Here’s a simple design issue that I see done wrong again and again. You know what I’m talking about: picture galleries and the ‘next’ buttons. So you’re looking photos of something cool. Like this one. You don’t want to spend so much time on each one, and you’d like to be able to maximize the number that you see in hopes of seeing one that catches your eye. Sure, it’s rapid-fire, but don’t blame me. I like clicking things.
But if the pictures are variable-sized, and the ‘next’ button is at the bottom of the image, then clicking through the gallery is hard. I have to move my mouse. Why do I have to move my mouse? Is it to better appreciate each photo? No, it isn’t, because the time spent is just wasted on moving my mouse, not on the photo. Putting the ‘next’ button on top of the image (or both ends) is so logical: no moving the mouse. Just clicking.
