Usability involves more than the color of links

Websites are not published to take up space and provide a presence. They are published to be used! As we design sites, it is important that we watch a growing list of usability issues. Color, accessibility and content are some of the many concerns to be addressed.

While one of the first lessons on a website palette would include concern for contrast between the links and their background, many designers seem to forget to consider visited and active link colors. They look at their pages before any links have been visited and all looks gorgeous! What happens once a page is visited? Does the new pale hue of the visited link blend in with the white background? Has accommodation been made for the fact that the link sits on a dark color in the general navigation, but is displayed on a white background in the text of an article?

These are common concerns that are easily overlooked, but some are even more subtle. White backgrounds are creeping back into our design. They provide a clean professional look. They facilitate the use of clipart. Unfortunately, this comes with drawbacks as well. The contrast is not only tiring for visitors in general, but it may be causing difficulty for people with learning disabilities (At the moment, I can't find the link that documents the latter). Choosing even a very pale color will ease eye strain and may assist those with reading challenges.

A dark background may be dramatic and restful to the eyes, but it is not necessarily printer-friendly. Remember that the text will be a light color that may be illegible on the white paper if background printing has been disabled. Even if the background is printed, it will require more ink. Consider providing a printer-friendly page with a white background and an appropriately sized width.

The layout of your website and the consideration you show by minimizing load time and maximizing easy of use conveys your concern for your customer. Let them know they are important!

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