http://internetonlinewebsite.com/
I’m not the comic book guy (even though i love him) and for me this is the most usable website ever.
I kid you not, Kinda. Check out why after the break.
What is it about?
My first though was that this website is about websites, especially the “art/science/craft/mass production” way of making those.
Like they say if you manage to find it: “Aquent’s InternetOnlineWebsite.com is a website about websites (and marketing, direct mail, t-shirts, etc.). Each familiar feature of the site is designed to be explored…”
So the website is a showcase of what Aquent can provide…. on a large scale it seems. A clear website with clear business goals aligned with clear UI patterns. I feel that I’m almost looking at a presentation of the”basic of user centered design”, or “UX for dummies”. (I love that line of books by the way).
That sounds interesting, if not a bit controversial (for UX practitioners) as it seems to be saying: Here’s the template to make a business website…
Maybe it’s time to get a feel the process behind that: internetonlinewebsite.com
How is it done?
Well it’s basically done in the most straight forward manner: what you see is what you get. Navigation is labelled, hum “Navigation”, logo is logo and OMG a flash banner is… ok you catch my drift.
Each element has 2 states, off and on. A click on one calls a modal windows that explains what that element is about…. NOT.
It actually doesn’t do that, it tries to explain what’s going on behind the scene. What are the actors/Skills involved in creating that UI. And at that, it does a fairly convincing job.
“Interactive Designers are masters of the balance between form and function.” That’s not me saying, that’s: internetonlinewebsite.com. I tend to agree, until they start using words such as “designer-y goodness”…???
So it’s not a website about websites, it’s about what job makes such websites. Everything on that website is done towards users aka potential customer aka….whoever they created as personas.
So the next question is….
What’s the point?
Wait a minute? Have I been wrong all that time?
This website is actually not about UI patterns, but how one skills, one job is needed to build the element, and how all coming together creates a great website (online and on the Internet as well).
So I did my research and looked a bit more into the website creators. Aquent, which first appeared to be an online agency, is in fact a “talent agency” aka recruitment agency. (Previously known as Mactemps)
So they are not here to teach us (me, you, whoever is in the business) how to do websites. They are here to showcase decision makers, that they can provide the best talents for the right job. It does seem to work, but it’s actually a bit misleading.
So it’s not a website about usability or User experience, it’s a website about “talents” that makes those sites.
Have I been fooled/wrong in my first assumption because I’m wanted to see it like that? Maybe.
Does the website serves its purpose? I would think so, even though I’d like to know how much “talents” they can place thanks to that, and as well, how many people looking for the creative talents will go to google and type: “Internet online website”???
Still, if not the most usable website ever, this is for sure the best use of labels ever. It’s like mixing Steve Krug‘s principle with a high dose of 2.0 “designer-y goodness”.
A weird object that I can’t help but like, at least for it’s attempt. And who cannot fall for the actual paper sketch of the wireframe as background?
So, what do you think?
