Web Design on Black
This is about ergonomics. Some clients approach me to create a website for them and they ask for a black background, because it’s cool, gangster and bad ass. At that point, I’m telling them “You just gave me three terrible reasons”.
Websites are mostly made up of text. I agree that reading white on black can relax the eyes because there isn’t much brightness. The thing is that it won’t be long until a visitor changes website and goes to one where the text is written black on white. It takes some time for the eyes to adjust.
It’s like a projection in a classroom. During the show, the lights are off and it’s all dark. When it’s over, the lights are abruptly turned on making everybody close their eyes for good reasons.
By no means am I saying don’t design on black. One of my best design is on black, namely Rebekka Guðleifsdóttir’s website, but when it comes to text, spend some time reading about 3-4 posts on Crave: The gadget blog and come back here or go on Google. Your eyes will tell you “Hey! What’s going on? WTF are you doing to me? Are you trying to kill me?”
Here’s my point: Web Design, very much like Architecture, considers not only the subject at work, but also all of its surroundings, meaning other websites as well. In Apple and Google’s philosophy, make it as easy and as comfortable as possible for people. If you design on black, make sure it’s appropriate.
The irony of this post is that I have created a few websites with white text on black background. I am a sellout, because I never paid much attention to this matter until just now. This will be different starting now.
Filed by Long at May 1st, 2008 under Web