UX: Should Links be Underlined?

April 19th, 2011 by | Share +

When it comes to text link hovers, some prefer underlined links while others prefer color shifts. Typically, friends of mine who also work in the creative field generally prefer color shifts rather than underlined links. Mainly, underlined links lost its charm to color shifts because they ultimately “looked too messy.” Then there’s the Google approach, which uses an ever-present blue link and underline that’s the default for many browsers. So in the world of web design, does underlined links or color links make for best usability practices?

Part of designing a successful user experience is to eliminate confusion, to simplify readability and to cater to the user’s needs. Some users have vision disabilities and have difficulty reading text with low contrast. Links that are styled too similarly to the body copy aren’t easily seen. Underlining links on hover, or having the links underlined all the time, makes it immediately clear that the text is a link. It may not necessarily be subtle, but it’s courteous and most users end up finding links a lot quicker.

This isn’t to say that I recommend keeping all links blue and underlined at all times. Instead, links should be styled so that they’re clearly and consistently showing up as, well, links and that’s regardless of whether an underline is used or not. Keep in mind that some users can’t view certain colors so color shifting isn’t always the best approach.

With all that said, what is the best approach to styling links? As mentioned above, the best way to style links is by making sure they’re styled differently and consistently from the body copy. Another thing to consider? Keep the underline on hover. This will erase any room for ambiguity and will quickly allow users the ability to tell whether something’s a link or merely just text. The icing on the cake? The site will achieve maximum usability by catering to those with vision impairments.

As with any usability best practices, the way a site works and functions should always take precedence over the way a site looks. After all, the web is a collection of useful and usable tools and websites are no exception.

Bookmark and Share
» 3 Comments;

About the Author

Chris RodriguezChris Rodriguez
Creative Services 		Filed under:
Interactive 		Tags:
, , , ,

Pushing Mobile Technology to the Forefront

April 15th, 2011 by | Share +

Following the acquisition of a major UK-based partner, OpenMarket needed a website design that was worthy of its position as a global leader in mobile transaction services.

We were tasked with achieving simplicity of design and functionality while communicating the range of products and key benefits offered by the company.

To start, we created a unique hub graphic to illustrate the metaphor they use to describe their central role in facilitating mobile transactions. A clean, fresh website with a custom
JavaScript rotator was developed to visually describe OpenMarket’s core services.

A comprehensive identity system and materials were then created to leverage the new design across various channels with engaging marketing collateral, datasheets, tradeshow booth, Twitter background, email newsletter and a Flash demo.

Additional services included strategic consulting, custom graphics, copywriting and product naming for a new mobile application.

Check out photos of our work:

 

Website

 

Marketing Collateral: Datasheets

 

Tradeshow

Bookmark and Share
» Add a Comment

About the Author

Lisa WongLisa
Marketing and Sales 		Filed under:
Branding, Design, Marketing, Web Worthy 		Tags:
, ,

Why Throwing Peanuts at Your Co-Workers Is a Bad Idea

April 15th, 2011 by | Share +

Last week, one of our Web Designers, Jerome Humbert, inadvertently threw a peanut at one of our Account Managers.

Little did he know that a full on battle would ensue.

This is why you should never throw peanuts at your co-workers, especially if that co-worker’s name is Heather Kliment.

Click the photos for an extra large view of today’s morning battle ground.

Bookmark and Share
» Add a Comment

About the Author

Lisa WongLisa
Marketing and Sales 		Filed under:
Eben Design 		Tags:

We’re Hiring: Lead Web Developer

April 14th, 2011 by | Share +

We’re hiring. If you or someone you know fits the bill, we’re more than happy to hear from you.

WHO WE NEED
Lead Web Developer
You’ll be working full-time at our local Seattle office and will be responsible for leading web development at Eben Design. This will consist of working closely with the internal development team, account managers, prospects, clients, designers and external developers in order to assist with the planning, development, launch, and support of client websites.

You must be able to work in a varied, fast-paced environment. Flexibility is a necessity. You love to code and you’re constantly interested in learning best practices and emerging technologies and trends.

 

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING

  • Work with the internal sales team to help relay skills, capabilities and experience to prospective clients.
  • Write and present detailed functional specifications documents that outline solid blueprints for development.
  • Develop standards-compliant, cross-browser HTML templates from Photoshop files.
  • Integrate templates and develop websites using WordPress and at least one of the following: Joomla, Drupal, and/or Expression Engine.
  • Select, integrate, and configure the appropriate plugins and widgets as required by the above.
  • Customize modules and scripts in PHP.
  • Develop interactive and animated features using jQuery.
  • Create custom database driven web applications such as membership databases and product databases using PHP and MySQL.
  • Assist with hosting selection, installation, and configuration of CMS frameworks for client websites.
  • Provide maintenance, support, and training for both new and existing websites.

Technical proficiency summary: HTML5, PHP, JavaScript (AJAX+JSON), CSS, MySQL.

