Web Design in 2009

Web Design

Monday 28 December 2009

Web 2.0 is so 2005


And yet people still say ...

“I want that design to be more 2.0”


2009 - 2005 = 4 years


Who’s fault is that?


It’s everyone’s faultEveryone’s fault?

Picture by flickr.com/photos/isayx3


http://www.flickr.com/photos/jepoirrier


It’s everyone’s faultWe are the ones to blame!


It’s everyone’s fault“We” as in: designers,

developers, accounts, ...


It’s everyone’s faultWhy? We love to hide

behind technology


Web 2.0 & web 3.0 has brought us

a lot of “new” (sometimes useful) stuff...


... but how has web design

changed ever since?


Web Design should

become more mature


This is what people think when you say

you’re a web designer...


It’s a pixel perfect craft that communicates

a clear & structured message.

My definition of web design:


2 things to keep in mind


The internet is all about content

&

People get frustrated in no time


5 skills each web designer should practice

Picture by flickr.com/photos/anjin




... or at least should have an interest in!


Information Design

Usability

Typography

Visual Language

Change - ?

1

2

3

4

5


Skill 1: Get addicted to Information Design

Picture by konigi.com


“Information design makes complex information easier to understand and use”


‣ Human-centered design

‣ Measure information density

‣ What’s the knowledge base of my audience?

‣ Whitespace is sexy

‣ Prioritize

‣ Respect Standards



Skill 2: Usability, to ease everyone’s mind

Picture by flickr.com/photos/jepoirrier




“Don’t make me think - please”


‣ “What we design for” VS“How people really use it”

‣ Sense of Location

‣ What elements are clickable?

‣ Visual Hierarchy

‣ Less noise more signal

‣ Be consistent: it gives people the grip they need



Who doesn’t recognize these shapes?


Skill 3: Typography, yes we Kern


“typography is the art and technique of arranging type”


‣ Drop the tiny font-size

‣ Use different font-faces

‣ People Love color

‣ What should be emphasized?



Skill 4: Visual Language

Picture by flickr.com/photos/41894180030@N01




Matching content and design. “Are they telling the same story?”


‣ Your design shouldcommunicate something

‣ There’s no such thing as;“One template to rule them all”

‣ Design your content, notonly the surroundingelements

‣ Your header & footer shouldn’t be the only Climax

‣ Your copy should bepart of the lay-out




Skill 5change


“Find a piece of the status-quo and try to change it”

Seth Godin


“You can tell who the pioneers are from the arrows sticking out of

their backs”

Hugh MacLeod


Web design is Craftsmanship

Craftsmanship gets noticed twice as hard

Picture by flickr.com/photos/jepoirrier




Web design is functional, it goes further

then creating a good looking website


Every website has a goal

How do we support the visitor in completing that goal?


Good Web design equals higher ROI

and a bunch of happy visitors


... Everyone is happy!


That’s it!

Erlend Debast

Web designer @ proximity BBDO

twitter.com/erlend

[email protected]


mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Web Design in 2009

Design

definition of web design

information design picture

web designer

content people

everyones mindpicture

vshow people

visual language picture

whos fault