A friend of mine is organising a website upgrade for the company she works for. She asked me to look over the proposal she had been given, one she is not particularly excited about. I commented that the company sounds like they design websites in a very traditional way, the 'insert 1/4 page text here', 'this will be a marketing bubble' way. She said she agrees but her boss wants a very traditional looking website.
I found it interesting that the two things: a traditional looking website and a website designed in an out of date way, are confused. A lot of people like the idea of a website that is built to generate new business, but they seem to associate those principles with bright sparkly sites, not your average corporate look.
Traditionally Designed Websites
I use this to describe the type of websites that were made a few years ago. The ones that have had little thought put into the desired outcomes, the users and the content. Fair enough as the web is still relatively new and these were designed without the benefit of the research we now have. However, because they were designed a few years ago, most of them also look quite traditional and 'corporate'.
Traditional Looking Websites
These websites are your general corporate sites. Toned down, aimed at a mature and professional audience.
But they don't have to go hand in hand.
The thing is, regardless of age of professional status, most people use the web in the same way: to get information and to make decisions. If a website is designed without much thought put into these things, it is bound to be a failure. That is something traditionally designed websites have taught us.
Obviously, a lot of designers are aware that the 'corporate style' is not necessarily the way to go, even if your audiences is conservative 50 year old men... but at the end of the day, it's just a look. The most funadamental requirement of a successful website is that it is structured around your goals and your users, from there any look and feel can be applied.
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