Common E-Commerce WebObjects

Software Usability Research Laboratory (SURL) conducted a study to assess web objects that are common to most e-commerce websites. The objects examined were: 1) shopping cart button 2) login/register button, 3) help/service button, 4) account/order status button, 5) internal search engine, 6) "back to homepage" link and 7) grouping of links that go to individual merchandise items. Read it here.

The Need for Web Design Standards

Jakob Nielsen reflects on the need for there to be web design standards and why the concept of 'Web design' is a misnomer. Read about it here.

Microsoft B2B Site Case Study

In February 2004, Microsoft UK launched Advisor, an extranet targeted at business and technical decision makers in the mid-market. Alex Barnett offers information on what took place during this study.

Refresh that meta tag

Another article by Jennifer Kyrnin, offers tips on the good use of using meta tags to reload and redirect web pages. See it here.

Some additonal information on meta tags can be found here.

Effective Web Navigation

If people cannot navigate through your site, they will quickly leave. Thus, designing effective navigation on your Web site is crucial. Jennifer Kyrnin offers some insights on the topic of why effective navigation is so important for your web site. Check it here.

How do you add sound your web page?

The web site 'Tips, Tricks, How-To, and Beyond' shows you how the process to follow if you want to add sound to your web site. Check it out here.

Understanding of user behavior in an interactive service.

Jakob Nielsen shares his thoughts regarding the idelogies of Web Design. He boils it down to three words: mastery, mystery, and misery.

The Designer and User...it's a partnership

Author Sarah Horton, covers the finer points of the web designer and user forming a partnership. Read about it here.


Sarah Horton

Using Wireframes

There are various methods by which to walk one through the user experience. There are use-case scenarios and navigation maps. A third way is called wireframes.

Wireframes are black and white sketches or drawings that illustrate what the user will see on the respective site. The name wireframe derives from from the fact that the drawings are only an outline sketch as to what he web pages will look like. Think of wireframes as bein analogous to storyboards. Wireframes is a quick way to help in deisgn layout, evaluate and describe the various ways your web site could look like.

Here's some additional information regarding the use of wireframes.
Another example to read.

How good does your web site look...on paper?

The best way to improve the effectiveness of your company's web site is to let your site's users lend you a hand (quite literally) through the process of paper prototyping. Look here for tips on how to approach this idea.

What is contingency design?

Here's some great information from the folks at 37signals regarding 'contingency design.' So what does this mean? Think about how to maximize online profitability by helping people when things go wrong. Read more about it here.

Information courtesy of

What the heck is a favicon?

Favicon is short for "Favorites Icon". The name is derived from the bookmark list for Microsoft Internet Explorer which is called Favorites/Favourites list. I'm sure you seen those small little icons that appear within your browser window ahead of the site url name. So how does one create one? Find out here.

Designing with Front Page?

Check out Micorsoft's web site on FrontPage. It offers various tips, training and demos regarding FrontPage. Check it here.

sbi.razorfish shares its thoughts

sbi.razorfish shares in it's white papers, called SBI Perspectives, their insights on topics related to their services and client projects. SBI Perspectives examine current technologies or approaches, share best practices, and explore emerging trends. Their white papers are based on analyst and industry research, as well as on-the-ground experience with our clients. Check it out here.