http://nate.koechley.com/blog/2004/07/27/75-of-web-design-is-normative-the-rest-is-merely-color-and-pictures/ Web professional with deep frontend engineering expertise skilled in user experience design and product strategy. Successful team leader, manager, and executive. Sought-after speaker, writer, and trainer. Mon, 24 May 2010 15:52:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://nate.koechley.com/blog/2004/07/27/75-of-web-design-is-normative-the-rest-is-merely-color-and-pictures/comment-page-1/#comment-40 vanderwal Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://nate.koechley.com/blog/?p=141#comment-40 I seems like there are some best practices bubbling up. I seems like there are some best practices bubbling up.

]]> http://nate.koechley.com/blog/2004/07/27/75-of-web-design-is-normative-the-rest-is-merely-color-and-pictures/comment-page-1/#comment-41 Ravi Singh Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://nate.koechley.com/blog/?p=141#comment-41 Seems simple -- an outgrowth of usability. It's easier for users to use things they are familiar with. As designers we are making it easier for users to get their task done, which on the web, is normally the task of looking for and consuming content. Therefore, left navigation, sidebars, Verdana text at a readable size, are all norms we *should* employ. I don't think it has much to do with copying each other out of a lack of creativity or imagination. We've created some good, usable rules, and we design or brand within them. The implication that this is normative is misguided -- it's done by design (sorry for the wordplay). We are doing our jobs as designers by not reinventing the familiar, while adding personality in a way that is non-destructive to usability and efficiency. For artsy sites, we break all the rules, and that's fine, but they are not part of the 75% majority. Seems simple — an outgrowth of usability. It’s easier for users to use things they are familiar with. As designers we are making it easier for users to get their task done, which on the web, is normally the task of looking for and consuming content. Therefore, left navigation, sidebars, Verdana text at a readable size, are all norms we *should* employ. I don’t think it has much to do with copying each other out of a lack of creativity or imagination. We’ve created some good, usable rules, and we design or brand within them. The implication that this is normative is misguided — it’s done by design (sorry for the wordplay). We are doing our jobs as designers by not reinventing the familiar, while adding personality in a way that is non-destructive to usability and efficiency. For artsy sites, we break all the rules, and that’s fine, but they are not part of the 75% majority.

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