it so it “peaks” above the fold.

• Less = More
Putting less emphasis on fitting content above the fold means you now have more space to work with.

• Avoid Strong Horizontal Lines
Strong horizontal lines that stretch the full width of the page are the best way to stop a scroll bar dead in its tracks.

• Never Use In-Page Scroll Bars
In-page scroll bars hide content by limiting users’ ability to assess page length.

Myth #2 – “Never open links in a new window.”

It was once common practice to open all external links in a new browser window. The train of thought was that by opening a new window, users wouldn’t really leave your site; they could easily go back by switching windows. This theory left frustrated users with a desktop cluttered with broken-back-button windows. I assume most of you can remember when this was the standard practice or have come across a site that still subscribes to this theory.

Thankfully, the web development industry quickly shifted away from this practice and it soon became taboo to open any links in a new window. This is the absolute rule most designers and developers have operated under for the last decade; however, this rule of thumb is now considered a myth.

In recent years the adaptation of tabbed browsing, the proliferation of multimedia and improved functionality, and an increase in savvy users has altered the industry standard. Designers now agree that opening new windows to facilitate functionality and resources invites users to multi-task. For example, a large file such as a PDF opened in a new window allows the user to continue browsing your site while the file renders. Help windows are another great example, since they allow users to get support while remaining focused on their issue.

Myth #3 – “People read.”

Who has time to read? Web surfers rarely take the time to read your text. Instead, users tend to scan your site for information and will only read your content if they have first found what they are looking for by scanning.

The best way to make your site scanning friendly is to establish strong hierarchy within your text. Avoid long sections of text by breaking them into shorter sections with headers, titles, and subtitles. Dividing content this way will help users find the information they are looking for faster.

Conclusion

Change is good. Technology and the Internet are evolving at an insane pace, and it can at times be challenging to always stay abreast of what is true in the current moment. Knowing these three web design myths are now defunct will help your site stay up to speed with the evolving design scene.