Web designers and developers dream of the perfect website that users will simply adore. The most important thing that they can do for this is to provide the site with visual harmony of all elements. This article provides some tips on how to become a successful web designer. Ready to get everyone talking about your website? Then let's begin!

Intuitiveness

While all designers strive for uniqueness (and this is quite normal), some of them deny the importance of intuitiveness and clarity.

In a user-centric world, all apps and websites must be intuitive, making a product that is easy to understand and use. Without this, not a single site will be remembered.

Users want and need to spend more time exploring your site/app, but it shouldn't take them hours. How to simplify the procedure and not require special efforts to perform this or that action is up to you to decide.

Innovation is another essential skill that a good designer must have. The work must be interesting and creative, and it must appear at the right moment. However, the best solution for the designer is still to avoid serious deviations from already accepted standards.

For example, use a generally accepted registration procedure, or place key elements where users expect to see them.

Familiar navigation

Think about this real-life example: you are visiting a friend for the first time, and you don’t yet know where which room is. You're unlikely to ever walk into a home where the bathroom is in the basement, and if you do, you probably won't like it very much.

It’s absolutely the same with web design: users must learn to navigate the site, while entering it, they have certain expectations. What you don't want to do is confuse them so much that they don't want to come back.

Be a good guide! Users are impatient, and they won't wait unless you tell them where to click and what to do.

Just like at your home, you are hosting guests on the site, and you must tell them in detail how to achieve their goal. Good design should have intuitive navigation and place elements where they belong.

As in the example, the log in/sign up option should be in the upper right corner. Remember that each button/bar can serve as a simple navigation: you need to work with shape, lines and colors; and use them to tell people what each element does.

Flexibility

Flexibility is the most controversial aspect of design; you need to create a product that works equally well on any browser/device. Many designers underestimate the importance of flexibility, and end up presenting designs with fonts that are unreadable, or even ones that don't work.

Designing for a specific browser/device is not the best approach: remember that all users have different preferences, so the design must be suitable for all possible devices that users may have.

Simplicity

It's hard to resist the temptation to add a bunch of different elements and options. Too many tools, buttons, navigation, and sections will confuse users and lead to unnecessary choices. And if you look at it as a whole, it can lead to ignoring important information pages altogether.

Take Google for example: one of the reasons for its success is that it operates as simply as possible.

However, we are not telling you to simplify everything to the point of boredom and a complete lack of interesting solutions. We say that your back-end will still remain complex, this is just necessary to make it as easy as possible for the user to interact with the site.

Comfort

Good designers know that their sites need a redesign here and now, especially to make it look nice and feel comfortable to navigate to. Still, a redesign must innovate while maintaining features. There are many cool sites that were much better before the redesign.

Reduce your waiting time

As a user, you probably know how loading times affect visitors' experience of a website. Nobody likes to spend hours waiting for a page to load when there are thousands of other sites where you can get the same information or perform the same action.

Today, competition is very high, all sites are pleasant and interesting, and time can be the only criterion that will make a site stand out from all others.

To reduce loading times, first, reduce the number of graphic elements (animations, videos, graphics, and even high-resolution images). Content optimization will never make a website worse.

Pay attention to feedback

Leaving and receiving feedback is not just a trend, it is an analysis of what people really think about your product. Look at the most successful designers and developers: they almost always rely on what their users tell them.

Plus, they know that the user is always right, and there is no other argument other than that. Feedback shows what needs to be changed, but also creates a strong connection with users where they feel valued and cared for. Everyone loves it!

By providing a feedback option you show that you really want to interact with users. Remember that feedback is not your only interaction tool: you can provide visual cues to guide users (pointing to important elements, for example); support dialogues; error messages, etc.

There are many tools you can use to create visual cues: shape, size, color and placement will show users that you always care about what they are doing.

Readability

You can have the most perfect website you can think of, but if you don't make it easy to read, it won't make any sense. As you know, users have no problem navigating to different sites, especially if they find it difficult to read the content. That's why you should think about readability as the most important element of your site.

Readability isn't just about letter size: you should use a font that's pleasing to the eye and lay out information in a logical and understandable manner. Let's not forget that the content must be interesting so that users want to visit the site again.

Bottom line

Don't stop working on yourself and learning new things about your work. You may have created an amazing website, but it won't be worth anything if you don't keep your users happy.

