I was poking my nose around the internet yesterday and I found a blog post about some really cool, unique 404 pages and It got me thinking: my 404 page was left out of the most current re-design, it was a relic from a past iteration of this site. Well, all that has changed. Check it out: www.travisneilson.com/yourmom
From an early age Travis could be found with a sketch pad trying to capture the beauty and structure in the world around him. This desire to engage and create stayed with him. In his Adolescence he was able to find solid footing for his childhood passion by creating posters, flyers, web sites, t-shirts and album covers for his and other local bands. It was during this time that Travis decided on the direction of his life’s work.
As a Creative Director, Travis has been recognized by the American Federation of Advertisers, the International Association of Business Communicators and the Association of American Marketing. His designs have been featured in national magazines, branding textbooks and influential design websites. In his role at BRAINtrust Marketing he is responsible for all design and creative direction for the client portfolios. From websites and advertisements to annual reports and brochures, Travis brings his creativity and fine eye for design to produce world-class commercial art.
He is married to the love of his life, and in his spare time he tells jokes that are only moderately funny.
Name: Travis Neilson
Email: travisneilson@gmail.com
URL: www.travisneilson.com
AIM: travishappy
Behance: Profile / Portfolio
Twitter: travisneilson
Facebook: Profile
I hate to say this Travis but, for me, your 404 page is a fail. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with the design (very cool) — it’s simply the fact that the page is useless, it has no utility whatsoever.
IMHO there are several problems with the page:
1) It doesn’t tell me where I am or, indeed, anything at all about your website. Assuming I’ve followed an erroneous link in, I know nothing about the site I’ve arrived at. I’m not encouraged to go further into your site, I’m much more inclined to click “back” and move on somewhere else.
2) Even if I wanted to explore your site further, there’s no immediately obvious way for me to do so — short of hacking the URL. The only link I (eventually) found is the “Home” link off the “File” menu. That’s way too much hard work I’m afraid.
3) The design of your 404 page is completely at odds with the rest of your site. None of your branding adorns the page. So, if I hit your 404 page from within your site itself, I’m still likely to end up confused and lost — surely the last thing you want from such a page.
As a web user, 404 pages are the last thing I want to see. A 404 page that doesn’t help me find what I’m looking for might as well not be there.
Here’s mine: http://blog.urbanmainframe.com/biggabugga/ — notice how I’ve tried to provide as much information and be as helpful as possible to the poor souls who actually hit this page? I want them to stay on my site. I want to help them find whatever it is they’re looking for.
Some of the thinking and methodology behind my 404 page is described here: http://blog.urbanmainframe.com/2009/01/a-better-404-redux/
Your 404 has some neat coding tricks but seems to be art for art’s sake. Sadly, I think you’ve picked the wrong page to demonstrate these skills on.
Sorry to be so negative.
Kindest regards…
Jonathan, I think you are right. In every point you are correct.
When I was making it I had so much fun that I started to view it more as an ‘easter-egg’ that people can find and have a bit of fun with rather than a place to help lost readers find their way. This website itself is not catered to the internet-impared, I imagine the audience to be people who do spend a fair bit of time on the internet and would be able to find their way out of a 404 without any real hand-holding.
When I develop websites for others, of course, usability — and a bit of coddling — is the route best taken.
I hate to flat out disagree with you and hesitate to say what I am about to at the risk of alienating some readers or enraging the usability squad — but if that 404 works to bother people rather than endear them, they most likely will not like any of this sites contents. I think I am ok with that.
But as always Jonathan, your input and interaction on this site is appreciated. Kisses.
Travis I respect your “flat out” disagreement. Your defence of your position is absolutely fine and eloquently put. You know your target audience and have developed your website accordingly and that’s cool. I have no problem with that whatsoever. Kudos to you.
However, whilst I’m berating your website (giggle) dare I make one more suggestion? Could you perhaps modify your comment handler to add a little bit of spacing between paragraphs? That’s the only other thing that irks me here.
I remain humbly yours,
Jonathan. X
Ah yes, a relic from a version past where this format was used only for single paragraph post excerpts. Again, you are correct in this. Thanks for your input.
Nice work Travis. That’s great.