Bilders påverkan på webbplatsers informationsarkitektur : hur bildval kan påverka användarnas upplevelse i webbplatssammanhang

Sammanfattning: The proverb ’a picture is worth a thousand words’ expresses the effective use of imagery as a mode of communication. An image has the advantage of being able to convey difficult to express information, such as with posters, instruction manuals or road signs. Additionally, these visuals can affect the recipients emotional state. This study divides the term image into two categories: informative and decorative. The former describes an image containing information, while the latter primarily intends to be aesthetic. Research predating this paper makes different suggestions as how to best use informative and decorative images, in relation to creating a positive online user experience. By conducting semi-structured interviews as a method, this study aims to answer the questions: how does these two differing types of imagery affect the users understanding of a website? Is it easily manageable? And ultimately, does the user feel their reward meets the effort invested in maneuvering the site? The result shows that although the users perceive the decorative images to be aesthetically pleasing, they generally prefer the convenience of the informative ones on a government web site. However, their opinions differ in the question of when either image is the most appropriate and effective to use.