Designing mindset
I have designed some great websites over the years. I have designed some bad websites over the years. But what stays the same is the mindset at the beginning of each project. To do the best that I can within the parameters that I am given.
As a designer I look and think about things differently. I was taught it was called problem solving. Over the years i am not sure that it quite captures the essence of what i do on each project. My mind is compartmentalized into various categories. I can almost rearrange them like a site map. I can access this set of tasks, singular or plural and engage the process that is connected to each one.
Design ruining the web? Come on Mr. Naughton
I recently read an article by John Naughton (Article) – Which claims that graphic designers are ruining the web.
There are so many issues with this blanket statement that at first I thought it was a joke. Clearly Mr. Naughton was poking fun at something else or trying purposefully to raise the amount of people who would read his article. (Job well done Mr. Naughton). I then began to rethink this initial thought and believe that Mr. Naughton actually believes this notion. He really believes that designers are ruining the web.
Engaging layout
The first time i sat and observed a usability test on a CDROM application I designed was back in 1996. I watched while people were asked a series of questions to locate information on the screen.
I fall into a unique when it comes to usability. I don’t believe that this area of the screen should be used for a function or piece of information. I think that these rules were born out of the terrible design standards of the Internet during the 90′s, and some of which continue today. I don’t believe that users are slow, don’t read, or are lazy.
I believe that a well designed page, with thought behind placement of features and functions (wherever they are on the page), with engaging written content trumps the cookie cutter, red button, upper right corner every web design that we see popping up everywhere.
Brand – what is it?
Brand experience
Much has been written, spoken regarding a companies brand. The term brand came into fashion, almost faded away, and came back. What exactly is a brand? And how do you get one? After 18 years helping companies create, extend and innovate on their brands we have gathered some information that may help you examine your next steps in brand creation.
Read more
Sorting through design
There are many books about how to design, how to design websites or how to be creative. The problem with the promise of these books is that design is a discipline, and to do it well you have to immerse yourself into the practice of design daily. To get the best design possible for a problem that requires the application of design, one must first understand the problem from all angles and then use the skill of design order to achieve success.
Read more
Linking up Facebook to WordPress
So I have tried a couple of things to allow my WordPress blog to post directly to My Facebook account for Counterspace.
This App seemed to be working. Facebook Page Publish – Farily easy and straightforward to implement and setup. Lets see how it goes. However after messing around with it for a while it did not work.
The second app i tried Wordbooker integrated and setup fairly easily. I had a little trial and error but in the end it seemed to work. I will try this also with twitter and see what shakes out.
And secondly I just installed WP to Twitter and this one worked as promised. So I am now able to post directly to twitter at the same time. Very nice and I’m sure I will be refining over the next few weeks.
2012 the year of integration? Perhaps…
Happy New Year
Well it’s the time of year to reflect, promise and plan. Everything is achievable if you can organize your mind and navigate the obstacles that are placed in your way.
Good Luck to everyone!
Hire a designer do it yourself
For many years I have encountered designers hired by a firm for their expertise, and during the course of the project the client slowly takes over the designing by telling the designer where to place items on the page.
Put that over there and move that there. Now move that back. Now move it there. Read more
Websites all look the same
Clients all tend to say the same thing… I really like this website, or I like what this site is doing. So I have been asking myself for some time why is it that so many clients copy each other’s website rather than creating a unique experience from their own content.
Copying other companies website’s has the adverse affect. Firstly, client’s are admitting that they are not leaders in their industry. By copying other companies functionality or design cues they are automatically second. As a result their mindset is always in catch up mode.
Second, the client is always behind in thinking for the future. By trying to replicate what another company has already accomplished the client is thinking in the past rather than the future.
Lastly, the client does not understand their own content. By trying to copy other companies accomplishments they continue to try to fit their own content into the format of their rival’s site. The expected result is that it doesn’t fit and they end up making a mess of their site trying to fit it into the other format.
So few client’s are willing to spend the time to create a website that reflect’s their product and more importantly a product that speaks to their target audience.
If you spend some time looking at products, cars, mobile phones you will be able to clearly see who is designing for the future and who is following. In my opinion the reason the US car companies have suffered is because of a lack of forward thinking, and rather an lot of following the competition.
And the buzz word is… Branding
Branding.
It’s elusive. Secretive. Powerful. All encompassing. Its the magic word in design and advertising. But what is it and how do I get it…
I have to say after 16 years of talking about, creating, designing and extending clients brands it really is amazing that there is not a more clear definition of what a brand is. The brands we all know Apple, Mini, Gucci are already, well, brands. They are cohesive. We can speak to them, about them, describe them in detail. How they did it, how they got there and where they are going.