Archive for May, 2007Silverlight… is Flash Dying?
Now I’ve never been a big fan of Microsoft but it looks as if they might be onto something here. Keep your eye on this as it evolves as it may become a interesting resource for creating some unique user experiences. Popularity: 23% [?] target _blank…where was I?Ever come across a site that launches all types of windows on your computer? If your not using Firefox, as you should be Its all about having a website take control over your computer. Everyone wants control over the page they are browsing through. Yet some designers/developers feel the need to use JavaScript or some other coding language to resize a window or keep it at a certain size. My personal opinion is to stay out of the users ability to control what is on a site. Once we starting forcing the user to either keep the window open or do something they don’t necessarily want we create a negative user experience. Why is this negative? Well think of it this way. Say a user is browsing the web in a small window while working on other things on their screen. they open your website and BAM! it resizes to the full width and hight of their screen. Although we would like to think when someone is going to your site that they will have no distractions and become totally focused on what you have created for them. This is rarely the case. With the emergence of multi-tab browsing your site is probably one of the multiple sites the user is currently browsing. The work around is to hint at the idea of allowing full screen or auto resize by a button or witty line implying that their experience will be a whole lot cooler. Once we stray from the idea that the user/visitor should be in total control we lose positive experience points. Through design and layout we work to guide the user through a site not force them to take a path. Let them choose… Popularity: 22% [?] CMS, Manage…Control…Control is something we all want. Whether it be your car, your home or your website, everyone is looking for a way to cut out the middle man and manage everything themselves. CMS (Content Management Systems) give people who do not have any web design or development knowledge the ability to control the layout and content of websites. Everyone wants it now, but fail to realize the complications that are created for the designers and developers that create these systems. When we create a website we follow a creative vision or project plan which guides in the production or successful web experiences. Throw a CMS into the mix and we must take into account every situation that would arise when a client goes to make changes to the original design. Pretty much idiot proofing every possible detail so that the design of the site does not lose aesthetic when items are added. Uploading pictures, writing sections, adding documentation are all functions of these types of systems. So what is the problem? Seems like this would create less work to manage a site if all the control is with the owner, not true. When we develop websites there are certain guidelines and optimization techniques that we use to create a smooth operating system. Images and online documents need to be a certain size in order to speed up performance, files need to be named according to guidelines, and many other factors come into play. Open source CMS systems are available for incorporation into web designs which cut down development costs, yet the problem with these systems is that they can be very general and sometime fall short in the functionality that is needed for a specific client. Custom systems are more fine tuned to the clients vision yet require a decent amount of development and creative direction to create an intuitive well designed interface. For the ill informed, this is an important ideas to keep in mind when you are looking for website development. CMS systems cut out management costs but require larger start up fees to develop the initial system. When shopping for a design company, make sure that the administration interface is as well designed as the site itself. Otherwise you may be stuck with a bare bones administration with no inherent flow or ease of use design. Things to factor in when building a new website:
Although there are many other questions that may go along with web development this list gives a basic overview of what to expect when diving into the world of the web and having a successful site. Popular websites need constant attention. Remember the web is a source of up to date information. Sites that are created and not managed correctly or fall stale do to lack of attention will get sucked into the black hole of the internet. Getting no hits and not doing their job of informing the people that land on your page. So if your in the market for a new website and want all the control to do-it-yourself make sure you have the time to keep your site up to date. Popularity: 72% [?] Creativity, An ExplanationDesign and creativity are an involved process of thinking. I have touched on the subject of creative thinking before but when applied to graphic/web design, the main stimulation of thinking is conveying a visual idea, as well as a purpose for that idea, to our clients and target audiance. This in turn should produce results based on the initial purpose of the project. As creative gurus, we become victims of our own creativity and at times get so involved in the process of layout and design that we loose the idea behind the whole process. As artists, we shouldn’t have to explain why we created something. But as “Creative Resources” in the business marketplace, every action or creative innovation should have a purpose and a function. Designers do not necessarily need to explain their creativity. They should understand the ideas behind the innovations they create. Collaboration with the client and explaining the full idea cultivated from various ideas, well thats the Creative Director’s job. This separation of tasks allows for the designer to focus on the task at hand. Teamwork is essential in creating innovative work, as well as clients that are willing to take the plunge and trust the vision set forth by the project leader. We struggle to find focus when all team players are not working toward that one unique vision. Creation for the web environment it tough, requiring many different technologies merged into one to produce a successful end product. Many different specialty fields are required when creating unique interfaces. Designers, Flash Animators, Developers, Art Directors, Project Managers etc. All play a integral part of the design process. Yet conveying the main idea and goal of the project is the most important idea that all players should be working towards. The main focus of my little rant here is to embrace the creativity that stems from your subconscious. Don’t design with the intention of explaining why you created something a certain way. Once a solid idea is produced, we may then reflect upon the idea and explain why at the point of revisiting. This process seldom works in reverse and can be a unique idea to gain focus when in a time of creative lows. Popularity: 20% [?] |
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, you might not even notice that you are being assaulted with various windows popping up on each click that you make. I’ve come across a couple sites that make the mistake of not going the distance and checking all of the links to make sure that they all stay within the same window. Numerous sites overlook this creating a endless barrage of new windows while navigating through their sites. Its a simple concept that is overlooked is bad web design.