We designers make out like a website’s design is extremely crucial to the success of a site. However, someone forgot to tell that to Seth Godin and Steve Pavlina. These guys have two of the most popular and plain jane blogs on the net. It makes me wonder…maybe we just like design because it’s fun and interesting.
I think it’s a little bit of both. Some people appreciate great content regardless of the look and feel and others love a great looking site with great content. Overall though in my opinion I think a great design is important as it conveys a certain confidence right from the start.
By the way I’m really liking the new look you’ve got going on here. Maybe I’ll have some time at some point to tear in and redo my stock Thesis install on my site.
You know, I think you’re right. I was looking at some of the sites on Technorati’s Top 100 list, and thought…..what boring designs some of these sites have. However, when you go to a website that is designed and put together well, and has useful content, that’s a great combination.
Nothing wrong with the default Thesis look. You know I’m also a Pearson fan.
Emigre the digital type foundry has a saying that I have always loved,
Design is a good idea. And as a graduate from SVA, there are plenty of “trendy” cool people that swear having the right typeface can influence a buyer to buy your product.
But the sad reality I have discovered is that a poorly designed website can outperform a well designed one, If the business concept is good, or the content is important to the reader, and or if there is a need it will sell.
I wished this weren’t true but seems as though it is. And getting customers to believe design is a good idea is getting harder and harder to sell…
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Thanks and Regards
Noel for Nopun.com
professional graphics design studio
Here’s what I think – if the content on the site is in high demand(such as info by some guru), the design(appearance) isn’t as important as long as it doesn’t make getting to the content hard. On the other hand, most websites aren’t in that situation. Most site’s need every added advantage that they can get, such as a design that is clean, up-to-date, and easy to navigate. Hey, that rhymed!
Yes, I agree: if you already have a strong brand, design will be less crucial (and minimalistic might be a better way to go).
Similarly, if you’ve been blogging regularly since 2002 (when the marketplace was less crowded) then design will be less necessary.
However, if you’ve only been blogging a couple of years and and are still trying to establish yourself as a brand — than anything you can do, to give your website an aesthetic or value-laden edge… the better!
{ twitter = @danenow }
Seth Godin site is NOT badly designed. Well designed does not mean “Graphical”. There are many other consideration – readability, usability and etc.
I don’t think you are well informed on design. Check out these two talented designers
I also agree that the site’s design can really help out, especially when you’re just starting out. The design of the site is the first thing that they see, and if they find it interesting, they may take some time to view the content of your site.
Having useful content and having a good design for your site can increase the chances of people checking it out.
Cheers,
Lynn Michaels