Debunking Web Design Myths

by Elliot Jay Stockselliotjaystocks.com/idesign

Usability & BeautyFriends, not enemies

The Transparent Creative ProcessDecent exposure

by Elliot Jay Stockselliotjaystocks.com/idesign

In the red corner

In the red corner

UsabilityAccessibilityWeb StandardsGuidelines

In the red corner

UsabilityAccessibilityWeb StandardsGuidelines

In theblue corner

vs

In the red corner

UsabilityAccessibilityWeb StandardsGuidelines

In theblue corner

Beautyvs

UsabilityAs Designers, we’re already experts in this field whether we know it or not.

UsabilityAs Designers, we’re already experts in this field whether we know it or not.

• Design is functional art

UsabilityAs Designers, we’re already experts in this field whether we know it or not.

• Design is functional art

• Design exists to create meaning and understanding

UsabilityAs Designers, we’re already experts in this field whether we know it or not.

• Design is functional art

• Design exists to create meaning and understanding

• In web design (unlike print design), there is no ‘final output’ - usability is influenced by devices

Accessibility“Feared by the bad, loved by the good...”

Accessibility“Feared by the bad, loved by the good...”

• Typically associated with catering for disabled users

Accessibility“Feared by the bad, loved by the good...”

• Typically associated with catering for disabled users

• It goes much further than that: it’s about catering for devices

Accessibility“Feared by the bad, loved by the good...”

• Typically associated with catering for disabled users

• It goes much further than that: it’s about catering for devices

• Devices include search engines ... and we like them!

Web StandardsThe best thing to happen to the web in recent years

Web StandardsThe best thing to happen to the web in recent years

• Unification through guidelines

Web StandardsThe best thing to happen to the web in recent years

• Unification through guidelines

• It’s not about rules and regulations; it’s about attaining a level of quality

Web StandardsThe best thing to happen to the web in recent years

• Unification through guidelines

• It’s not about rules and regulations; it’s about attaining a level of quality

• Makes life easier for you and your users

GuidelinesThere are various guidelines

GuidelinesThere are various guidelines

• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, etc.: more specifically tailored for disabled users

GuidelinesThere are various guidelines

• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, etc.: more specifically tailored for disabled users

• Guidelines within your own organisation (governmental bodies / style guides)

GuidelinesThere are various guidelines

• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, etc.: more specifically tailored for disabled users

• Guidelines within your own organisation (governmental bodies / style guides)

• Restriction allows for more creativity!

Under the hoodSo what’s underneath the design of a web site?

<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="all" href="/siteWideAssets/style/styleMain.css" />

Under the hoodThe fundamental structure of a website hasn’t changed since the early 1990s.

Under the hoodThe fundamental structure of a website hasn’t changed since the early 1990s.

• This is the key to usability and accessibility

Under the hoodThe fundamental structure of a website hasn’t changed since the early 1990s.

• This is the key to usability and accessibility

• Everything we need is already there: a great framework!

Under the hoodThe fundamental structure of a website hasn’t changed since the early 1990s.

• This is the key to usability and accessibility

• Everything we need is already there: a great framework!

• Clean, semantic markup = search engine friendly

Friends...

UsabilityAccessibilityWeb StandardsGuidelines

Friends...

UsabilityAccessibilityWeb StandardsGuidelines

... and lovers

Pleasure of useFunctionality

A forward-thinking ethosCreativity through restraint

Friends...

UsabilityAccessibilityWeb StandardsGuidelines

... and lovers

Pleasure of useFunctionality

A forward-thinking ethosCreativity through restraint

= BEAUTY

What about Flash?

What about Flash? • Flash can be accessible but it’s harder

What about Flash? • Flash can be accessible but it’s harder

• Flash still has to sit within an HTML page

What about Flash? • Flash can be accessible but it’s harder

• Flash still has to sit within an HTML page

• Flash-only sites conflict with Web Standards

Accessibility:Making Yourself Accessible

Accessibility:Making Yourself Accessible • Connect with your audience

Accessibility:Making Yourself Accessible • Connect with your audience

• Become part of the community, not above it

Accessibility:Making Yourself Accessible • Connect with your audience

• Become part of the community, not above it

• The internet is all about sharing, so share!

The Carsonified RebrandWe made the creative process of rebranding our company completely ‘transparent’:

The Carsonified RebrandWe made the creative process of rebranding our company completely ‘transparent’:

• We wrote about why we were rebranding

The Carsonified RebrandWe made the creative process of rebranding our company completely ‘transparent’:

• We wrote about why we were rebranding

• We uploaded sketches, videos, etc.

The Carsonified RebrandWe made the creative process of rebranding our company completely ‘transparent’:

• We wrote about why we were rebranding

• We uploaded sketches, videos, etc.

• Readers gave feedback

The Carsonified RebrandWe made the creative process of rebranding our company completely ‘transparent’:

• We wrote about why we were rebranding

• We uploaded sketches, videos, etc.

• Readers gave feedback

• We responded to the feedback

The Carsonified RebrandWe made the creative process of rebranding our company completely ‘transparent’:

• We wrote about why we were rebranding

• We uploaded sketches, videos, etc.

• Readers gave feedback

• We responded to the feedback

• Rinse and repeat!

Has anyone ever heard of...

?

Has anyone ever heard of...

?

Good commentsOn August 24th, 2007 at 1:45 pm, NICK said...

Good commentsOn August 24th, 2007 at 1:45 pm, NICK said...

“The relaunch of MTV’s US site is a great example of how to avoid creating a brand and overall aesthetic that leads to a company being pigeon-holed. They came up with the concept of a site “hat” - a playlist of user-submitted site headers that loaded at random on each refresh of their page. The result is a strong site feel that remains perfectly recognisable as the big daddy of the MTV family, but serves to strengthen the brand by suggesting that their look and appeal is one that wears many hats, caters to all, and still celebrates its userbase; a concept very much in line with your own.”

Bad commentsOn September 10th, 2007 at 2:46 pm, KARL said...

Bad commentsOn September 10th, 2007 at 2:46 pm, KARL said...

“Is there any way I can get you guys to stop posting this stuff? It’s not simply that it’s in front of me, it’s that it exists in the world at all.”

Show & TellIt’s just like being back at school!

Show & TellIt’s just like being back at school!

• Perfect for remote working

Show & TellIt’s just like being back at school!

• Perfect for remote working

• Allows you to quickly assess your ideas

Show & TellIt’s just like being back at school!

• Perfect for remote working

• Allows you to quickly assess your ideas

• Enables you to explain your reasoning to anybody

Show & TellIt’s just like being back at school!

• Perfect for remote working

• Allows you to quickly assess your ideas

• Enables you to explain your reasoning to anybody

• A nice, handy record to look back upon

In Conclusion...

In Conclusion... • The web is a place for the exchange of information, but like a printed catalogue, can - should - look lovely and be a joy to use

In Conclusion... • The web is a place for the exchange of information, but like a printed catalogue, can - should - look lovely and be a joy to use

• The actual information exchanged can be an artefact in itself

In Conclusion... • The web is a place for the exchange of information, but like a printed catalogue, can - should - look lovely and be a joy to use

• The actual information exchanged can be an artefact in itself

• The exchange should happen between designers and users - it's the beauty of the medium

Thank youelliotjaystocks.com/idesign