Lou Fuiano
WDS Fall 2006
Duff

The Right Way, and the Long Way

As I bump around with the process of design and the web page I have two thoughts. The first, of course, is that it doesn't come easily. This drives me a little batty because, for years I have used type, color, image and composition with confidence. The difference is the material I commonly work with.

While print does guide you and work extensively with hierarchy and order, print, as we all know, is static. When I work with poster design, book covers or logo design, the focus is on the visual communication of the idea. Get that done and get it done on time, and everyone is happy.

The rub here seems to be that the visual stimulus is only one part. First of all, the content available is unlike anything that was out there before the web. Yes, it has to be displayed properly. The science of marketing has always worked with the creative presentation of content. However, getting someone to interact beyond just reading seems unique to this form. Interactivity has to be inspired and then it has to work effectively. Only then can you get someone to read, click, watch, listen, explore, play, trust, reply, etcŠ all on one screen! It's no wonder people like Steve Krug and Donald Norman are such prominent voices. Also, the word ARCHITECTURE is used to describe the discipline; The result of engineering and the visual arts coming together to make things take hold. However, architecture as we know it works with a certain degree of permanence. Web media and media in general are in constant flux, making the task of designing for it even more challenging.

The second thought I have is how loaded the possibilities are in this medium. This makes the process difficult and exciting. After doing design comps for so long, I have always felt that one of my strongest assets as a designer is the ability to work quickly when I had to. It ain't happening here. Every move I make significantly effects the next or the previous. Needless to say, I'm moving slowly. I say this only because I hear the distress call of other students. Yes it's hard (if you want to do it well) and yes it's big (if you want to do it all). I guess that's what I like about it - even if it requires muddling through.

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