“Links don’t need to be underlined, because I know that something is a link when I hover over it”…

So, obviously, not everyone does really understand the value of hyperlinks in web design. It can be easy to get into the habit of designing “pages” as opposed to “experiences”.

My point, which must have gone over your head, was that sometimes graphic design takes over as the primary push in projects, and the meagre hyperlink gets a washed out colour, loses it’s underline, and is made to not even look like a link anymore because they are detracting from the graphic design (aka marketing angle). Please don’t tell me this hasn’t happened anywhere because I have just finished some work on a large gov’t corporate website where that is exactly the issue. And is in fact the ongoing practice.

My point is that hyperlinks aren’t just like any ordinary other feature on a webpage. Designing out the navigation, for example, makes for a pretty picture but not an effective usable web design.

Graphic design of posters versus web design of an interface.

I’m sorry that part went over your head MikeMike. Some people have actually forgotten the value inherent in hyperlinks – they hold meaning, perform function. Any serious web design SHOULD say “look at my hyperlinks”. Its the basis for the web itself.

Yet, still it happens. And happens on gov’t corporate websites, in some instances.

My aim isn’t to please your ear MikeMike, it’s to empty my bucket of bitchiness lol. Like a lot of usability issues the problem is about not realising there’s a problem – your comment adds to my point rather than detracts from it.

I appreciate the feedback. BTW I removed the link back to your site from this comment as I don’t generally like to link to businesses, as a general rule.