This is the weekend edition of TheMarioBlog and will be updated as needed. The next blog post is Monday, Nov. 2
Brain finds the layout left more friendly.
Based on this study, the top website for The Boston Globe here would be more stimulating than the one below for Expressen of Sweden
The New York Times' website would rate much better than the extremely popular one for Bild (Germany). Both of these have a loyal following of users that fall within two very distinct segments of the audience, which begs the question: does our brain get used to the type of design that we are exposed to?
There is new research that connects good, clean design with better brain stimulation. Why am I not surprised?
Great news for designers everywhere. And, very especially for those who favor, clean not over the top design.
A new study by Alex Remington, engineering product manager at The Washington Post, in a research sponsored by the Reynolds Journalism Institute University of Missouri), tells us that better page design does cause the brain to pay more attention.
The study’s key findings:
By statistically significant margins, readers agreed that better-designed stories were:
• More interesting
• Easier to read
• More enjoyable
• Made them want to find out more about the topic
• Helped them learn more about the topic
I am delighted to have this information validating what I have seen via focus groups around the world, and through our own Poynter Eye Track studies, in which the less cluttered, more minimalist design always appeared to have greater impact with readers and users. This, of course, regardless of platform.
Especially with the way we consume news today, in this era of the journalism of interruptions and at a glance journalism, clean design is essential to a better user experience. With mobile and small screens becoming the canvas of preference, this is more true today than ever.
How about chaotic design?
These are two quite successful newspapers: Bild (Germany), Expressen (Sweden), yet their design is quite chaotic. It would be interesting to test how the brain reacts to this style of design
It, too, has its followers. There are publications, both in print and digital, where chaos is the goal. There are many down market publications that wish to carry the banner of design chaos as a symbol of pride.
I wonder how the subjects in this study would have reacted to the Bild (Germany) website (or its printed front page). Is this too much stimulation for the brain?
Are there times when culture affects how a user reacts to design?
If the test was to be conducted in markets where even the most elite titles go for the chaotic, would the readers still react better to a cleaner design?
How much effect does habit and what we are used to seeing have on our perceptions and reactions?
There is plenty of material for this study to be continued.