Fadtastic trend interview full answers

As part of Fadtastic’s trend interview I was asked a series of questions. Some of my answers were featured, but I thought it would be nice to post all of my answers as it gives a good indictation of my view on design trends. The interview was a great thing to do and made me think a lot about trends and certain aspects of design.

1. The Web2.0 design style is good for web design. Agree?
   I disagree with this. The ‘unicorn’ affect of Web 2.0 has resulted in a fad which has now become a joke in amongst many web designers. It suggests there is a formula to good design. Put a reflect on a logo, add a fade, round a corner and just add water for instant Web 2.0.
2. Do trends have a negative effect on website designs in a way which forms stereotypes? i.e. A technology site must look glossy/A rock band’s site must look grungy etc.
   Trends are a double edge sword for a web designer. On the one hand they can help with clients who are undecided by showing parameters. On the other hand they can be used as a yard stick to instant successful design by designers and clients. In the later sense, it is dangerous and mutes the one point about being a designer which is at the core – originality. Trends will always happen and so will trend abuse, it’s a balance that is hard to make.
3. Do you agree that much graphical effort is placed into the exterior of a site design but not into the content itself?
   No I do not. I believe that content should be able to speak for itself, but this does not have to be done in a sense that you remove the design or graphical element. Yes, the content is key to search engines, readability and sense. I also feel text is as much a part of the design in the form and execution as any image – it is often a majority component of a website.
4. If you had a big red button that could eliminate one web design trend, which trend would you destroy and why? (Go wild!)
   Flashy online advertising – just because it flashes does not mean it’s more effective.
5. Trends play an important role in web design. Agree?
   Trends are to me more of a by-product of design. They come from groups of designers and from a format being used, they aren’t there unless it’s a group using otherwise what are they trends of? As a result they can be both a blessing and a curse.
6. Showcases often encourage the momentum of particular trends. Is this good for design?
   Showcases will always be a small percentage of the web and as such like looking at design through a microscope. This acts as a magnifying glass and creates trend viruses that spread quickly. I don’t think that is a good thing for design, however I think it is always part of the process and as such take it for what it is.
7. Apart from showcases, where do you get inspiration?
   Inspiration comes from anything in my life. From nature, products, online, offline, games, books and anything I come into contact with. I treat web design like an art form in that sense and draw on all aspects of my life experience. I think a designer should be a like a sponge absorbing and analysing all the time. I have been known to create a design out of the colours in a pan au chocolat – anything can inspire a design.
8. Would you agree that web colour schemes (or anything else for that matter) are influenced from other markets? (e.g. fashion / automotive / print)
   Colour schemes are always influenced by online and offline markets, but online they are also determined by the medium. This was very true with the web safe palette and is also true now. If you are designing with a user interface in mind you have to consider how the colours affect the interaction. Knowing about the psychology of colour is also very important as a designer in any medium along with knowing the current colour trends.
9. What’s been your favourite web trend over the years?
   Allowing the content to breathe on a website has to be my main one. I like it when the content is treated as part of the design not as something put on for the marketing department. As a result the growth in jargon free copy has made me do my happy designer dance.
10. Standards compliancy and accessibility: Trend or here to stay? Why?
    I can’t see a time when we’d go back to non accessible methods – unless suddenly everyone only used one system to view the internet. While there are variations in human beings there will be variations in what they interact with. Unless we all have our memories erased by the Bill Gate’s martians, it would be from what I see impossible to go back. It was an awakening and a move to a professional form of web designers, I can only see it evolving and growing in strength. What is often forgotten is that the war hasn’t been won, there are so many people and companies that still don’t know about web standards or accessibility.

If you would like to check all the other designer’s answers just head over to the 3 parts at Fadastic:

1. Part 1
2. Part 2
3. Part 3