Our book:
Defensive Design for the Web: How To Improve Error Messages, Help, Forms, and Other Crisis Points
Available Now ($16.99)
Most Popular (last 15 days)
Looking for old posts?
37signals Mailing List
37signals Services
Syndicate
Close enough for government work?
11 Apr 2003 by DS
I don’t think so! Check out this site. Decent navigation on the left-hand side, right? Well … try the Image Archive link. If it’s not up, why bother?
Want to check a Federal Firearms License (FFL) number? Just click on the link on the left … er … uh … how about Other Programs. Now that’s intuitive.
Okay, here is the link to the FFL EzCheck site. But if you go there, be warned; there’s no return from that black hole.
Precision-guided missles? No problem. Web sites? “Well get back to you”.
6 comments so far (Post a Comment)
11 Apr 2003 | Tim said...
I like the "breaking news" animated graphic. That little red arrow really draws my attention as it slllliiiiiiiddddes out to reveal the words "BREAKING NEWS" and points to...nothing at all.
Then, almost comically, it seems to realize it has no point, turns back on itself and slinks away.
But the little trooper won't be denied...he keeps on coming back for try after try.
(actually, on second look, is that whole front page considered "breaking news?" I was kind of expecting one of those horrid little scrolling new marquees at the top...oh well)
11 Apr 2003 | Tim said...
LOL - for some reason, I got quite a kick out of this ATF Kids' page FAQ...for two reasons: I like the "Hey kids! If you do this, we'll throw you in the big house!" tone of the writing, and i have never EVER heard of "homemade still" science fair project.
11 Apr 2003 | Benjy said...
That "breaking news" animation looks similar to a breaking news one I did for a project... in 1998!
I am continually amazed at how poorly designed government and political web sites are. Doesn't matter whether they're federal, state, local, political campaign, etc.
The only one that I can think of that is fairly well designed is the NASA site.
11 Apr 2003 | Don Schenck said...
Tim, the science fair bit is really funny: "We can't allow you to build a still, but you can build an alcohol fuel plant".
Oh hell yeah, great ... screw Detroit, let little Susie solve the oil crisis with her "A-" alcohol fuel plant.
Priceless.
Disclaimer: I communicate with ATF people on a regular basis, and the ones I work with are very good folks.
But this web site ... sheesh.
11 Apr 2003 | Darrel said...
I work for the state building web sites now.
On the plus side, there's an infinite amount of improvements that can be made, so I'll have lots of work for some time to come.
I've seen that the biggest problems with gov-based web sites:
1) A fear of something new 'now we have to deal with internet requests!?'
2) Design by committe
3) Graphic Designers/IAs/Usabilty Experts? Who are they?
11 Apr 2003 | Don Schenck said...
Darrel, do us a favor and call the ATF(E). :-)
