A website is like a garden

Matt Nicholson
Aug 9, 2017 · 1 min read

It seems a lot of people embark upon a digital project thinking of it in terms of a book or a building. That once it’s done, it done. It looks a certain way, and that’s fixed, and it will stay that way. Launch it, forget about it.

In reality it’s more like a garden. There may be some initial plan and design, but once it’s done it’s then a living thing. It’s organic. It changes with the seasons, with the weather. Some things flourish, others struggle.

It needs upkeep & care. It’s has weeds, plants get overgrown and need stripping back.

Today’s rapidly evolving technology and ever changing browser landscape reflects the elements that impact the garden – new browser bugs are the weeds that need removing. Analysing user behaviours and adapting content to suit is akin to moving and tending to plants that are suffering, or planting new ones you feel will grow better in those conditions.

So bear it in mind when embarking on a new web project. It needs upkeep and maintenance, in varying amounts depending on how you approach it.

You get out what you put in, so the question is – how much gardening are you prepared to do?

Matt Nicholson

Written by

Archive — Creating minimal, visual & digital experiences with creatives in art, fashion and architecture — http://archive.studio

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