Stepping Back and Understanding
I frequently find myself frustrated that visual designers do not adhere more strictly to the wires I create. It’s difficult for me to see a layout I’ve put my heart, soul and countless hours into seemingly be ignored. However, a project I’m currently engaged in is helping me gain empathy for designers and understand that they may not be ignoring my wires. Rather, I’m learning, more than ever, that good design is an almost ever-moving, highly iterative process
I’m currently working on a project to redesign my personal website – matthewjdoty.com. In doing this, I have to fill roles that have normally been filled by others in my professional life, namely, visual designer.
As I step back and watch my process, it seems to have started as many of my projects do, with user analysis, a sitemap, flows and wires. However as I have begun the process of creating comps and trying to strictly execute based on my wires, my designs have changed significantly.
Have ignored my wires? No. So what is going on?
Inspiration does not stop as soon as the wires are complete. Quite the opposite… Translating wires into comps can produce a superior layout and ultimately a superior user experience. The designs I’ve “comped out”, although inspired by my wires, are better than my wires.
I’ve often preached the balance of business objectives, user needs, and technical constraints. From now on, I’m going to be adding creative innovation to that balance.
posted by matthewjdoty @ 5/21/2007 10:12:00 AM
1 Comments:
I would agree that I'm not a big fan of developers changing the wireframes that I have created too. From a project level, I think the team needs to understand that all changes should be discussed before an executive decision is made. I have had many instances where developers have changed a look or feel to something because they believe it is better....sometimes it is, but to me it is the whole concept of making project changes without including the necessary people and more importantly, the client who has signed off on the original specifications most of the time.
Post a Comment
<< Home