Design or Art?
GRAPHIC STYLES ON THE WEB

• CONVENTIONAL/EARLY WEBSTYLE
  WWW.W3C.COM
  SITE FOCUS: DESIGN / ART / INFO / INTERACTION / IDENTITY
  
  

• DIGITAL MODERNISM
  WWW.YAHOO.COM
  SITE FOCUS: DESIGN / ART/ INFO / INTERACTION / IDENTITY

• GRUNGE
  WWW.JUXTINTERACTIVE.COM
  SITE FOCUS: DESIGN / ART / INFO / INTERACTION / IDENTITY
  
  
• TYPOGRAPHIC MINIMALISM
  WWW.THEDESIGNERSREPUBLIC.COM
  SITE FOCUS: DESIGN / ART / INFO / INTERACTION / IDENTITY
  
  
• PIXELART
  WWW.EBOY.COM
  SITE FOCUS: DESIGN / ART/ INFO / INTERACTION / IDENTITY

• ISOMETRIC AND REALTIME 3D
  WWW.DUBIT.CO.UK
  SITE FOCUS: DESIGN / ART / INFO / INTERACTION / IDENTITY
  
  
• ILLUSTRATIVE
  WWW.JOECARTOON.COM
  SITE FOCUS: DESIGN / ART / INFO / INTERACTION / IDENTITY
  
  
• ECLECTIC POSTMODERNISM
  WWW.BEARSKINRUG.CO.UK
  SITE FOCUS: DESIGN / ART / INFO / INTERACTION / IDENTITY

Usability
THE RISE OF THE GURU

• Most design styles do not take the user into account.
  
• Many visual designs do not communicate well
  
• The solution according the usability guru is
  
• convention: Design to what people are used to.
  
• There has to be unity or convention in hypermedia and navigational
  
• system design according to Nielsen.

Usability vs. Design
WORLDS APART?

• Designers mainly focus on style and innovation
  
• Usability experts do valuable user research but have no knowledge of design.
  
• There seems to be a gap between the ideologies of designers and usability experts.
  
• How to bridge this gap?

Design Theory
THE VALUE OF A THEORETICAL APPROACH

Doing a bit of research on theory has the following advantages:

• Face usability experts with tested typography and design knowledge
  
• Better argumentation of your designs when dealing with clients
  
• A more reflective work process, meaning you'll learn faster
  
• Theory and research prevents you from reinventing the wheel
  
• Create more conceptual, communicative designs
  
• Which design theory is most relevant for multimedia designers?

Typography
NOT ONLY "THE ART OF PRINTING"

• Why Type?
  

  "The function of type most be considered always: the fact remains that typography still serves as the best way to transmit complex intellectual and emotional messages in a very concise and precise way."
  
  (Will-Harris.com, 2001)

• Definition
  

  "Design and structure of visual communication using written language"

• Functions
  
  
  • Art/Style Type
    "Many young Web designers) mistake Style for Design, when the two things are not the same at all. Design communicates on every level. It tells you where you are, cues you to what you can do, and facilitates the doing. Style is an underground language, from one peer to another, having nothing to do with the site's visitors or purpose."
    
    (Jeffrey Zeldman - Alistapart.com, 2001)
    
    
  • Communication Type
    
    
    • Impression typography
      
      
      
    • Information typography
      
      
      
    • Navigation typography
      
      
      
• Composition
  
  
  • Typographic grid
    
    
    
  • Gestalt principles of connection

    1) Objects displayed bigger seem more important than smaller objects
    2) Objects with the same colour, shape and size relate to each other
    3) When encircled by a line, several object are perceived as related
    4) Aligned objects relate to each other

• Animation

Animation in combination with interactivity and the Gestalt principles of connection can enhance the experience and usabilitity of a site.

Examples:

http://www.arabictypography.com
http://www.relevare.com
http://www.directiondesign.nl

Animation is often used for:

1) Narrativity (intros/cutscenes)
2) Transitions (navigation)
3) Explanations
4) Illustrate events over time
5) Attract the attention
6) Visualize 3D more efficiently

Conclusion

• Design is mostly a craft, not an art: theory differentiates the two.
  
• Design theory bridges the gap between usability and design.
  
• Theoretical design does not limit the creative horizon, it expands it.
  
• It is possible to learn everything by experience but it just takes twice as long.
  
• Interaction design / typography theory becomes increasingly important. Clients and webdesign agencies more and more demand skills that go beyond style.

Questions?

For more information:

Resources:
http://www.useit.com
http://www.alistapart.com
http://www.fixingyourwebsite.com

More Links:
http://www.directiondesign.nl/subtype/links.html