Why Design?

Take a look around you, wherever you are, your home, your business, your furniture, the desktop of your computer, down to such miniscule details as the razor you choose, the toothbrush you buy, the shampoo bottle. Each object, each environment is what you chose based on its design and functionality.

Many businesses bypass the aspect of design, believing that they don’t want or need anything fancy, simply having functionality or providing information is the most important part of their web site. The pure truth of the matter is, that while the information and functionality of a web site is indeed very critical, by ignoring the design aspects, they greatly reduce the usability and appeal of the others. Navigation, efficiency, ease of use, esthetics – these all come into play and are important aspects of design.

Often the word “design” is greatly misunderstood. The word does not always imply “pretty” or “fancy”. Design is critical to the way a site is organized, the flow of information, the ease with which a visitor can find the useful information and functions that you wish to provide to them.

de·sign

(process) The approach that engineering (and some other) disciplines use to specify how to create or do something. A successful design must satisfy a (perhaps informal) functional specification (do what it was designed to do); conforms to the limitations of the target medium (it is possible to implement); meets implicit or explicit requirements on performance and resource usage (it is efficient enough).

To conceive or fashion in the mind; invent: design a good excuse for not attending the conference.
To formulate a plan for; devise: designed a marketing strategy for the new product.
To plan out in systematic, usually graphic form: design a building; design a computer program.
To create or contrive for a particular purpose or effect: a game designed to appeal to all ages.
To have as a goal or purpose; intend.
To create or execute in an artistic or highly skilled manner.

I do not know how many web sites, applications and software I have seen, where the functionality and features are absolutely incredible – on paper. Then, when I see the site or application, I am blown away by the lack of design. From the non-existent usability and navigation, to the dullness of the presentation and the excess number of clicks it takes to get anywhere. What is missing, is design.

Humans, as a whole, have a desire for beauty. We decorate our houses, workplaces, file folders, computers and ourselves. Why do some feel that just because they want to provide information on a web site, or create a business application, that beauty needs not be a consideration? It is a consideration for print materials. Why not online?

Take a look at your web site or application, if you already have one, then look at it again objectively. Pull in someone who has never seen it, or has never used the application. Ask them to be brutally honest with you, to give you their objective opinion. Does the graphical design match your company’s image? Can you find anything you are looking for easily? Is the use of the application intuitive?

If any of these answers disappoints you, or you don’t know where to start to begin with, please, give me a call. My passion is good design. I want to help you establish a web presence you can be proud of and that will wow your customers. For information on how to begin, the benefits of having a web site, and what goes into good design, feel free to browse through my other articles.

Merlee Bos
Merlee Designs™
Your website IS your first impression™ ...
http://www.merleedesigns.com

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