No risk, no reward
Ever heard this old saying? Sure you have.
I always take it a step further though, no risk, no nothing.
All great designers take risks, possibly you included. They try to push themselves to their limits and beyond. They test new ideas and quite often they win. Awards and praise and recognition. Sometimes they loose too but hey, you can’t win all the time.
But when was the last time that you took a risk in your web project?
No, I don’t mean that new javascript gallery you used or a sliding menu. I mean taking all the knowledge of design, technology, web and usability you have and coming up with a design that does not follow the standard. Navigation across and content in the middle and maybe some extra navigation down the side. When was the last time you went beyond that?
And what really stops you from doing so? Why you are eager to go beyond your limitations in print but you dread a thought of doing the same in web.
One word: confidence.
I recently interviewed some of our clients. Many of them replied that when it comes to graphic design they know what they’re doing. With the web though they prefer to stay on the safe side. Not that they are happy with that but also not many of them had any idea what to do about that.
Are you the same?
If so, here is a list of few things to get you started.
1. Stop thinking that graphic and web design are the same.
2. Make usability your priority, let the design come second.
3. Every time you are about to start a project make a list of all limitations of your material. Make this list for every project. Analyze it. You will notice that many of limitations will force new solution on you. Of course given that you will decide to find a solution to a limitation.
4. And possibly the most important one, analyze the work of designers who constantly take risks. You do that with your graphic design skills, why not do the same with the web?
Of course gaining confidence in web will take time but once you do, you will notice a new world of possibilities awaiting you. Just like it is now with your graphic design work.
When you get there though, don’t forget that usability always has to come first.
Your thoughts remind me of a comment made by Beethoven: “Art demands of us that we shall not stand still.” So much changes so quickly these days, it can seem daunting to keep up with technology and also stay good at your craft. Yet if we push ourselves to the next level as you recommend, we only get better, so all the changes can keep us on our toes, right?