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Japanese web design: weird, but it works. Here's why [video]

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Re: Japanese web design: weird, but it works. Here's why [video]

#11

Post by shiroiushi »

onion2k wrote: post #4
stevebmark wrote: post #2

Uhh I don’t think it does. Japanese websites have notoriously terrible accessibility and UX.

The UX is fine for people who are used to a culture where they see massively information-dense, brightly colored, and spacially organized things all the time. There's a strong cultural correlation in UX design, and what works in one country often doesn't work in another. I've worked on a few websites that are accessed globally and it's common that a 'one website for everywhere' strategy yields poor results. You have…

No, it's really not fine at all. It's not just websites, it's electronic devices in general. The UIs are very complicated with every conceivable function right in your face. My Japanese girlfriend even complains about it. Things like washing machines and microwave ovens even are needlessly complicated to use. (Younger) Japanese people love western web sites/services such as Instagram, Twitter, Google Maps, etc., and don't insist on a Japanese UI-style version of any of these.

Don't even get me started on how well Japanese websites handle non-traditional-Japanese names, or how banking apps that supposedly support English actually display most text and dialog buttons in Japanese.

There's a lot of great things about Japan, but the UX/UI here is absolutely terrible.

Re: Japanese web design: weird, but it works. Here's why [video]

#12

Post by bryanrasmussen »

catlikesshrimp wrote: post #7
RedShift1 wrote: post #3

A web page full of information is complex? All webpages used to be like that, nobody found it complicated, I wouldn't mind going back to more information dense pages.

We don't mind information density, but most people find it easier to process less information. The youtuber mentions that "Asians" can process information faster than "Americans" (No comment)

They said East Asians, my comment - given the other statements made in the video I would assume the ability to process more information is due to cultural training - you always process more information, get page with less information seems weird to you, need more information to feel secure that page is way it is supposed to be... thus the ability to process more information is a self-reinforcing cycle.

Re: Japanese web design: weird, but it works. Here's why [video]

#13

Post by Gys »

RedShift1 wrote: post #3

A web page full of information is complex? All webpages used to be like that, nobody found it complicated, I wouldn't mind going back to more information dense pages.

I think this changed mainly due to the rise of mobiles. Websites have to be readable on small screens (‘mobile first’).

I wonder how they do this in Japan.

Re: Japanese web design: weird, but it works. Here's why [video]

#17

Post by workfromspace »

Gys wrote: post #13
RedShift1 wrote: post #3

A web page full of information is complex? All webpages used to be like that, nobody found it complicated, I wouldn't mind going back to more information dense pages.

I think this changed mainly due to the rise of mobiles. Websites have to be readable on small screens (‘mobile first’). I wonder how they do this in Japan.

Of the 3 times I was in Japan, many websites didn't work correctly on mobile or didn't work at all and required desktop.

Re: Japanese web design: weird, but it works. Here's why [video]

#19

Post by Morita_s »

I am a young Japanese person. Honestly, I prefer minimal and simple web design, but there is a parameter that cannot be measured by whether something is cool or cute. That parameter is "a sense of security."

Japanese people have a superstition that a slightly shabby ramen shop is tastier than a stylish and clean one. The feeling of being a bit cluttered strangely brings a sense of security. Do you think you can understand this?

Re: Japanese web design: weird, but it works. Here's why [video]

#20

Post by pdm55 »

shiroiushi wrote: post #11
onion2k wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The UX is fine for people who are used to a culture where they see massively information-dense, brightly colored, and spacially organized things all the time. There's a strong cultural correlation in UX design, and what works in one country often doesn't work in another. I've worked on a few websites that are accessed globally and it's common that a 'one website for everywhere' strategy yields poor results. You have…

No, it's really not fine at all. It's not just websites, it's electronic devices in general. The UIs are very complicated with every conceivable function right in your face. My Japanese girlfriend even complains about it. Things like washing machines and microwave ovens even are needlessly complicated to use. (Younger) Japanese people love western web sites/services such as Instagram, Twitter, Google Maps, etc., and…

When I used NMR scientific instruments that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in the 1990s, the Japanese (Jeol) machines had a far more straightforward interface than the German (Bruker) machines.
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