How important is a web site's visual design, to people other than the site's designer and the site's owner?

I mean, if I spend a not-insignificant amount of my time perfecting a certain look, using all sorts of CSS hacks (conditional comments, selector bugs, etc.) does the average web browsing user care? Or would they be just as happy if the site had a simpler look?

The three web sites I use the most on a daily basis (Google, Reddit and Facebook) all have relatively clean, simple looking designs.

I haven't looked at the markup of any of those sites, but I'm sure I could code up a similar looking design without much effort (close enough for the average user, anyways).

So what is the point?

This isn't intended as flamebait, by the way, I am genuinely curious.

Depends on what kind of website.. Google Reddit and Facebook have the ever changing content. That's why you visit the sites. If you have a site for your business (so, you want to attract clients) you want to leave an impression. If you have a minimalistic design like Google, people will forget you the second they leave the site. If you have a "fancy" design (of course, together with good content) people are more likely to remember who you are..

that's what I think, and that's why I try to push myself to make non-standard designs as much as I can..

Design = Web site identity.

If you visit facebook, google, craigslist or whatever you know exactly where you are. A design doesn't have to be groundbreakingly flash. However it must represent something unique to your website. This way people will associate the design with your website.

Designers tend to overvalue design.

On the whole, users don't care about the design. They will be discouraged by an ugly site, but a beautiful design is not going to make much difference. Users don't come to your website to look at pretty graphics; they come for your great content.

In my view, the most important part of design is to help users understand the site -- to help them read and navigate the content. Websites should be pleasant on the eye; an ugly website with glaring colours is not pleasant to spend time on.

It does depend on the site, however. For some sites, such as web design portfolios, the design is critical. It must be striking.

Think about why users come to your site, and then invest most of your efforts doing a good job in that area. Many content sites (especially blogs) waste their time with endless redesigns, and never actually add much content (because the author is more comfortable pissing about with design than actually writing the core content).

A beautiful design is nice; it's mainly nice for the designer, but users will like it too (providing it doesn't introduce too much visual clutter!). But keep it in perspective; depending on the website, you probably have much more important things to worry about.

Can you tell Mike's speciality is content writing not designing

I do agree with you on this though, it does depend on the type of site and it's target auidience. Being sucessful in anything is all about getting the balance write.

As mike said a site with great design and crap content will not keep many visitors, but also on the same merit a site with good content hasa chance of getting overlooked if it has poor design.

In my opinion an example of a site which as got it right is http://www.webdesignerwall.com/, a great example of wonderful design combined with easy to understand and interesting content.

I actually think that's an example of a site that got it wrong.

The design is beautiful; stunning, even. I love the colours and the artistry. But it's too busy; it's cluttered, with too many different objects and styles. This makes it less usable. There's too many different visual hotspots, pulling your eyes in too many different directions at once.

I feel dirty for saying that, because I think that design is a huge success as a work of art. It's gorgeous; it's one of the most beautiful websites I've ever seen. But if that were my site, I'd redesign it; it would be heartbreaking, but I'd trim the graphics until the visual hierarchy became clear. To me, it's just a matter of getting my priorities right.

Don't get me wrong; I wish I had graphic skills like that. But in my opinion, the greatness in web design comes not from having the skill to do something, but from having the judgement to refrain from doing it. Great design is as much about what you leave out as it is about what you put in (very Zen, no?).

There is a fundamental conflict in web design: a conflict between "websites as art" and "websites as tools for users". I am firmly in the latter camp; graphic design is nice, but usability is more important.

Although, as I said before, the balance between these conflicting elements changes depending on your website's purpose. Understanding your website's purpose is more important than anything else.

That's actually an interesting point, i can see what you mean about all the clutter, you don't know where to look.

Hopefully you will like my site I'm doing at the moment, unfortunetly it's rather plain lol

My site is rather plain too. That's partly because I have excellent judgement, but also because I have pathetic graphic design skills.

I'd just say it's because of your excellent judgement lol.

*cough* Er, yes. That's right. My...excellent judgement.

That is one fabulous quote Mike, really. It's amazing how having a major degree in philosophy (that is you, right?), can be such a help with things like this.

Ed.

Ed good to see you again mate thought you'd left the country since you've left WF staff lol.

Degree in philosophy, that explains a lot actually

Yeah, such as my total mastery of speaking convincing bull----.

Actually it was a joint degree: mathematics and philosophy. The mathematics acted as a corrective for the philosophy: it held me back back from the heights of pretentiousness scaled by colleagues who studied an arts-only degree. I kicked around base camp while they got themselves giddy on oxygen starvation.

*waves at Ed* Hellooooo

This is a good article on the use of content versus design.

Ugly Websites

Having a website is a great way for your business to connect with new customers,Design is a key determinant to building online trust with consumers,Layout on a web page does influence satisfaction.

I think that is very well stated, the best summation I have encountered. I request permission to quote from your post (with acknowledgement of your authorship).

James

Permission granted, and thank you kindly for asking.