Flat UIs hard to navigate, even for youngsters

https://www.nngroup.com/articles/flat-ui-less-attention-cause-uncertainty/

"On average participants spent 22 per cent more time (i.e. slower task performance) looking at the pages with weak signifiers," the firm notes. Why would that be? Users were looking for clues how to navigate. "The average number of fixations was significantly higher on the weak-signifier versions than the strong-signifier versions. On average, people had 25 per cent more fixations on the pages with weak signifiers."

The firm dispenses with the counter-argument that users were "more engaged" with the page.

Oh yes, not being able to find your way around websites just means you're engaged with it!


https://www.fastcodesign.com/3058094/the-problem-with-flat-design-according-to-a-ux-expert

But her favorite quote comes from a young adult–under 25–talking recently about navigating a flat web design: “I don’t [know what’s a link]. I just start clicking and praying that it works.”

Who would've fucking guessed Windows NT 4.0 is more usable than the modern web?

How much longer do I have to wait until this design bubble finally pops and everyone goes back to traditional UIs?
Even my god damn bank is overhauling it's user interface with flat bullshit.
Fucking kill me.

it's all about the idiotic idea that we should remove all the typical computer GUI/TUI/CLI because the interface should be 'natural'. the thing is: there's no natural way to browse hypertext, configure settings or install a program. handwriting, flipping pages and swiping aren't more or less natural than clicking on checkboxes, scrolling or typing out commands with a keyboard. all those things are conventions, it's just that UX-fags think that conventions related to computers are somehow worse than all the other ones. this is the software equivalent of complaining that your food contains 'chemicals'.

this is one of the big things that dumb down (mainstream) computers. 30 years ago you could teach a non-technical office worker to use relatively complex TUI program with plenty of keyboard shortcuts. now you have """"""""""""technology"""""""""""" """"""""""""""""""""""""journalists"""""""""""""""""""""""" who bitch and moan at anything that has nested menus or more than two buttons.