Nice piece on Matthew “Saving the web, one site at a time” Sommerville in the Independent this week:

“Ever got really frustrated with a website? So frustrated that you decided to redesign it by creating your own interface to the information that it offers? Matthew Somerville has. Between completing his Oxford maths degree and starting his new job in October, he’s put together simpler, more accessible versions of the Odeon cinemas site, National Rail’s online enquiries and live departure boards, BT’s directory enquiries, and even the Hutton Inquiry. He’s got rid of such time-consuming hi-tech puffery as big graphics, JavaScript, frames, cookies, pop-up windows and drop-down menus. And in each case, his version is faster and easier to use.”

In the piece it goes on to quote the client at the Odeon (who apparently will no longer press Sommerville to take the site down – good!) as saying:

“Not only is his website an infringement of Odeon’s copyright, it is also confusing to Odeon customers.”

Good grief. He did it for free, because your site was confusing him, a potential Odeon customer. He’s at least given you a stick to beat your agency with for nothing! He’s doing your thinking for you, man! Talking of the agency – I’d love to know what the designers there think, if any of them are reading… Right of reply in the comments field below…