We all know how the web is constantly evolving and designers have to adapt or die. We also all know that web design requires the understanding of graphic design and it's principles.

 

I was reading another thread where a member was asking for ideas in which Fuzzy Logic made this reply http://www.webdesignerforum.co.uk/topic/74003-some-creative-ideas-needed/?p=463798, maybe stating the obvious but also food for thought.

 

SO just what exactly is 'Web Design' today. There's no need to make graphical references as I have already said we know about them, but what else is there? What does the term 'Web Design' mean to you?

 

Is it not the case that today's web designer has to lead the unsuspecting visitor down a precise path to the cash register?

 

If so how?

To me, web design is an experience, it's a journey to a conclusion, the right conclusion for your client, whether that is a sale, a repeat visit, perform an action or simply to entertain.

 

Your website has to say something, it has to mean something, it's all great to throw a load of images around and call it a design, but seriously, if that's what you have done is it really a design?

 

A design is an experience and web design is simply an experience on the internet and the same principles should be applied as you would for graphics design only web design is a little more specialised in this manor as making for multiple screen types for example mobile throws up it's own issues.

 

Asking how to lead someone along a path as you have is based off design principles and theories, for example look at this http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100627150916/logopedia/images/3/3d/Mobil_logo.svg now imagine it without the red, what you are left with will not get the logo noticed, add the red and boom, it's noticeable instantly, we use colour, size, form, text and position to lead a path to a conclusion.

 

Whatever you do don't think of a red elephant

 

- wonder what you are thinking about now?

 

I used several theory techniques there, one was that I pointed you to a logo where the red stands out and stressed the word 'red' three times to make your mind simpler to penetrate leading you to the result I wanted, to think of a red elephant

 

I have seen in the past people appearing into forums and expect designers just throw up colours, fonts and layout ideas as if they are something that is just dreamed up instead of planned for, I honestly think that we as designers would do the person asking the question far more good and this industry far more good by pointing those who don't know how to design to the principles instead of giving them the answers we think they want.

Edited March 27, 201412 yr by Fuzzy Logic

Web design is the art of presenting content and information that can be easily understood and consumed irrespective of device or ability.

TBH, 'web design' to me is every other bloke on a street that can string a doctype declaration and a page title together. It's way too catch all - I tend to bill myself as a 'Joomla developer'; makes it much easier to get seen in the sea of masses.

To make it easier to go down the entire list of tools, we’ve categorized them into the following sections:

Grid & Frameworks

Sketch Sheets & Wireframes

JavaScript & jQuery Plugins

Testing & Preview

Sliders

Others

 

To make it easier to go down the entire list of tools, we’ve categorized them into the following sections:

Grid & Frameworks

Sketch Sheets & Wireframes

JavaScript & jQuery Plugins

Testing & Preview

Sliders

Others

 

Yes there are the tools, but what does 'Web Design' actually mean to you?

 

When you get up in the morning are you seeking inspiration everywhere you look, or getting ready for the 9 to 5 job? Does your web design job mean anything to you?

Web design is about making money.

 

I'm not a fan of the fluffy sentences such as "web design is a journey to a conclusion". Although Fuzzy does make some great points. It annoys me because I work with designers that fight tooth and nail because their designs are pretty or look nice but I can promise you that 99% of designs aren't effective. Or at least not as we'll put together is the designer would believe.

 

People moan about Amazon being ugly. It works and I'm pretty sure their huge web department is split testing and tracking and ensuring the website is making a high conversion rate.

 

Point in case; I have access to the analytics account of a kitchen seller. They make 30k a month and yet have a 0.3% conversion rate. Their design is clean but not effective. A dog **** website I work with makes that in a day.

 

To me, it's about making money. As much money as possible

Ps I meant case in point

Thanks for the bit of agreement lol, but I do have to mention that you state 99% of designs aren't effective, that is so true and it's my belief that the reason is because they don't understand or know the theoretical underpinning of design, have not researched the demographic properly if at all or have simply not bothered to apply theory as they should.

 

The issue is that there are plenty of people around that can make pretty pictures that attract but making pretty pictures is not design and does not make you a designer, design has meaning.

 

If I managed to change the oil filter on a car, does that make me a mechanic? How much knowledge do you have to accumulate before you can call yourself a mechanic?

 

You use amazon as an example but their design is effective, it's clean, easy to use and most importantly familiar with its users, they also have one of the best and most recognisable logos with the a-z arrow, I don't think it's ugly at all.

 

Ps sorry just had to add that it was not a 'fluffy sentence' it's the underpinning of design principles and theory

Edited April 9, 201412 yr by Fuzzy Logic

To me, Web Design is to meet the needs of people searching/browsing webpages but with the ability to make their experience more enjoyful and as simple as possible. This can mean on any device, from the little features such as making text spaced out on a mobile resolution to allow for finger spacing, to typography on desktop sites.

 

So basically, shaping the web in such a way that users are no longer confused or put off by web pages.

 

This is just me mumbling on, hopefully it makes sense to some one

IMO

 

Both Jason and Fuzzy are viewing the same page, even if from a slightly different bias. SEO is about using the information and data to direct a visitor to part with their cash, Web Design is about combining all information and directing the visitor to part with their cash (or advertiser).

 

You can't have design without SEO, but design has to be for humans. SEO works best when it is 'designed' for humans too.

 

So that is the technical 'What is design about' to me, even in my garden and landscape designs these principles are used, but the mental and emotional of what is design is another question.