Hull Digital Web Awards 2009

Hull Digital Web Awards 2009

We love seeing new, innovative and visually appealing websites. There are some amazing designers and sites out there and plenty of sites which show case them. (We especially love beautiful icons and illustrations, with a really clean design and the featured picture is from a site which, is one of our favourites, although not a local business).

A good looking website is only half the battle though. However, that other half is often forgotten -

  • Is is easy to navigate?
  • Does it fulfill the objectives of the business? – for example lead Generation
  • Does it work on most popular browsers?
  • Is it coded correctly?
  • Are there clear calls for action?

There are many different aspects to having a ‘great’ website, as well as one that looks good, and so we over the coming 2009 months we will be reviewing websites in the Hull /East Yorkshire area, and

recommend

Please do let us know about any local sites that you are particularly impressed with. We are going to featuring the best ones, and at the end of 2009, we will be holding the Hull Digital Web Awards, where we will be naming the best, and the worst websites in the local region. There will be more details coming in the future, but we wanted to get the word out, and start the ball rolling.

So get looking around online, and start sending some suggestions in! You can get in touch with us here, or by emailing jon at hulldigital.co.uk

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  • http://sharpenr.net Jaan Orvet

    Excellent initiative!

    And true words. Especially point #2: “Does it fulfill the objectives of the business? – for example lead Generation”

    I follow a host of web design showcase sites and it is remarkable how often they feature sites that rock from a design perspective but are deeply flawed in other ways.

    On the other hand, poor design and UX basically equals a proactive attempt at undermining a client’s chances of succeeding.

    A good way to balance it, and make good design relevant from the client’s perspective is, IMHO, to explain why 1) first impressions count and 2) how the design and UX continues to support the user as they grow familiar with the site or app. This then automatically benefits the audience. And we all live happily ever after.

  • admin

    Thanks for the encouragement Jaan.

    Objectives are often part of the site plan which are brought up right at the end of the project, rather than first thing followed by a sense check and research.

    Spot on with the way to balance it – I love the 2 stage process – a simple way to put it, that most people should connect with.