I am one of those designers that don’t like the whole mentality of SWISS design and how we are still stuck in the rut that we have to conform to those ideals. My opinion on design is that we can take that extra step to break the rules and define what design is now, but still hold true to the basics of design and typographic knowledge.
1. Avoid Fancy Type. (DECORATIVE)
I actually bed to differ on that. I’ve been an avid web user since AOL 3.0 and I find that those who use the same damn boring typefaces make things really unbearable and uninviting. Its like the same damn shit all the time.
I rather say Decorative type is okay for links, like navigation, or headers. Décor type SHOULD NEVER be used for blocks of text and that’s a rule that any designer should know period. Even the infamous Garamond for the interwebz is really hard to see especially when in 8pt size. Its not a good size at all. In order for it to be legible so that there is no straining, it should be at least 12. That is the perfect size for the screens on the internet and it is easy to design around it.
Since the article was posted in 2005, I have to say design and the development of the internet has become much better since the time I have used it as well as what it has become now. No matter what you do it is changing and probably will continue to change. I think people who are ballsy, like myself, can help bring some of the typographic faux pas into light as long as they can do it correctly. Then again the typefaces that render as vector text and selectable text for the internet are the main type faces itself. Most designers won’t go that route anymore, using custom typefaces that they make, find, or buy for their designs. The normal populace uses the typefaces available.
2. Do not use too many fonts (Are you referring to size or typeface mister…know your damn terminology will ya?).
Well no shit Sherlock. >:/ In my opinion it includes the specific typefaces and not just fonts in regards to the point sizes. Anymore than that it will break consistency and make the site weak. Its called having a SYSTEM in which you design. *rolls eyes* I swear some designers…
3. Set type big.
Well no shit again. Even though the resolution is changing for most monitors I find small dainty sites still in favor, 800 X 600. What can I say? I like it when they look like that. Perhaps maybe something longer and 1000 px wide would suffice anymore, but not too long. I always found scrolling down a page to be annoying in a sense. I do have to add though now, not many designers will use the straight up vector side of the graphics on a webpage anymore, unless its blocks of text. And with the added invention of CSS and programs the possibilities keep becoming more and more available to expand web design.
4. Lose the decoration.
Says who and your army of Nazi designers? Really… I am finding myself really snide on this particular use of rules. If you can do it right with décor, you can do anything. It depends on your aesthetic and the way you maneuver around things. So Grah on you.
5. Use HTML copy.
Something I agree with. Didn’t I mention that above? Why, I most certainly did! XD Most people, like myself, like to copy and paste body copy I find. If they can’t select the text it sucks! Not to mention not searchable, which I agree on.
6. Don’t rely too much on Color.
Hmmm… Not sure I agree here either. 3 Max colors of course, but really… without color the design becomes boring bland and just another one of those damn stupid websites. You don’t want your stuff to look like that. Really you don’t. Print color is important yes, but thinking its not important on the web is fucking lame. Color is important anywhere.
My aesthetic thrives off having such nice white space, and a huge fucking splash of color where it is concerned. The eyes are attracted to color and on a bright menacing monitor, it is sure to stick with the viewer. NO NO NO. COLOR IS GOD SAVE. Again I mention the same damn thing I have been before. It depends on HOW you use the COLOR in a SITE that makes it GOOD or NOT. D<
There is a reason why we have Hex colors for the interweb enjoying experiences. They are so EVERY monitor sees the colors. Really now… Now those colors off the rgb spectrum will make it hard to have the same experience for each user. You just gotta accept that no one is gonna have the same colors even if its calibrated the right way. Am I getting the impression that who ever made these WEB rules is Typographic in nature mostly? I think so. :/
7. Design for scanning (online readers don’t read).
Oh how you FAIL. You’re stupid. I read every little damn detail possible that I see on the internet if it peaks my interest. Its like a fucking book you dolt. I write often for a novel on a forum with three other friends and we read all of what we see. For fuck sake I read it on my phone too. Fuck My mom refuses to read really anything on the internet, or even peruse the internet much. And she’s like only 39! I am getting the impression also now… that this guy doesn’t like blogging. When you blog… you read and write, and COMMENT. Which means you should fucking read what you see, not skim, in order to respond. At least McSweeneys site is designed well. Fuck it uses times new roman for the classical advent of allowing people to read through the text and to go with the style of writing as well as the design of the site.
8. Make text bite size.
Duh. I hate when there are no paragraph breaks. Infact even having indents makes me cringe. I can’t stand them they are hideous. Break the fucking text. Links for webpages are nasty fucks. They clutter an area and make navigation a fucking pain in the ass. Most people know the ctrl + f for most browsers to type in a word to search for and skim the page easily now. No links to text on the same page. Its ugly. Pure raw ugly.
9. Keep Line Lengths Short.
Well… DUH. @_@ Who are you teaching to, design to noobs? DX No matter what the medium, web, or print, or whatever… long lines of text is daunting and horrible difficult to read and keep a nice flow and rhythm to a piece.
Wow this article… was special. O_o -_- Im sorry I don’t agree with everything. I just consider myself an internet expert at navigating and finding things so when I see people still I the backwater that hasn’t seen much of the WWW I am like… You can’t say that until you have the proof to back up your gobbley gook. At least I was able to vent some! 8D Its always fun to do that.