To sum it up, don't detract from the visuals of your design. Leave plenty of space, use colors that are pleasing to the eye so as not to scare away users. Don't turn your site into something stressful, with a bunch of details and options that users don't need at all. And remember, the more you work on your content, the more enjoyable it will be for users to explore.

Let's talk about how to become a clothing designer, where to start. The profession of a designer has always been considered fashionable, and its relevance has not been lost at the present time. Specialized educational institutions that train fashion designers have real “live queues” of applicants. Not everyone understands how difficult and thorny the path from an ordinary school student to a famous fashion designer is. Let's talk about how to become a clothing designer. Some have been trying to master a profession since school, while others only develop a career at an advanced age.

Specifics of the profession

First you need to understand the content of the profession, only then can you get an idea of ​​what it takes to become a fashion designer. What do such specialists do?

Don't know how to become a famous fashion designer, but really want to? A professional clothing designer creates and presents his sketches to the fashion world. He must take into account the latest trends in the fashion world, otherwise his products will not arouse interest and will not become in demand.

  • creates clothing designs;
  • draws up technical specifications for the design of clothing items;
  • uses information technology in design;
  • organizes the full-fledged work of performers;
  • exercises control over the production of clothing;
  • prepares applications for samples for certification;
  • develops patterns

What a future designer should know

If you don’t know how to become a designer from scratch, then first get acquainted with theoretical issues related to the worlds of fashion and design.

  1. Study the history of costumes.
  2. Learn to distinguish the main fashion trends.
  3. Learn the basics of clothing design and styling.

The future couturier must understand all issues related to technical equipment and methods of sewing fashionable clothes.

Where can a fashion designer work?

Schoolchildren thinking about how to become a famous designer often do not think about where a representative of this specialty can work. In addition to fashion houses, a certified designer can find a job in a light industry enterprise, in an atelier (elephant), or in a textile and haberdashery (clothing) production. In addition, when thinking about how to become a designer, where to start, we note that you can always take individual orders, developing real fashion masterpieces at home. In many large cities of our country there are experimental workshops in which professional clothing designers are in demand.

Fashion designer: area of ​​interest

The domestic labor market is represented by both designers and fashion designers. Are you wondering how to become a fashion designer, where to start? Please note that professions complement each other. If you are sure that you know how to become a designer, where to start, you can try your hand as a fashion designer. The main directions of its activities:

  1. Technologist. Professional responsibilities include choosing a sewing method, creating simple clothing options, and finding effective options for processing seams.
  2. Constructor. This direction involves the development of high-quality drawings of clothing, customization of products to the individual characteristics of the customer’s figure.
  3. Artist. It is he who draws the finishing option, creates sketches, and the entire design of the future fashion accessory.

So what do you need to do to become a fashion designer? It is advisable to master several different skills at once, that is, to become a universal fashion designer.

What a true designer should be able to do

Representatives of this profession can be considered real “fashion geniuses”. It is they who must come up with the entire concept of new collections, develop individual sketches, offer new designs and original technologies. In addition, the designer himself thinks through the key points of the future fashion show scenario and takes part in advertising.

Advantages and disadvantages of the design direction

Before you think about what you need to do to become a fashion designer, weigh all the advantages and disadvantages of this profession.

Among the advantages, if all circumstances are successful, we can mention global popularity and fame. A good designer has high fees, can develop his creative potential, and develop useful connections. Representatives of this profession are in demand in the modern labor market and will not be left without their favorite job.

There are also some disadvantages that are also important to mention. The work involves heavy physical labor and often requires emergency work. There are certain limits specified by the customer, beyond which you cannot go. There is serious competition in the market, it is difficult to achieve success and popularity on your own. Beginning designers have to spend time and effort searching for potential customers. There is no guarantee that the profession will immediately generate a stable and high income.

In order to take part in a fashion show, you need to prepare 50-60 full-fledged ensembles, this requires a lot of time and effort. A professional spends 4-5 months to create one suit, so only professionals and true fans of their craft “survive” in the fashion world.

We become designers without experience or education

In reality, when thinking about how to become a designer, where to start, realize that with simple enthusiasm, without any skills, experience, or connections, you will not be able to make your dream come true. Where to take the training? So, are you looking for the answer to the question of how to become a fashion designer? In this case, take a look at design schools, fashion institutes, and art schools. Among the most popular educational institutions in the fashion world, we highlight the following: MSUDT, MSTU. A.N. Kosygina, National Commercial Institute of Fashion, Institute of Costume Design (St. Petersburg), Ivanovo Textile Academy, Moscow Industrial College.

