The design of physical products can really have an impact on how we feel. The size, weight, texture, smell, temperature, etc. are all key in creating mood and dictating the experience surrounding the product. But on the web, the number of senses we have access to is limited. We basically rely on sight, sound, and indirect elements of touch to create mood (and most of the time sound tends to be more annoying than anything else). Yet, we can still create a distinct mood just through the use of type and color. I know personally, these elements have a big affect on how I absorb the information on a site.

Look at the New York Times and the New York Post. Which one better prepares you to take in the information on the site? What kind of mood are you in after the first split-second on the site, before you really read anything? Does this mood match the content?

Now compare the above to CNN or New York Magazine or the BBC. Which site best creates a mood that really entices you to stick around? Which mood best matches the content?

The New York Times does the best job of getting me in "news" mode. The type and layout tends to emit an aura of authority and intellect. It says, "Time to get serious, there's a lot of information to dissect and consider here." The New York Post on the other hand, feels a little more "entertainy" and sensational. And based on their typical Top Stories, that might be exactly the mood they are trying to create.

An example of a site that puts me in no mood to stick around and delve into the content is b5 Media. Honestly, it looks like someone threw split-pea soup on my screen. The colors, layout, and type are bland, lack personality, and really do nothing to entice me to stick around. Furthermore, b5 Media is essentially a blog network, so their business depends on people reading their content. And while some of the member blogs do show a little personality, the main b5 site shows none. It makes me feel gloomy and does little to inspire me to read the content. Not exactly the effect they should be aiming for.

A counter-point would be that the content is king and the reason I enjoy the sites I do is because they have great content. But for me to want to explore the content of a site, it first needs to put me in the right mood. This sounds very pretentious, but most of it is subconscious. A visually appealing site that creates the appropriate mindset enhances the delivery of the content, and you might not even be aware of it.

Some of the sites that visually put me in the best mood to read the content are UX Magazine (though I think the "beta" layout and its color coding was much better), New York Magazine, A List Apart, Signal vs. Noise, The Washington Post, Digg, Apple, and Amazon among others. Something about these sites just works for me, and I have no problem sticking around and browsing.

What sites do you visit that put you in a pleasent mood? What sites do you enjoy just looking at, and does this have an affect on the content you consume? What sites have a negative effect on your mood?