Website design usually gets classified into two categories: functional (read: user-friendly) or
innovative ('artistic,' lots of interactive, etc.). There are several dilemmas to balance when approaching beauty (form) and
function. In the past, websites have done a very poor job of intertwining the two elements. The beauty of a website is
defined by usability and aesthetic elements. Anything that makes a site more appealing to the senses can generally be
thought of as a beauty (form) element. The form of a website is important because it increases the satisfaction of
visiting a website by prompting emotional response. A site that lacks form will seem dull and drab and not entice
users for a prolonged initial visit to experience the site functionality. The function of a website is defined by
site performance.
The functional elements of a site are what ultimately bring value to the user experience by helping to “solve
a problem”. A site that lacks function will not retain the users that strong form will attract. An example of the
dilemma posed by form and function would be the design of a website when there is a strong need to have the site rank
high in search engines. The most aesthetically pleasing sites are not fit to rank well in search engines, and the best
ranking sites are normally a long ways from the best looking. It is very necessary to find a balance between these two
elements to create a successful website for a business.
The key question here is not "Which is most important?", but "How
do we deliver what's most important?" The conclusion is: "Designing a website is not an either/or . . . but both."
QUESTIONS TO ASK: Does your website use 'SPLASH' page(s)? How about FRAMES? Do you have
JavaScript menus on your homepage? Do you use FLASH? Then you have successfully eliminated your site from Search Engine
results. Search Engines will not penetrate through the FLASH or JavaScript code to internal pages, thus making you
invisible!