For those who are seriously thinking about becoming a fashion designer at home, distance learning is offered at the British Higher School of Design, College of Fashion and Design.

What is important to remember to realize your dreams

First, it is important to decide on your preferences. If you don’t know how to become a fashion designer, but you really want it, then look for your strengths. For example, you like a business suit, study all the nuances of its creation to gain theoretical skills. Without them, you won’t be able to come up with a new business image or surprise modern fashionistas with your designs.

Are you thinking about becoming a children's clothing designer? First of all, it is important to study all the features of child physiology. Clothes for children should not only be beautiful, but also comfortable for young fashionistas and fashionistas, any professional knows this.

Are you thinking about creating a collection of comfortable clothes for yoga? Get to know your clients, find out their preferences.

Are you thinking about how to become a fashion designer yourself without wasting time on training? Subscribe to several popular fashion magazines, study biographies of world fashion designers, and carefully follow all fashion trends. It is important to develop your artistic taste, find a sense of proportion, and feel inner harmony.

If you've decided to develop your technical skills, develop three-dimensional thinking, want to learn how to combine different colors and textures, and are thinking about how to become a fashion designer, you can enroll in design courses.

In addition to courses, try to put the acquired knowledge into practice. For example, having looked into the nearest fashion boutique, analyze its assortment, select an ensemble of clothes for different occasions. Using ready-made options, try to create your own ensembles, in which you will include your own ideas and “zest”. A true design professional must be fluent in any sewing machine, hand sewing, and embroidery.

The most difficult thing is creating high-quality patterns and sketches. Try to devote as much free time as possible to developing this skill, otherwise you will not be able to make a full-fledged pattern. Don’t forget that the materials market is constantly being modernized, and new fabrics with certain characteristics are appearing.

Looking for our own style

By collecting a variety of information about popular designers, borrow the most interesting ideas and proposals from them. Follow all fashion trends, consult with experienced mentors who have practical experience of “surviving” in the fashion world. Try to find your own style by which clients will recognize you. It is individuality that is primarily valued in the world of fashion and beauty.

Creating a portfolio

Take care of developing your own complete portfolio. These days, this detail is a vital necessity. Without demonstrating your achievements, it is difficult to prove to a potential employer that you are a true professional in your field. In addition to a paper portfolio with certificates and diplomas, it is advisable to acquire photographs from fashion shows with your participation. You can supplement your portfolio with video reports, clippings from newspapers and magazines. Professional designers have their own logos to help clients recognize their work. You, too, can think about developing such an “insignia” for your collections, and to protect it from attacks by competitors, carry out its official registration with Rospatent.

Learn to do business

You need to learn how to make money, create not only beautiful, but also popular things. You need to study the basics of modern marketing and look for opportunities to sell your models. For example, you can organize exhibitions of finished models in cinemas, shops, and exhibitions. Don’t stop there; you’ll have to start as an apprentice to gain professional skills. A designer who wears his own clothes inspires confidence in his clients.

Conclusion

If you don't know how to become a fashion designer, but really want it, you will succeed. Believe in yourself, in your strengths, try to be in nature as much as possible to get new ideas for creativity. The main criterion that opens the path to success for a future designer is his personal talent, sense of style and taste. Such abilities do not arise spontaneously; they appear already in early childhood. In many cases, before graduating from school, a young man understands that his destiny is to create unique clothing collections.

If you are good at drawing, have beautiful handwriting, are proficient in graphic design, and love photomontage, then this direction as design is suitable for you. Don't forget that in addition to the creative component, fashion design also requires technical skills. To create full-fledged patterns for future products, you need to be able to create impeccable drawings.

