Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
We love to talk, hate to read... Chapter 5.
I know I am one of "those" people who writes like I think. My brain is cluttered and I am sure I could really get my point across if I actually edited what I am thinking/saying. As I get older, I notice I get more interest in engaging in conversations if I just shut up first and talk later.
When it comes to anything in the way of writing, I was taught a great lesson. In the mid-late 90's, I was in charge of production, I had to do a lot of copy writing, HATED IT. I would always have a huge problem with it running over 1 minute or running over 30seconds because the scripts too long for a natural read. When I was the news editor for a morning show, I had to work the timing of the story out with the commercial break times, running over is a huge NO NO. It wasn't until I had a General Manager tell me, "blah blah blah. Just tell me... you have one sentence with no comma, to tell me the story." He wasn't mean, he made it click. Any story could be told in one sentence. The same applies to the internet.
The general person looking at a poster will not sit there to dig visually for the information, you need to tell them what you want them to know with in one sentence. The internet is interactive, the person using the internet doesn't want to read the banter in order to complete a membership or fill out a questionnaire. The person really just wants a blunt answer to an easy question... How do I get there from here. As a designer, I have to figure out how to tune out the static and leave the person using the net with the blunt, honest answer with in very few words.
Instructions are a reminder that the internet is in control of the user. The user wants to be in control after the monthly wireless bill and then the money spent on the nice computer. An internet user will want to be invited on the underlying psychology, of the internet use. So the rule for most sites should be, less clutter with words and directions and invite them to share the information needed to follow through. It has to be easy, inviting and short of static or directions.
What is really funny... It took 3 paragraphs to get the point across.
When it comes to anything in the way of writing, I was taught a great lesson. In the mid-late 90's, I was in charge of production, I had to do a lot of copy writing, HATED IT. I would always have a huge problem with it running over 1 minute or running over 30seconds because the scripts too long for a natural read. When I was the news editor for a morning show, I had to work the timing of the story out with the commercial break times, running over is a huge NO NO. It wasn't until I had a General Manager tell me, "blah blah blah. Just tell me... you have one sentence with no comma, to tell me the story." He wasn't mean, he made it click. Any story could be told in one sentence. The same applies to the internet.
The general person looking at a poster will not sit there to dig visually for the information, you need to tell them what you want them to know with in one sentence. The internet is interactive, the person using the internet doesn't want to read the banter in order to complete a membership or fill out a questionnaire. The person really just wants a blunt answer to an easy question... How do I get there from here. As a designer, I have to figure out how to tune out the static and leave the person using the net with the blunt, honest answer with in very few words.
Instructions are a reminder that the internet is in control of the user. The user wants to be in control after the monthly wireless bill and then the money spent on the nice computer. An internet user will want to be invited on the underlying psychology, of the internet use. So the rule for most sites should be, less clutter with words and directions and invite them to share the information needed to follow through. It has to be easy, inviting and short of static or directions.
What is really funny... It took 3 paragraphs to get the point across.
Chapter 4... Wow that was quick.
To click mindlessly requires thought. People using the internet have enough to think about, as a web designer you shouldn't torture the person using the internet by evoking too much thought. So, a rule I have learned in e-portfolio is "Make your product available within three clicks." The only exception to this rule is a heavily stocked e-commerce web sight. Even then, it should only take... Maybe twice as many clicks.
That rule isn't in the book however in my mind, I feel it's a way to show decorum in helping the customer using the internet. They keep cool while they are perhaps frantically searching out their needs and desires and the client I am designing for is reaping the benefits from my web design.
That rule isn't in the book however in my mind, I feel it's a way to show decorum in helping the customer using the internet. They keep cool while they are perhaps frantically searching out their needs and desires and the client I am designing for is reaping the benefits from my web design.
Chapter 3 of Krug’s book, “Don’t Make Me Think”
Billboards
What comes first and what is secondary. From what I understand, you need 2.5 seconds to get the message across to your audience when they are driving and you are displaying the message on a billboard. No problem? Uh, not so fast, not so easy. A company has a list of services, the company has a history of what has been done in order to establish itself. How do you explain with a phrase, a tag line, how do you explain the integrity of a company with in 2.5 seconds? Krug explains it well with hierarchy… Visual hierarchy. Buy me, on sale, bring a coupon.
Random thoughts
I am sure that an advertising firm or the company itself would invent the tag line. But as a designer, the job is to decide the visual hierarchy and which “thing” would be the visual hierarchy… The company? The tag line? Do you use the same type from the logo, for the tag line? Do you use Helvetica!!!! The choices are endless. How would I space it all out properly? Should I make it centered? Oh my God, no… 3rds rule. Thinking about it... I am freaking out. (not really).
Web based
Organizing is the key. As I read the book, I understood the fact that the viewer needs you to keep it organizing as a designer. So when the user is going through the systematic scan for an object they desire as an infant to bananas, the designer needs to map it out… Books, subject & authors. Simplified in it’s display, make sure you use the visual hierarchy and show what secondary information is there for that customer….BOOKS, art, modern.
I realize the conventions of the newspaper is probably the best way to explain the theory of visual hierarchy. It was a great way to explain the use color, placement, pictures and page breaks.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
SCRATCH WHAT I JUST SAID...
http://www.efooddepot.com/
http://www.nopudge.com/
http://www.yourgrocer.com/main_new.asp?sid=ok
Try this...
http://www.nopudge.com/
http://www.yourgrocer.com/main_new.asp?sid=ok
Try this...
3 sites that need some help.
Des Moines Cinema
desmoinescinema.com
Soggy Doggy
soggydoggy.com
Annie*s Attic
asattic.com
desmoinescinema.com
Soggy Doggy
soggydoggy.com
Annie*s Attic
asattic.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
