Week 5: What is Good Design?

Reading: Blueprints for the Web: Organization for the Masses by Christina Wodtke
http://www.informit.com/articles/printerfriendly.asp?p=30289&rl=1

Hierarchy And Contrast: The Basis of Good Design by Margo Halverson
http://www.presentation-pointers.com/printarticle.asp?articleid=399

I thought good design was about creativity, intuitive action and something that grabs your attention. But after this week’s readings, I realize I am wrong. It seems design, at least user-friendly design, is about predictability. It’s about organizing, hierarchy and structure. It is NOT breaking from the norm or conventional way of thinking. I wonder how we can build creativity into something so structured. Or maybe that’s why we precisely need creativity: to make all the structures blend?

Also, another thought that is disturbing. My readings indicate that a design is effective if it meets user expectations. In other words it is about estimating/guessing your users/target audience’s needs or habits. But then, do people really think alike? I find this question the hardest to answer: How can one website/design serve or satisfy the needs of different people. By different I mean, people who are different in terms of age, education, culture, exposure, maturity? Are we then designing for the lowest common denominator?

Week 4: Cluetrain/HCI

Cluetrain Manifesto

Like a lot of manifestos, this one is passionate and hammers its philosophy over and over again, till you feel flattened and overwhelmed. Though, I liked the over-the-top funny expressions and sarcasm and also identified at some levels with the anti-corporate overtones of the writing, I could not appreciate the length and verbosity. “Life is too short, we die,” Chapter 1 says. Wish the author had kept true to this idea and cut out some of his “magic-mushroom enthusiasm.”
I think the Cluetrain is on the right track as far as the basic idea the writers are trying to make:

“A powerful global conversation has begun. Through the Internet, people are discovering and inventing new ways to share relevant knowledge with blinding speed. As a direct result, markets are getting smarter—and getting smarter faster than most companies.”

The Web has helped people from all the over world connect at some levels. This is certainly true in case of mass media. The rise of UseNet, chats, and blogs have all helped people converse outside the Big Media box.
However, I must say these connections are very fragile and not as widespread as the authors would like us to believe.

Here is why I disagree:
There are many who are still outside the conversation even after many decades of the hyperlink.
Also, instead of being a connected whole, the market is getting increasingly demassified and people are mostly looking for their custom experience.
Another aspect overlooked by the writers is that not all conversation is productive. There is still a lot of spamming and flaming and snooping. I’m not too sure if left to ourselves, people/users will be able continue a civil and productive conversation for too long.
I think the writers were disillusioned by the corporate culture (and sometime rightly so). Therefore their agenda is to discredit corporate management as bumbling idiots that just get in the way of innovation and real human conversations.


Gestalt theory and HCI (human-computer interface)

The Gestalt approach emphasizes that we perceive objects as well-organized patterns rather than separate component parts. Even if the perception is based on an optical illusion, the brain sees it as a “whole,” structured, cohesive picture.
The challenge for designers of (products or Web designs) is to translate these natural, built-in perceptions (affordances) we have into the product so that we can interact with that product with natural ease.
The problem with screen-based, graphical web designs is that we don’t always have a natural built-in perception about it since it is so new and our senses have not yet developed a relationship with it. So designers have to rely on ‘perceived affordances’ or what the user perceives as possible. Therefore, a lot of good design relies on observing how people actually use the product/interface.
In some cases, cultural conventions come into play. That makes me wonder, whether designs developed in certain parts of the world may not resonate with other world citizens. Then how do we standardize? Who gets to standardize? Countries with the most bandwidth and technology resources?

Week 3: User Centered Design/Standards

Week 3: User-Centered Design/Standards
Boy! Those were a lot of acronyms in the “Internet Standards, Protocols, and Languages” write-up. I didn’t know there were some many out there. I’m impressed that despite all that jargon we have been able to keep the Web universal. I’m all in favor of standardization, but I’m not too sure if that is practical. A recent Wall Street journal article talked about how some countries are starting their own alternatives to the Internet.
Here are a few graphs from the article (published Jan 19) since WSJ is subscription based and you may not get to read the full article.

German computer engineers are building an alternative to the Internet to make a political statement. A Dutch company has built one to make money. China has created three suffixes in Chinese characters substituting for .com and the like, resulting in Web sites and email addresses inaccessible to users outside of China...