The creator of dresses and suits must “throw” his ideas onto paper in a matter of minutes, getting beautiful sketches. Designer is a profession that requires a certain perseverance. Sometimes it takes 5-6 months from the moment the idea appears to the receipt of the finished product. You need to be prepared not only for high fees and victories in competitions, but also for defeats and disappointments. Not all invented projects have a happy future, because the path to real success is thorny and long. Have you made a choice in favor of becoming a designer? In this case, decide on your specialty: fashion designer-designer or fashion designer-cutter. The specialization "designer" will require creative ideas, and for a "cutter" it is first of all important to have a good technical base. Higher educational institutions offer comprehensive training, graduating from their walls real universal specialists. In addition to such prerequisites as talent and diligence, punctuality and tolerance are important. Answering the question about how to become a clothing designer from scratch, let us remind you that it is important to be a good psychologist and help your clients find their own style.

“Missing” again! Maybe?.. However, there is no need to guess, there is an “official” top of the richest clothing designers of 2017, where all the capital of the wizards of the fashion industry is calculated. Fashion is capricious, but dynamic and helps those who are willing to work hard and take risks to make money. Many people believe that you can sell clothes and become rich instantly. This is a myth; not everyone is as rich and famous as the representatives of our rating. Interestingly, very few fashion designers/brand owners inherited their wealth. Most started from scratch, it took them a lot of hard work to climb the “fashion Olympus” and, most importantly, stay at the top. By the way, half of the participants in the list of the richest designers are Italians (and this is already quite predictable).

Kings of chic and luxury: the richest fashion designers

Sara Blakely: Perfected Tights

When people talk about “self-made billionaires,” American Sarah Blakely is often cited as an example. At the age of 29, she was selling fax machines door to door. She didn't like the tights she was wearing, so Sarah decided to improve them. Thus began her journey to becoming one of the richest and most successful designers. Now Blakely's shapewear tights (produced under the Spanx brand) are known throughout the world. She did not invent something eccentric; the solution was simple and clear. Since 2000 (that’s when Sarah patented the invention), Blakely’s capital has grown to $1 billion.

Tory Burch and the golden spoon

The chairman, CEO and designer of the company that bears her name, Tory Burch is part of the minority: an American born with a golden spoon in her mouth. Therefore, her road to fame and success was less thorny compared to other participants in the rating. Tory studied at the University of Pennsylvania and worked for some time with Polo Ralph Lauren and Vera Wang in New York, and in 2004 she registered her brand. Tori is now a billionaire, like Blakely, and was named the 79th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes.

Michael Kors: stumbled to rise even higher

The next richest designer on our top, Michael Kors, went bankrupt in 1993, but this did not stop him from regaining his good name and capital. In the world of business (including fashion), there are many ups and downs, and the example of Kors is inspiring. Mike started selling dresses at age 10 and went to fashion school at 18. However, Kors soon dropped out of school and opened a small store on 57th Avenue in New York. Despite bankruptcy, he managed to “get back on his feet” and became one of the few billionaire designers. His fortune is estimated at $1 billion.

Aerin Lauder: Estee's heiress

Another wealthy heiress on our list is fashion designer Aerin Lauder, who inherited the Estee Lauder empire founded by her grandparents. Aerin did not sit idly by. She was a member of the company's board, studied at the University of Pennsylvania, and then launched her own brand, Aerin, which produces perfumes, jewelry, accessories, clothing, and decorative cosmetics. Aerin has a net worth of $1.3 billion and remains Estee Lauder's director of style and image.

Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbano: two halves of a whole

Italian fashion designer Domenico Dolce is the other “half” of the world famous brand “Dolce & Gabbana”. Domenico studied at fashion school. His meeting with Stefano Gabbano took place in Milan, the Italian capital of fashion, where Domenico worked as an assistant designer. Stefano and Domenico formed a partnership and haven't looked back since. Their fashion house designed the costumes for the film “Romeo + Juliet”; they have a lot of famous customers (the designers made more than one and a half thousand costumes for Madonna alone). Thanks to their company's incredible profits, Dolce's net worth is $1.6 billion.

The co-founder of the luxury fashion house Dolce & Gabbana, Stefano Gabbana, presented his first clothing collection (joint with Domenico) in 1985. For a long time, the companions were a couple (though they hid their relationship), and then they came out, only to separate soon (in 2004) and maintain only a business connection. The rise of their brand is largely due to the incredible popularity of Madonna, who was joined by celebrity clients Monica Bellucci, Naomi Campbell, Isabella Rossellini. Stefano's capital is equal to that of his partner - $1.6 billion.

