Simon Norris

About Simon Norris

It’s vital that web design takes human psychology into account – not just the latest technology

I have spoken previously about the need to understand the philosophy behind aesthetics and how the human brain practically processes what it sees in order to define what it perceives to be beautiful.

It is becoming increasingly evident, however, that the same line of thinking can, and should also, be applied during the web design process in order to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of the human psyche as a whole.

Exploring the link between neuroaesthetics and the online experience

The philosophy of aesthetics has become a widely acknowledged part of our lives. It refers to our innate need to define what is beautiful and what is not.

In the last decade a new field of study, called neuroaesthetics, has emerged which takes the philosophy of aesthetics one step further. By understanding the role of the brain we can begin to understand the neurological basis for why we find things more beautiful than others.

I believe the design world can learn a lot from the study of neuroaesthetics.

Style and substance: two (accessible) websites which have it all

My last blog for Econsultancy aimed to dispel the myth that accessible websites must compromise on aesthetics.

It elicited quite a response with many readers agreeing and a number asking for examples of sites that combine both elements.

Before I point you in the direction of two websites that are both highly accessible and attractively designed, it’s important to remember that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Furthermore, the aesthetics is the result of the final product. When broken down into its components the beauty is difficult to see. It’s only when those parts all come together that the beauty is evident.

Making websites accessible without sacrificing aesthetics

Fifteen years after the Web Accessibility Initiative was launched, which aimed to improve web usability for those with disabilities, online accessibility is still widely ignored.

Far too often there is a belief that a compromise must be made between accessibility and an attractive design.

As a result, a myriad of misconceptions have emerged, often preventing people from making a determined effort to integrate accessibility into their websites.