Architect vs.
Decorator
ByVarious WebPro Readers
Contributing Writer
Article Date: 01.30.03
Garrett...re: your article "developer vs. designer."
While I agree with you 90% I submit that with the competition out there, both
the developers and designers should have working and artistic ability to do both.
After all...that was part of Wright's great success. His ability to follow through...as
you pointed out. As a designer myself, I have trained myself with enough ability
to at least be available for whole package when the opportunities comes.
Thanks for the great newsletter and related subjects.
Patricia
Web design vs. Website Development
I take your point but I think it depends on the Web designer. Most Web
designers I know and being one myself would take the concept from the
customers brief or what they have already like a logo. The website would
then stem down from this to keep a strong corporate feel all the way
through.
It seems to me as if the Web designers you have come across jump in feet
first and do what they like just making it look eye pleasing rather than
to the image of the company or brief.
Still that's what separates the elite from the cowboys!
Best Regards
Chris Wigmore
With regards to an interior decorator designing your house:
To a point I agree, but I think that the metaphor is slightly out of place.
An interior decorator does not design anything they style it. There is a
fundamental distinction between the two. The email you sent gave the
impression that a site should be developed then styled. A site should never
ever be styled under any circumstances. Design is the communication and
enhancement of concepts, themes, navigation and is inextricably linked to
architecture. Style is making things look pretty.
By way of a more appropriate (in my opinion) metaphor:
Would you let a designer construct the architecture for a dictionary? - Yes.
Because the typography involved and the psychological influence on the
reader that typography holds means that the design of the structure, visual
hierarchy and the manner in which the dictionary is used is controlled by
the designer. As far as style goes, that should be left for the front cover.
cheers,
Poab
Website design vs. development was a good article. I designed
our businesses website with the goals of both in mind. I'm no guru, just mid level
developer who implemented both concepts into the final result. We get compliments
all the time for navigational ease & for a nice looking site. I skipped a lot
of banners & distractions & went for a down to earth website that is both functional
& easy to navigate. Check it out sometime. www.centraldistribution.com
Keep the good articles coming.
Josh T
Sales / Web Development
Central Distribution, Inc. Network
1-800-995-9118
Your "Design vs. Development" is a good analogy and a good
article but you should have done your homework before you offended a zillion "Interior
Designers," my wife being one of them. Interior Design is a college curriculum
just like Architecture and requires a four year degree and a rigorous state board
exam. Interior Decorating on the other hand is a certificate one can gain through
a correspondence course and has no accredited college curriculum. It doesn't diminish
the value of your article but you were using the terms design and decorate interchangeably.
Regards,
Michael Cobb
Raw Records
Hi Garrett,
I think developer and designer are much the same thing and that you are confusing
designer with graphic artist that knows HTML code, but not its implications other
than appearance. Of coarse, an intriguing and/or beautiful site may not function.
On the other hand, a website that functions beautifully may not be beautiful.
Amazon.com is a good example. Hardly breath
taking, but it is extremely effective.
So, I would go with the nuts and bolts first and then work on the looks.
Pretty much as you stated in your article, however, designer and developer
are interchangeable terms. So you're really asking about form and function.
Both are important, however function is far more of a priority than form for
an e-commerce site. Therefore, striking a balance is crucial. As with a
building, you still need the structure before you can paint the walls.
If someone was to build the most beautiful building in the world for
business, it would be worthless, if no one could find their way into it or
find their way around once inside. I think it's easier for the
designer/developer to also be an artist, than it is for the artist to be a
practical webmaster.
Dan Prinzing
http://www.DrTandem.com
DrTandem Web Page Design
Garrett,
You have over-simplified the designer vs. developer "issue". The biggest
issue I raise with your comments is - what is the definition of a "designer"
and a "developer".
To use your example, any good design & development team should work like
architects and engineers. Not architects and interior decorators. A good web
team should have the "architect" (designer) and the "engineer" (developer),
which work closely together to put together that looks good and is
functionally sound. The architect (designer) puts his ideas down visually in
plans and renderings, the engineer puts the ideas to work, making sure that
the programming and backend capabilities match the design concepts. A good
designer should understand not only good color and theme, but information
architecture, usability, and programming and backend development
capabilities. The same applies to the developer. The end result should be a
great site, designed and engineered for optimal performance.
That's my two-cents.
Shane Martindale
Hi Garrett,
I completely understood what you were saying about hiring an interior
designer to design your house. I agree that a Web site's design starts with
a clear concise development, but once the development part is finished a Web
site designer is definitely the person to finish the "interior decorating".
Yes, I am a Web site designer, so I am biased, but in the same respect you
would not want me developing your Web site. Many times I outsource the
development/programming to other professionals because I know this is not my
forte. Of course though, Frank Lloyd Wright is the ultimate exception to
this rule.
Thanks,
Tawnya Hockman
After reading your article about web development vs. web
design and your analogy using Frank Lloyd Wright, I think you may have missed
the point of his approach. The reason Wright would design the fixtures and interior
details was to create the finished look he wanted from the start. He worked from
the finished product backwards asking himself, and staff of assistants, how can
we accomplish this final goal where everything will be in place and the light
will reflect off that particular fixture onto the painting on the wall.
Web development and design should go hand in hand, neither being more
important than the other. Working together, the designer will show the
developer what is needed for good organization, marketing and aesthetics,
and the developer will show the designer options on how that can be
accomplished efficiently. Without this partnership a site will either lack
functionality, organization or appeal, all of which will be a deterrent for
users to return.
This team effort is essential in creating a great web site and more
companies are realizing that it costs more to redesign sites that aren't
appealing or have to adjust the backend because your navigation system isn't
getting the user to the page they wanted fast enough.
Of course I am a web designer so I may be biased.
Sue Hoffman
Design creates an IMAGE of Quality and Brand Identification
that Increases Distinction
and is ESSENTIAL in Motivating today's Clientele.
http://www.SueHoffmanDesigns.com
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