Renzo Rosso: denim genius

The fourth richest designer in the world (and the third Italian on our list), Renzo Rosso, nicknamed the "denim genius", was born in Veneto, near Milan. During the oil crises of 1970, diesel fuel was considered an alternative fuel. This is what sparked Rosso's inspiration. His denim brand "Diesel" became very popular. Today, Rosso doesn't just focus on jeans, he owns upscale stores and brands including Only the Brave and Marni. “Behind the soul” Renzo has 3.1 billion dollars.

Miuccia Prada: Mario's youngest granddaughter

Italian fashion designer and businesswoman Miuccia Prada is the youngest granddaughter of Mario Prada, who took over the family company in 1978. Under Miuccia's leadership, the brand experienced unprecedented success. In addition, she patented her brand “Miu Miu”, which satisfies the needs of those who crave more youthful fashion. Miuccia Prada's net worth is $4.2 billion.

Ralph Lauren: who started with ties

The American fashion designer of Jewish-Russian origin ranks second in the ranking of the richest designers of 2017. It was his Fashion House that worked on the dress of First Lady Melania Trump, which she wore to the inauguration of her husband Donald Trump. Lauren was born in the Bronx into a poor immigrant family, and started his business by making ties. He caught the attention of Neiman Marcus, who was Ralph's first major client. Lauren dreamed of becoming a millionaire since his youth, and his dreams have come true: today he has $6.9 billion.

Giorgio Armani: Patriarch of a Great Empire

We have come to the leader of the top richest clothing designers. This is 82-year-old Giorgio Armani, who founded the Armani brand in 1975. Now these words - Armani and fashion - are interchangeable, because the Italian's surname is synonymous with luxury, chic and good taste. Armani was a medical student who did not want to continue his studies, served in the army, then worked in a large Milanese store as a helper, window dresser and, finally, as a salesman. Before launching his own label, Giorgio was an apprentice at Nino Cerruti. As of 2017, Giorgio Armani's wealth exceeded $7.5 billion.

Nowadays, creative professions are becoming more and more popular. One of them is a designer. Although at first glance this specialty seems easy to understand, in reality it is not so simple. After all, it’s not enough to just become a designer; it’s important to be successful, competitive and in demand in your field. But how to become a successful designer - to achieve heights in such a popular and vast industry?

What should a designer be able to do?

Of course, only a specialist competent in his field, possessing certain qualities, skills and knowledge, can become successful. To succeed in the design profession, you must:

  • have an original way of thinking, the ability to avoid standardization and uniformity;
  • education. Of course, you can do without it, but in order to master the basics of sketching and drawing models, talent alone is not enough. Therefore, it is necessary to obtain specialized education. Nowadays the specialty “Designer” is available not only in higher educational institutions, but also in colleges. In addition, there are even short-term courses;
  • the presence of developed aesthetic and artistic taste, a subtle sense of style, knowledge of the latest fashion trends;
  • ability to listen and understand the wishes and preferences of the customer, non-conflict;
  • constant concentration on the work process;
  • perseverance and love for the same type of monotonous work;
  • presence of creative ideas and understanding of how they can be brought to life;
  • ability to pay attention to details;
  • knowledge of basic operating technologies;
  • desire to constantly develop.

In fact, this is only a small part of the skills and knowledge that a designer should have, but without them it is unlikely that success will be achieved.

In addition to the required skills, a designer must also constantly strive for self-improvement. To do this, you need to expand your horizons, read classical and modern literature, follow trends in music and cinema, because from these sources you can glean a large number of ideas and learn from the experience of your predecessors.

A successful designer is a talented and purposeful person. And if the first is given by nature, then in order to acquire qualities that can lead to recognition, you need to regularly work on yourself. You can also attend special psychological trainings to gain confidence in yourself and your abilities.

Of course, the success of a designer also depends on the ability to communicate with clients, so you need to have good manners, be punctual, talk politely with clients and accept their preferences. Any manifestation of arrogance is unacceptable.

Inspiration for a creative person plays a very important role, because all his work is built on it. Therefore, in order to always have plenty of ideas and strength to implement them, you need to get proper rest, avoid overwork, and take care of your own spiritual and physical health.

Offer your services on the Internet. For this, there are special freelance exchanges, message boards, forums, etc.

Nowadays, many modern gadgets and programs have been created that can make a designer’s work easier and make it better. Use new technologies to develop your business.

Becoming a successful designer is not an easy task, because the competition in this industry is quite high. But if you have talent, the desire to work and develop, you can achieve your goal.

