Website Development

The Web Marketing Association’s WebAwards have added something new for 2008 – the critical eye of our own James Golden. Since 1997, these annual awards have recognized websites in 96 different industries for achievement and excellence in original design, technical development, functionality, SEO efforts and marketing campaigns. We figured we should get involved due to the organization’s goals of encouraging standards and rewarding innovation in the web industry (causes whose banners we have been known to raise from time to time). We gave them James as he is our own personal project critic. Once James is okay with it, it is certain that the client - being a mere mortal - will most assuredly approve.

We first became involved with the awards last year with the most positive of possible introductions - we won one (Outstanding Achievement in Website Development for Schumacher Homes). So this year James will join judges from 37 different countries and countless organizations (seriously, I tried) in determining who this year’s winners will be. This of course means that our projects are no longer eligible to win, but that’s a price we’re willing to pay to have James scrutinize someone else’s work for a few weeks.

If you have a site that you would like to nominate, click here , and hurry as the nomination process wraps up this Friday, June 13th.

It’s fitting that I should choose to begin this (my first design blog) where all design projects begin…with “a blank canvas”. I would like to emphasize how blank space can be a useful design element if used properly. I’ve noticed that many designers rush to fill in the canvas with anything, and everything they can, as though the canvas were something to be ashamed of (even to the extent of placing animated flame gifs on their sites). Sometimes we are afraid to show a design-in-progress for fear that others will see our designs half dressed. Well I’m taking a stand to liberate the web. Don’t cover it up, learn to love your canvas. Now obviously you can’t always control the amount of content, or imagery that is required for every site, but a well spaced layout is far more appealing than you may have realized. When you clutter a design you lose symmetry quickly, and symmetry is one of the primary principles of good design. Large fonts, and big logos are the most common violations in this regard. These are usually the first elements used in the design, and thus their size is often increased to fill that shameful canvas. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not promoting minimalism on the web, I’m just hoping to reduce some needless clutter and maybe increase the symmetry.