Blog Posts: Design/Development
Web Designer, Web Developer: What’s the Difference?»
The terms “web designer” and “web developer” can mean just about anything, depending on who’s using them and why. I’m going to make a case for definitions that indicate two…
Web Design is Not Just Graphic Design for the Web»
I started my design career as a print designer. At that time, there was no Internet, and no such thing as a website. In fact, computers were not something designers…
Free 4-column Grid Photoshop Templates for Better Web Design»
Update 11/10/2017: Please note the date of this post. The post does not refer to the relatively new, not widely implemented (yet) Grid Layout. Update 6/15/2015: In this age of…
Design Team Roles for Best Results»
DOH! We recently had a glitch on a logo/web design project for which I take complete responsibility. Knowing the client was anxious to get the website completed, I tried to…
Redesigning the Stop Sign: Unfortunately, Not Unusual»
This short video is a wonderful parody about how the design process too often works; or doesn’t work. It demonstrates what happens when design is not valued or recognized as…
Outside-In Design for More Usable, User-focused Websites»
There are few things more difficult than setting aside your own knowledge and assumptions to look at things from someone else’s perspective. (If that were not the case, political "discussion"…
Reducing Development Time by Effective Planning in Multiple Team-Member Development»
When developing a website or web application on your own—or with another person you’re used to working with—planning can be pretty informal without endangering the project. When you find yourself…
Part 6, Why Bad Websites Happen to Good Companies: Too Much Stuff on the Home Page»
You’ve seen those homepages with 3 product lead-ins and 2 giveaways and NEW!!! special pricing and the latest news and a billboard about what the company stands for and the…
Part 4, Why Bad Websites Happen to Good Companies: Leaving the Website to the Webmaster or Web Designer»
Don’t get me wrong: web designers and programmers are critical to the process of creating a website. But they cannot manufacture a viable web presence without the ongoing interest and…
Part 3, Why Bad Websites Happen to Good Companies: Misunderstanding or Neglecting Information Architecture»
Information Architecture (IA) refers to the organization and presentation of information on your website. Sounds simple enough, but many website owners and designers give it very little (if any) thought.…