Video. How to become a successful designer - secrets of an Adobe evangelist

Video. Jonathan Ive: Designer with a capital D

What other skills, abilities, and knowledge do you think a successful designer should have? Share your opinion, and perhaps experience, in the comments to this article.

Good luck and see you in the next article.

Each of us wants to be successful, to be realized, to achieve certain results. And each of us has our own vision of the world, our own theories of success and failure, our own principles and our own hobbies. We have various theories: why the sky is blue, why apples fall, why bees buzz, and why a sandwich always falls butter side down, and more. It's as if we are hiding behind various theories. People love theories. But, unfortunately (or maybe fortunately!), theory often diverges from practice. But smart people say: “Theory is good, but practice is completely different.” Well, this article will just talk about practice, and how successful designers cope with their tasks in practice and achieve success.

Let's throw away the theory and start practicing! True, in fairness it is worth noting that this article is not a universal panacea for all ills and problems, it does not guarantee that tomorrow you will wake up as a brilliant designer for whom employers will line up.

Habit # 1 : Know when to stop

You may know football legend Vince Lombardi, who once said, “Winners never quit and quitters never win.” One has only to look around and see that this opinion is wrong.

The best projects failed only because their creators could not come to a common denominator. Successful companies went bankrupt only because their management failed to stop the race for profit in time. The best blackjack players only doubled down instead of backing down. History remembers many examples when warring political forces refused to compromise and suffered only losses. Indeed, winners are not judged, but in order to win, you need to realistically assess your capabilities, abilities, job prospects, and understand your mistakes.

Of course, you will say that there is no limit to perfection. No one will argue with this postulate, but sometimes it’s worth stopping at what has been achieved, because you can always spoil it and make it worse than it was before the “improvements.” Oddly enough, your leaving and finishing work on this or that project can be a good and right decision. So the first habit that everyone needs to remember is to learn to walk away and let things take their course.

Habit # 2 : Find the right environment

We are surrounded by a lot of things, and in this amazing chaos we manage to find exactly what we need every time. We often instinctively know what we need and where to look for inspiration. We feel great when we are surrounded by love, when we are respected, we do a job we love, and have good friends. In fact, we are looking for the most comfortable conditions for existence.

The work environment around us is no exception. There's a little secret here. The right environment not only promotes work, but also encourages creativity. In fact, a lot of inspiration can be found in the environment. Sometimes you just need to take a couple of seconds or a couple of minutes away from the project and look around. The answer is often hidden in simple things. So, looking out the window at the neighboring buildings, looking at the bizarre shapes of the clouds in the sky, or seeing some forgotten book by your favorite author on the table, you can intuitively stumble upon solutions to your problem.

Also, interior design, clothing design, etc. often push us to new solutions. In this regard, another habit of good designers is to surround themselves with things that inspire.

Habit # 3 : Good working atmosphere

Comfort is important for everyone. We love it when at work we are in an atmosphere of creativity, surrounded by people who understand and share the same opinion. What does a good work environment look like?

The answer to this question is well illustrated in Michael Bierut's client presentation. Michael poses a chain of questions: “What am I looking for for a client?” - “What should I look for in a work environment?” The answer to these questions is quite simple - you need trust in others, passion for your work, courage in decisions and intelligence for action. The client is looking for these same qualities. Each of these qualities has an obvious advantage. You can always feel easy and at ease surrounded by like-minded people, when everyone can trust each other.

A trusting relationship with the designer allows interested parties to rely entirely on his taste and professional instincts. So, where passion lives in the work, you can ultimately achieve success in the development of the project, because all the strength of each team member is devoted to such a task. It’s always good when work becomes not only a form of earning money, but also turns into a hobby.

Courage inspires designers to take on risky (but potentially successful) projects and pushes them to bring cutting-edge solutions to market. Intelligence is not a guarantee of genius, but the ability to perceive and understand the real world. Common sense and intelligence unite all qualities and allow you to achieve good results.

Well, one more rule - all four qualities must exist in harmony in order to create ideal working conditions and a good working environment. Remove at least one component and you will have to search for a black cat in a dark room for an infinitely long time: look for the optimal solution and not find it.

