Friday, 7 March 2008, 5:00PM
[I switched from another session, Battledecks II, at this point and joined the following in progress…]
Abstract:
We create the web. Yet twelve years and two bubbles into its history, we get no respect as a profession. And nobody understands what we do, unless we’re selling to Google or Yahoo. How can architects, designers, writers and coders work with clients, journalists and the public to foster understanding and get their best work produced?Jeffrey Zeldman (Moderator) - Founder, Happy Cog
Douglas Bowman - Visual Design Lead, Google (and Stopdesign)
Liz Danzico - Information Architect, Happy Cog
Erin Kissane - Editorial Dir, Happy Cog
Jason Santa Maria - Creative Dir, Happy Cog
Focus: In the role you have with the website, how do you talk to others and what tools are in place to best communicate?
In the role of designer awards loosely define credentials since there is no series of tests or licensing.
Santa Maria: Flash is challenging what web design is often trying to do by breaking the rules of print - no fixed constraints that are based upon traditional rules (e.g., golden thirds, fixed width).
Q: Have you had the job being asked to create design without content to fill in?
Kissane: (paraphrased by me): Many clients are now realizing the efficacy of content strategies, but it is still a struggle to get everyone in the client’s workflow to understand the central role of content to the design.
Zeldman: Repeating the principles of where we were/are/will be is important and overrides the threat of seemingly talking down to the client. Web is often not their primary concern.
Klissane: Clients who are content-savvy allow a designer to attempt more detailed projects (e.g, they have there own editorial workflow or board).
Zeldman: Clients with marketing background are often great, but they may be in love with their own strategies and not understand the web.
IA understanding with the client achieves its tipping point…
Reputation for design:
A good designer needs to know about the line where the client suddenly takes a highly personal stake in the design. For example, the info design of menu labels may be open to negotiation, but the photo on the main page that represents them is on the other side of the line.
A better idea for the “three designs - choose one” may be presenting designs that address message in the bigger picture and not the placement of menus and color.
White papers demonstrating research on design and usability may grease the wheels with higher-ups.