Stephen Downes

Jakob Nielsen is back with his annual list of common errors in web design and this year the usability specialist has a solid line-up. Personally, I think my own site fares pretty well (especially after my having spent the last week on number five). But I want especially to direct this list to the designers of SchoolPlaza, which commits every error on Nielsen's list. Thomas Maier, who was kind enough to post a response to my criticisms, argued that "the interface design is - I think - always a question of taste." To some extent, sure, but in other aspects matters of taste must take a back seat to making your site useful and accessible to readers.