Habit # 4 : Combating reality distortion

Imagine the situation. You have spent many days and nights and finally you are ready to show a truly outstanding result. In your opinion, everything is more than perfect, and you are a real design guru. And then day “X” comes and you and interested parties discuss the future (masterpiece in your opinion!) project. Everything is going well, only at the end of the discussion the senior manager will say that everything is fine, but it’s better to change the green color. He will convince you that he knows how hard you worked to find the right combination, to make the site really original, catchy, attractive, but the choice of color is not the best. “Choosing a color is subjective, isn’t it?” - the manager will ask you affirmatively. What will you answer after so many sleepless nights and hot working days?.. Ah...

“How a Web Design Goes Straight to Hell” is a regular post for the blog “Oaemeal” in the usual humorous manner of Matthew Inman. And he writes precisely about how much is decided by one single phrase “design is subjective.” This cliché has penetrated the consciousness so much that it has become a kind of axiom that does not require any proof. It seems that as soon as design appeared, then this axiom appeared and took root so strongly that eradicating it is a real Sisyphean task for all web designers.

However, this is not surprising: for designers it is a good justification for their work (after all, they like their projects!), for the customer it is their own vision of the site. Don’t forget about one unspoken rule: “more feedback leads to better results.” Of course, everyone has the right to their own point of view, but the best rule of a successful designer is the acceptance of criticism and the need to listen to other people's opinions.

Habit #5: Process Operations – Theory and Reality

There is one more habit (as far as it can be called a habit). We often strive to achieve good results, overwhelming success, and it seems that we do everything for this. But in the end, everything does not work out as previously planned. Despite our best efforts, the “gold standard” rule often does not work. Volumes of books have already been written about why our best methods and techniques often fail (The Design of Design by Fred Brooks and others). It all comes down to the fluid and non-linear nature of the web design process in the real world.

To understand why such failures occur in reality, it is necessary to turn to another book - “Predictably Irrational” by Dan Erial. The author points out that the root cause of process failure is illogicality. Formal processes can work when we understand the irrational nature of humans and leave room for shortcomings. Thus, the key to successful design work lies in how we actually carry out and execute work on a given topic, not how well we adhere to an ideal.

One of the main habits of good designers is studying processes (working algorithms) and “testing” them so that they work well in reality.

Habit # 6 : Everything changes - nothing really changes

Perhaps we are all perfectionists. Everything that appears on the software market today (as before) is created only to improve what already exists. This is a worthy goal, but such a goal can have serious negative aspects. Many ideas, processes, methods, thoughts, techniques have already reached their zenith and are no longer so relevant today.

There is nothing wrong with blindly following a certain code-law: a meticulously worked out sequence of movements and actions, a carefully placed semicolon and, ultimately, a good logical result.

However, at the same time, there is nothing good about this. You can consistently produce good results by following a certain algorithm, but in this case you are unlikely to get something original, extraordinary, worthy of everyone’s admiration. Successful designers know this and always revise previous decisions, are skeptical about everything, question everything, offer new things and listen to advice, look for new methods and techniques.

This habit practically becomes a slogan: “All things change, and we change with them.” Time moves forward, but web design remains and still requires new ideas, techniques and methods from you.

P.S. These six habits are far from a standard and do not guarantee you tomorrow's success. Today you can write a lot of other habits (and every web designer will tell you a lot about their habits). Sometimes it’s worth just observing the work of successful designers, their habits and attitude towards work.

Comments

  1. Sabina
    January 31, 2012 at 11:01 pm

    Thank you very much, very interesting written:)

  2. Alyona
    February 1, 2012 at 2:29 pm

    Yes, but it’s not always possible to follow these habits. A lot depends on luck here: will you be lucky to find a great team, will you be lucky to stumble upon a customer who will not tie your hands, and so on...

  3. 123
    February 1, 2012 at 8:32 pm

    everything is interesting, of course, but the spelling of “tsya” and “tsya” in verbs needs to be repeated urgently!!

    Romanblch Answer:
    March 27, 2012 at 2:00 am

    What is there to repeat? With a difficult verb, ask yourself a question: “what does it do?” For example:

    This world is developing (what is the world doing?) Developing (the suffix “xia” sometimes serves as the meaning of “oneself”).

    After all, we don’t say: the world is developing? what should the world do?

    Im Answer:
    March 27, 2012 at 4:13 pm

    Hm. Yes, but there are no such misspelled words in the article: P

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