Balancing Beauty and Usability A Comprehensive Evaluation of Awwwards Winning Websites

Description

The Awwwards prize is a prestigious recognition in the world of web design, valued for promoting innovative and aesthetically outstanding projects. While these websites are praised for their appearance, they are often criticized for their low level of functionality and usability. The aim of this study is to analyze the usability of Awwwards-winning websites to identify issues in their user experience and propose possible improvements.

The study was conducted using two research techniques: heuristic analysis based on Nielsen's heuristics and eye-tracking analysis. The heuristic analysis helped identify interface issues, while the eye-tracking data provided insights into usability problems by tracking users' gaze paths. Additionally, a final survey was conducted among users to gather their subjective opinions on the website's visual appeal and ease of information retrieval.

The study highlights the importance of balancing aesthetics and functionality in web design. The findings can serve as guidelines for designers, helping them create websites that are not only visually appealing but also usable and accessible to all users.

Researchers involved

Adam Balcerzak

MSc

Researcher and academic lecturer, member of the Laboratory of Media Studies at the University of Warsaw (LBM UW), specializing in artificial intelligence, biometrics, and human-technology interactions. PhD candidate at the Doctoral School of Social Sciences, University of Warsaw, in the field of social communication and media studies. He holds a Master of Science in Engineering in Computer Science. His research interests include the triangulation of declarative and biometric methods, the application of biometrics in the humanities, the analysis of user responses to AI-generated content, and virtual reality. He collaborates with national and international institutions, including the Saint-Cyr Military Academy in France, where he conducts research on the biometric analysis of FPV drone operators' reactions in a VR environment. Author and co-author of scientific publications and reports, as well as a participant in international conferences, including ICA HTT, MIDI, and the National Methodological Conference of Media Researchers. As an IT practitioner, he specializes in virtualization, hosting, CMS systems, and digital accessibility. He is an organizer and co-organizer of scientific events, including the WMEMC 2025 conference and the ICA Human Tech Transition regional conference. He has teaching experience in new media, mobile technologies, and information systems.

Julia Kwiatkowska

B.A.

Julia Kwiatkowska is a graduate of Information Space Architecture at the Faculty of Journalism, Information and Book Studies of the University of Warsaw (WDIB UW). Her research interests focus on interface usability, heuristic analysis, and eye-tracking studies. She is also engaged in user experience (UX) design, information architecture, and the impact of aesthetics on the perception and functionality of websites. In her work, she combines theoretical approaches with empirical methods, exploring how users navigate and interact with digital information spaces.

Used sensors/methods

Eye-tracking

Surveys

Website analysis

Description

Researchers involved

Adam Balcerzak

Julia Kwiatkowska

Used sensors/methods

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