Alex Bainbridge is pondering whether travel web sites should be undesigned. Alex defines "undesigned" sites as sites where:

* Copy / text is the user interface - The words, the size of text, the length of the sentence, the paragraph breaks - all of this forms the user interface (rather than creating containers with graphics - and placing text / copy inside those containers)
* Links are text based - not images
* There are no gratuitous user interface elements - I define gratuitous as those that either don’t provide information (for example stars on a star rating) nor assist with usability (for example lines between sections - acting as dividers).
* Usability is prioritised over visual branding - the design is engineered to be used - not admired like a piece of static art.

Examples of undesigned sites provided by Alex are 37Signals, Google, Amazon and Cleartrip. We're flattered to be listed with these companies.

At Cleartrip, we're strong believers in the power of great design. And as we pointed out in The designer's dilemma, great design is accomplished when design is invisible. I guess that's what Alex means by "undesigned."