The Internet...uses a so-called domain-name system, also called the "root," that consists of 264 suffixes. These include .com, .net, .org and country codes such as .jp for Japan.
Having a single root is central to the universality of the Internet and critical to its power and appeal...

...some are uneasy with the notion that a U.S.-based body (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers or Icann) overseen by the U.S. government has sole power over what domain names are used and who controls each name. Other countries such as China also say Icann is too slow in forming domain names in non-Roman languages, hindering the development of an Internet culture in those countries...


As for Nathan Shedroff’s article on Unified Design Theory, I thoroughly enjoyed it and felt that understanding your audience’s needs and offering them a holistic experience is a the key to good design theory.

Refined goal, some websites and ideas

To refine my goal:
Work with the process of content creation with a strong focus on design. Would like to learn Dreamweaver and Flash (if not too technically hard).

Refining ideas:
I think we probably will need two projects. In my opinion, the immigration website can have a great purpose if we steer clear of bureaucracy and instead focus on personal stories, experiences and provide value-add in terms of real people (some of us in class, others I know personally) offering tips on immigration issues/job searches, ideas. That way we can avoid duplication with government/legal websites.

Also, NGO site sounds promising, but I agree with Drew. We need to find an organization that will trust us with its image/content. Otherwise, very effective in driving the class toward a goal within set parameters.

Jyotsna’s generation idea and Brian’s ‘I remember’ idea are the two safest bets and will give us enough control over content and structure. Also both are good ideas in their own rights. Though, not too sure about the larger social value.


Some websites:

I am drawn to interactive websites which are a little off-beat. I think the home page, as we all know, is critical in terms of presentation, content and ease of navigation. But then so are the related link pages. Here are some examples.

http://www.jkrowling.com/
The UK site has a lot of fun stuff. I love the way there is a sense of organized chaos. There are a bunch of interactive icons which lead to more interactive sites. Goes with the theme/tone of her books. Layers within layers.


http://www.alhirschfeld.com/

Almost all of Al Hirschfeld’s original drawings, paintings, etchings and lithographs are on exhibit at this virtual gallery. Website has a sense of drama and is consistent with the artist’s style of drawing. Also, a pretty comprehensive collection.

http://www.spl.org/
Also, Seattle public library link is quite good. Nothing fancy, but serves a useful purpose. Has links in multiple languages. Haven’t seen that before in area library links. Also, has all the relevant details. I like it a lot.

Good night all. My first experience with online class was not bad at all! Some direct input from Kathy would have been even better. It would be nice if Delta allowed inflight Web service. :) Or do they already?

Week 2: Online class

My background and goals:

My background has been in print journalism and I am skilled at designing news pages (using QuarkXpress), editing stories (Word), writing headlines (creative skills) and working with other editors (collaborative skills) in deciding what is important enough to be put on the front page of the daily newspaper.
Of course, storytelling and how to design stories relevant to our readers was a major part of my job. In all of these endeavors, the managing editor played a critical role. He steered the meetings and set the agenda and once in a while (when there was a BIG story) suggested how we play the story in terms of design and headline.

I have joined this course to equip myself technically, so that I can perform similar and related functions on the Web. I want to develop my skills in these two areas:
1. Information architect: I want to learn some hard technical skills so that I can incorporate audio/video with web design. I’d like to learn Flash and basics of DreamWeaver.

2. Writer/author: I have written stories for newspapers. I want to know how to tailor my writing for Websites in terms of style, tone.

I am fairly confident of my skills in editor/ copyeditor roles, but need to brush up on the technical skills required of a copy editor (entering metadata), editor (how to edit Web content, graphics).

Project idea:
I liked Drew and Co.'s immigration website idea. I think our class and this area (Seattle) may offer many good resources. It may have good social value and can be used as a resource by many immigrant families if designed thoughtfully.

Winter 2006: Week 2: Thoughts on readings

Thoughts on readings: ‘Notes on Design Practice: Stories and Prototypes as Catalysts for Communication and ‘The Publishing Team’

After reading the Design Practice chapter, I was surprised at the complexity of the design process itself. The amount of detailed planning and interaction with designers from different disciplines boggled my mind. Also, the fact that a tech-based product has so much of social and user interface is refreshing and reassuring.
What I’d like to understand further in class, is how much of this is driven by business needs and how the role of the publisher, managing editor, information architect etc (as discussed in ‘The Publishing Team’ chapter) fits into the design process. How do these different roles fit into the design life cycle?