11 June 2009
A website designed using the 'Subliminal Clarity' concept will allow a user to know exactly where they are, what to do next, with the minimum of words.

Yes, this sounds just like another buzzword for management types to spout out in meetings so that no-one understands anything (but wanting to be seen to be "on the same page", most will nod sagely as if they do). It's not. 'Subliminal Clarity' is the phrase behind a design concept that we started using about a couple of years ago. Back then the great intuition and ease of use that went with Web 2.0 was still a relatively new idea used only by a few elite websites.

In short, a website application designed around the 'Subliminal Clarity' concept will allow a user to know exactly where they are, what to do next, with as little textual instructions as possible cluttering up the screen. Of course, textual help can usually be hidden behind mouse-over icons if need be. This allows a website to clearly show just the products or features to their best advantage without making the screen too busy.

Most web designers would agree that web users are a fickle bunch - losing interest in lines of text faster than a cat in a cold bath. Keeping users' attention in a website is just not the same as for readers of a magazine. On the Web, less is definitely more - so we use less words, more pictures & meaningful icons to create a user experience that is both fluid and intuitive.

Somebody once said a picture can paint a thousand words - so that has to be something definitely worth tapping into!