Baby boom design. It's time to get hep.
Designing web sites for aging baby boomers is becoming increasingly sophisticated and web design firms need to get a handle on the various techniques they should incorporate for the best possible user experience for this audience.
The new science of designing web sites for senior audiences has been discussed for at least the last three or four years. National usability-celebs like Jakob Nielsen have successfully introduced a set of standards whereby sites for seniors are of more service. Some 'radical' usability gurus have even argued this is an issue of accessibility and should fall under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1997.
Nevertheless, as standards come into acceptance, it's important to remind companies and organizations to strive to incorporate them into their online marketing / business.
One excellent model for others developers to note comes from AARP. According to outside sources, they invested six figures in researching and developing new ways to improve their audience's ability to find information and process it. After approximately a year in development, the final product is live. And some of the basic tenets of senior usability are easily observed.
As the notes on the image above show, AARP put what they learned to use and now is experiencing high praise from experts and users alike.
If your organization has a substantial senior audience, it's time to give these ideas life online, improve user experience and reap the benefits.