Indian web design: cheap, but it works. Here's why

Summary

This video explores the unique aspects of Indian web design, emphasizing affordability and functionality over aesthetics. With India's vast population and diverse cultures, websites must cater to a wide range of users, often prioritizing mobile access due to the high smartphone penetration. The video discusses how 'rich content' and a 'maximal design' approach align with high-context cultures, where users prefer information upfront. It also touches on the challenges of designing for such diversity and the importance of understanding local cultures and economic factors in web design.

Takeaways

• 🌏 The State Bank of India's website, despite its simplicity, serves a vast customer base effectively, highlighting the importance of functionality over aesthetics in web design for certain markets.
• 📱 India's tech and web design history show a significant shift towards mobile-first design due to the high mobile phone penetration, with 78% of market share.
• 💼 The Indian market prioritizes rich content and accessibility, favoring websites that provide information upfront rather than requiring users to search for it.
• 🌈 Cultural diversity in India means that web design must consider regional differences, including color symbolism and local customs, which can vary greatly between districts.
• 🏢 Public sector entities like banks and hospitals often have outdated web designs due to limited resources, but their primary function is to serve the public effectively, not to impress with aesthetics.
• 📊 High-context cultures like India appreciate maximal design, which provides information all at once, contrasting with low-context cultures that prefer simplicity and clarity.
• 💬 The Indian population's adaptability to certain web designs means that drastic changes can disrupt user experience, suggesting that familiarity is valued over modernity in some cases.
• 🌐 India's low cost of technology and data has made the internet widely accessible, influencing the design of websites to be affordable and functional for a broad audience.
• 📈 The tier system in India classifies cities by population size, affecting technology access and usage, which in turn impacts web design to ensure it caters to users from all tiers.
• 🔍 Designing for a global audience requires understanding cultural nuances and the varying levels of technology access, emphasizing the need for a macro perspective in experience design.

Q & A

What is the significance of the State Bank of India's website mentioned in the script?

The State Bank of India's website is significant because it serves over 500 million customers and is the largest bank in India, illustrating the importance of web design in catering to a vast and diverse user base.

Why is 'cheap' web design in India effective?

In India, 'cheap' refers to financial affordability, which is effective due to the focus on rich content and information accessibility, catering to a large population with limited resources.

What is the impact of India's diverse districts on web design?

India's 86 districts, each with unique cultures and demographics, make it challenging to create a one-size-fits-all web design, emphasizing the need for diverse and adaptable design strategies.

Why did mobile phones become the dominant technology in India?

Mobile phones became dominant due to the affordability of smartphones, which flooded the market with cheaper alternatives to big brands, making technology accessible to a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds.

How did the shift to mobile phones influence web design in India?

The shift to mobile phones led to a focus on mobile-first design, as a large portion of the Indian population skipped the desktop phase and directly adopted mobile internet.

What is the role of the booming tech economy in India's web design?

The booming tech economy in India has led to an increase in UX designers, which is necessary to create the mobile-centric and user-friendly websites that cater to the diverse needs of the Indian population.

Why might some Indian websites appear outdated but still functional?

Some Indian websites may appear outdated but remain functional because they serve their purpose effectively, and users have adapted to their design. Changing them could disrupt familiarity and require users to relearn navigation.

How does the high-context culture in India affect web design preferences?

In high-context cultures like India, maximal design that presents information upfront is often preferred, as it aligns with communication styles that are implicit and nuanced.

What is the significance of color in web design when considering Indian culture?

Color in web design is significant because it can carry different meanings across various regions in India. For example, white can symbolize peace in some areas but be associated with mourning in others.

How does India's tier system for cities impact web design?

India's tier system, which classifies cities by population size, impacts web design by influencing considerations of technology access and user experience, ensuring that designs are inclusive for users from different socioeconomic backgrounds.

Why is it important for designers to understand the users' culture when building products for India?

Understanding the users' culture is crucial because it influences design preferences, accessibility, and usability. It helps create products that are not only functional but also culturally relevant and appealing to the diverse Indian audience.