Seth Godin never has a scarcity of interesting thoughts to say about marketing, interacting with customers and the use of the web. Looking back at his articles posted at his blog regarding web design, he is challenging our thought processes on how most us approach design and custom web design work. Some designers agree; others call his work heretical. You decide.
Let’s start with “How to live happily with a great designer”
Seth asks: Why do some organizations look great... and get great results from their design efforts and ads... while others languish in mediocrity? I think it has little to do with who they hire and a lot to do with how they work with their agencies and designers.
Here are the things your design team wishes you would know:
If you want average (mediocre) work, ask for it. Be really clear up front that you want something beyond reproach, that's in the middle of the road, that will cause no controversy and will echo your competition. It'll save everyone a lot of time.
Twelve more things to consider...
It’s easy to strive for being mediocre. Being surrounded by great clients and team members to constantly push for excellence is so uncommon at times that it’s worth embracing when the opportunity to do great work presents itself.
How to create a good enough website
Seth adds: For most people, that's all you need. A website that's good enough. Not that breaks new ground, establishes a new identity, discovers new ways for people to interact online. Just a good enough website that didn't kill you to launch.
To be clear, the following advice assumes that:
- You're not trying to reinvent the idea of a web page--that the page is a means to an end
- You work with other people
So, here's what you do. First, realize that traditionally, the job of designer has been linked with the job of programmer. There were very good reasons for this. Designing a page that can't work is silly, and changing the design every time you change the way the page works can be time consuming and expensive.
Read the rest at Seth Godin's Blog - How to create a good enough website
And if you're curious, Seth offers up some principles you can't avoid: How to create a great website.
Point number one is a zinger!
What is your definition of a great website? Form? Function? Design? Simple or complex… or is it a combination of all of the above?