10 guidelines for Kickass World Class website making
This one goes to all digital makers who want to top themselves each day.
I have been spending my last couple of years exploring User Interfaces on websites, mobile apps and all types of randomness.
I want to keep myself on track and aligned with my long term goals as a professional. But as you know, as a Designer it is super easy to get distracted, either by a squirrel on water skis, a cute dressed puppy on Youtube, a Dutch model running a marathon or just god (and all other gods).
I believe making websites became easier than it was 15 years ago, when Flash was still king. Everybody is a Designer nowadays and that sucks. We kinda look all the same with similar styles, people copycat and everything is just fine. Good thing is… every industry has its own cycle and we are transmuting into something awesome (don’t ask me what, I’m just enjoying the ride). Websites are going down someday — at least as we know them now — and we need to stay current in order to shift when the time comes.
So, after considering some personal experiences, daily challenges at the office and some other well proven professionals I’ve decided to come up with these personal guidelines, to help me get where I want to be as a Designer. To stay up to date with the tools and the skills. For instance, i use them when reviewing my own work.
Keep in mind these aren’t rules and I don’t own the truth. It’s rather some work in progress that will be adjusted on the fly.
So these are the 10 guidelines for Kickass World Class website making:
01. If it doesn’t move, it is not digital.
This is the first guideline. It comes out naturally to me at this point. Things are getting better since I first wrote this post — I see lots of great projects with motion integrated. Static layouts don’t work anymore, this is not 2001.
02. Lead your goals and your client’s goals
Be the solution through Design and run some shit. If you have a small client, show them the competition status, their flaws and your opportunities. Give them options and guide them through style. Iterate with the team before you jump into Designing layouts.
03. It will be ephemeral anyway
Don’t be afraid of creativity. Push your boundaries even with the tightest briefing. Seek for new stuff, sell it or at least try to. If the client is too afraid of the “risk”, you will find a way to manage those expectations. But companies who don’t take initiative and don’t explore new possibilities, will never be on the lead. Don’t be overwhelmed, even your old successful plan is going to die someday.
04. Be mindful with the time spent on Photoshop
Working on an environment that is not the final one is kinda useless. Think about it. When stripped off your photoshop skills, you’ll need to reach down to the essence of the story you’re telling.
05. Content is King, but…
A simple container as “content” is not worked content, so a simple pretty image is not gonna cut it. Let it be part of the navigation, make it interactive and discoverable. I know Unsplash makes you believe it is ok — and it is — but OK is not the same as World Class.
06. WTF (What tha Font!?)
Typography is a very very very important element, so make it either overtaker or multi-dimensional/multi-directional. Work and balance your compositions, top level Designers can be spotted easily, mostly because of that.
07. Cut the bullshit
Yup.
08. Be human
This is a tricky one. But since our attention span is so low, discoverability becomes one of many ingredients for user engagement. You don’t need to go minimal, but let some stuff out of sight, be human, use other senses and techniques.
09. Give it life
Make it physical, add depth, bring texture in, we live in a 3D world.
10. Can you add a bit of AI (not illustrator) to your Interface?
Just asking…
Take your time and see what makes sense to you. Think about it, get your shit together and ship some projects out the door.
