Subject: Re: Bad design vs text thread From: outings@netcom.com (Steve Outing) Date: Mon, 8 May 1995 23:42:07 -0700

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On 5/8/95, Bernard J Hughes wrote:
> Isn't a lot a design aimed at image rather than understanding? 

Yes, it's called "bad design." Good design has everything to do with helping 
the reader(/viewer) understand the message, facilitating communication. It 
has little to do with "pretty pictures."

>This week,
>I have been working on some Web pages to explain a new Web service I am
>launching. I am sticking with a text description at the moment, as I don't
>think pretty GIFs would add to the understanding.
>
You hit a nerve, Bernard. [donning my graphic designer hat...] I keep seeing 
this sentiment pop up in this thread. It's as though there's a perception by 
many "word people" that designers are alien beings who only have the capacity 
to draw pretty but don't actually comprehend the words. That describes some 
(incompetent) graphic designers, but not the really good ones. I know I sound 
defensive here, but in reading some comments on this topic I'm not seeing much 
evidence of editors and designers actually working together, playing off each 
others' strengths to create the best possible Web presentations. This lack of 
cooperation (and respect?) between editor and artist is in evidence in many 
traditional print newsrooms; I hope it won't carry over to the online medium.

>... But I do see plain text pages as "less professional" than ones with
>some decorative elements, so I will hire some designers to improve the look
>before I go commercial.
>
Get them involved -- truly involved -- in the process. Otherwise you're not 
hiring a "designer," you're just hiring an artist to draw pretty.

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Steve Outing                                  Planetary News
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