 

WHO YOU ARE

  • Able to work independently and efficiently to meet deadlines.
  • Able to promptly answer project related email, phone calls and other electronic communications.
  • Self motivated, detail-oriented and organized.
  • Familiar with cross-platform and cross-browser issues, web standards and best practices, and why we should develop with those in mind.
  • Strong focus on usability trends and best practices.
  • Strong understanding of brand / design consistency
  • Candidate must be a team player and willing to teach and to learn.
  • A high-level of quality control (clean, solid, error-free code) is a must.
  • Excellent communication (oral and written), interpersonal and organizational skills.
  • Excellent creative thinking skills with emphasis on developing innovative solutions to complex problems that may not have one clear answer; the ability to identify alternatives, workarounds or temporary solutions
  • Strong knowledge of database structures and relational database concepts
  • Knowledge of basic network protocols including TCP/IP, SSL, and HTTP

The following skills are desired but not required:

  • ASP.NET / DotNetNuke CMS Development
  • Website design skills
  • E-commerce development experience with WordPress, Drupal or another CMS.
  • Experience working with third party social network APIs, ad network integration, or analytics systems

 

HOW TO APPLY
Email us a resume at hr@ebendesign.com with a brief paragraph about why you’re interested in the position. Please put “Lead Web Developer” in the subject line of your email.

 

WHO WE ARE
We’re a small, close-knit group of people who range from designers, Web developers, account managers, internal support, marketing and sales staff. All of us work hard to make Eben Design what it is: an award-winning branding, marketing and interactive agency whose mission is to help forward-thinking companies create influential, long-lasting, authentic brands. We have fun doing what we do and we love the creative industry we work in. We’re a hard-working mix of sustainability advocates, guitar players, beer & wine drinkers, dog lovers, design nerds, video gamers, Hello Kitty enthusiasts, Huskies, Vikings, Cougars and Geoducks.

Bookmark and Share
» Add a Comment

About the Author

Lisa WongLisa
Marketing and Sales 		Filed under:
Eben Design 		Tags:
, ,

5 Augmented Reality Campaigns We Love

April 8th, 2011 by | Share +

Imagine a completely interactive way to transform the most ordinary, every day events into interesting, digitally created, word-of-mouth-generating campaigns.

Social media may be all the rage, but augmented reality is the next big thing to keep an eye out for.

 

WHAT IS IT?
So what’s all this recent augmented reality hype all about? Augmented reality is a new way of bringing digital into the offline world. Most notably, apps like Layar and Google Goggles were one of the first apps to break through into augmented reality. With Layar, you simply hold your phone’s camera somewhere outside and the app will display business information as you move.

Other apps use special printed pieces of paper embedded with Augmented Reality (AR) markers to sync the computer with the “offline” world.

Marketers have not only used this to their advantage, but consumers are generally pretty receptive to this new technology and are typically more apt to share them with friends.

 

5 AUGMENTED REALITY CAMPAIGNS WE LOVE

1. Hyundai: 3D Projection Mapping for Hyundai Accent

Hyundai created a giant 3D projection screen to promote the Hyundai Accent’s product brand. Instead of simply projecting a cool display, Hyundai added the “reality” factor by suspending an actual car along the face of the building and a driver who walks down the wall to get into it.

 

2. Volkswagen: Print Test Drive

Volkswagen in Norway printed a special ad depicting a long stretch of road with AR markers. The print ad, published in several Norwegian magazines, then instructed users to download an app that lets them “test drive” the car directly on the print ad. Even cooler? The app contains three different vehicle features (depicted within the app) so that product differentiation didn’t get lost in the “wow” factor.

 

3. Zugara: Webcam Shopping

Say goodbye to boring e-commerce. Zugara developed a new way to shop online at home so that customers could see what clothes looked like on before they hit “purchase.” After printing out a special sheet of paper with AR markers, a customer would simply have to log on to the site with their webcam and place the photo on their body so that the site can recognize clothing placement. Another cool thing? You can change the outfit by moving your hand in the air to the respective on screen button.

 

4. Samsung: LED TV in Your Home

For prospective TV buyers, Samsung created an augmented reality tool to help buyers see how a Samsung LCD TV would look like in their home. After printing off a special sheet of paper and sticking it on the wall, the webcam scans the special printer codes within the paper and projects a visualization of how the TV would look directly on the wall.

 

5. Muscle Milk: Shaq on the Bottle

To celebrate Shaquille O’Neal’s arrival to his new team in Cleveland, Muscle Milk wanted to create a unique promotion in the Cleveland market. An AR marker was embedded on the back label of limited edition Muscle Milk bottles. After holding the bottle up to a webcam, users could watch a video projection of a mini Shaq professing his love for Cleveland. A total of 5 different videos were made for 5 different labels with AR markers.

 

Bookmark and Share
» Add a Comment

About the Author

Lisa WongLisa
Marketing and Sales 		Filed under:
Interactive 		Tags:
,
CONTACT US NOW
Your Name Your Organization Your Phone Your Email Your Needs  
     
site map  |  privacy policy  |  ©2013 Eben Design, Inc.