Where Converse and Web Design Merge
|2.Mar.2011This week I’ve launched one design job, worked a conversion quote for another, talked logistics for an upcoming online project and moved into a final design mockup.
It has been a busy week.
Oh, how I love the “job security” of a busy week.
Of course, with so many design elements on my plate, you’d think I’d want to zone out at night and dream of new episodes of Selling New York, research the cost of a live-in cook and/or covet a friend’s housekeeper, but instead I ignore the mess (“For just one more day Jeff, I promise!) and continue through my newest book, White Space is Not Your Enemy
As I read through this book I’m reminded of my high school yearbook editor–we called him Mr. D.
Mr. D. was patient and oh, so cool. He was the sort of teacher that befriended his students, but knew the importance of maintaining his authority. He wasn’t a stick-in-the-mud, but he was also smart enough to check the dark room with increasing frequency as Spring Break rolled around–he dealt with high school students full of raging hormones after all.
Anyone else like to admit to the lure of the darkroom?
Yeah, you know what I’m talking about.
Ode to White Space
The one thing Mr. D. drilled into my head over and over as I hovered over the lay-out board (we actually cut and pasted in the good ol’ days) was that “white space can be a friend…until you trap it.” To this day my eyes immediately hone in on trapped white-space in any lay-out, anywhere.
A really good lay-out isn’t so easy to spot–because your eyes don’t recognize it is “good”, in fact, they don’t recognize anything except the content. Which of course, is GOOD. However, a bad lay-out is EXTREMELY easy to spot. Your eyes get stuck, can’t travel seamlessly over the page, and you might not realize what is happening, but the truth is you’ve become the victim of a poorly constructed page design.
This can happen in books and magazines, and of course, web pages.
With the influx of FREE, self-hosted blogs, WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) website design software, poorly placed advertising and affiliate ads, and overnight designers (not being overly critical–just honest), design is taking a serious hit. Even accounting for differences in taste, web design should, at the very least, be laid-out effectively.
The old-school rules still apply.
Like my Converse, they stand the test of time.
Unlike my Converse, they don’t need inserts for arch support.
What can I say? I’m getting older.
9 Comments
Laura
Speaking of Oldies, but Goodies this post reminded me of a site that was launched back in 2005: BadDesignKills.com. Alas, it no longer exists. The site was a “guerilla style marketing tool to generate awareness about the nature of good (and bad) design in the public arena.” I seem to remember it even had case studies about where bad design had actually killed people—like poorly marked exit signs. It challenged me to think about how I design, and it was a fun approach to open a discussion with clients to consider their concepts. I think there are still a lot of us out there who champion this cause. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
OMSH
Laura, I’m pretty certain I would have enjoyed that website (except for the part where the bad design actually DID kill…that wouldn’t be entertainment).
Laura
Yeah, that part wasn’t entertaining, but it did add weight to the responsibility of a Designer. The fun part was in all the visitor contributions, sticker designs and tag lines like: “Practice safe design. Always use a concept.” I wish the creator would have archived it.
OMSH
“Practice safe design. Always use a concept.” – BWAHAHA!
jessica
I remember that site! It was great! That and webpagesthatsuck.com were my early initiation into web design.
Sheila
I’ve never commented, but I’ve always liked your designs. I only wish the Lifehacker /Gizmodo / Jezebel family would hire you. Their latest design is horrible.
Design Belfast
Yes layout is important. Website design that uses white space effectively is one step closer towards a good design. A lot of website design does not use white space effectively.
Mrs. Wilson
Oooo, I want to read that book now!
I’m pretty sure you give the bestest design advice ever.
takip
A lot of website design does not use white space effectively.