Too much animation?

[bluet]

Have you ever visit a website with a glossy design and an overwhelming amount of flash effects? This kind of website design can make the internet connection run slower and also annoying the visitor. What do you think?

[iain]

Yes, I'll agree with that statement. I find it common in websites that are promoting new games or movies, especially when all you want to find out is specific details. These aren't the only sites, but they are the ones that ring the alarm bells for me. I don't appreciate using Flash or any other form of interactiveness like this to design websites. It isn't very user friendly and doesn't do much for the search engines.

[jelboy]

I can't agree with you guys more. Sometimes you just want to visit a website that is quick and responsive. The only thing that is worse is a website that is so viralled that you have to keep pressing 'skip ad' everytime you are on the page. I think that sites look more professional without some of the flash videos slowing it down.

[jimbo]

I live in Thailand and my internet connection is not always very fast. I personally hate it therefor when there is too much flash on a site for example as it seriously affects the page load time.

[adrian_muntz]

Hey, that's a good thread, it happened to me many times,I was looking for something(and not just for fun) and all sort of videos and pictures popped up,commercials and other stuff that just made me lose my interest and because of that I didn't even give the information a second chance, I just looked for a simpler and more informative website...

[willilance]

I always find that less is more. I think that Flash can be really cool, but too often the web designer goes crazy with it. Just because you can do something, doesn't always mean you should Personally, I prefer a fast-loading, information-rich site over a really neat effect or design.

[gabriel_me]

Personally I agree with the majority, a fast loading straight to the subject informative page values more in the reader's eyes, if it's a game site for children or if it is another type of page appealing to the visual sense then the designer should go ahead and FLAH everything out. But if there are serious subjects involved on the page then people look for a fast loading page that doesn't waste their time...

[lorianna]

I have experienced it as well, I come to a site with too much animation, and it is distracting, to the point of annoying, even if my connection is good and everything loads fast. I use animation very sparingly.

[scottelkin]

Here is the main point: test, test and test. Do a simple A/B split test where you direct 50% of your traffic to a page w/ no animation.

If stats go up, ditch the animation. In some markets, animation is preferred.

[marth]

"Have you ever visit a website with a glossy design and an overwhelming amount of flash effects?'

Girl's Myspace pages come to mind. Having readable text that doesn't hurt your eyes should be rule 1 of web design. Be careful with puke greens light blues and hot pinks.