As well as creating web sites I also play and create music. I have noticed a similarity between the music industry and the design industry in regards to software/hardware and the end product.
There is the ever ragging battle between Mac users and PC users, both stating that there platform is the better. Then there is the software, Freehand or Illustrator, Reason or Logic, Quark or In Design, Cubase or Pro Tools, the list goes on. I get the feeling that some people research and discuss software and hardware more than actually using the said tools to create anything.
Yes I think that software and hardware can have a hand in shaping the final product be it a song or a design but ultimately a good design or good song does not transpire because of the tools that were used to create it. In my opinion a good song will still be a good song whether it is created on an acoustic guitar or created in a software package such as Reason. I also hold this view in regards to web and graphic design. A logo or page layout can be designed using only a pencil and a bit of paper and still be a good design.
I guess what I am trying to say that software and hardware are only tools in the same way a hammer is the tool of a joiner. Maybe a joiner has a favorite hammer but how many times do you hear a joiner arguing or discussing his choice of hammer with another joiner? Maybe I am being over simplistic,,,, or deliberately provocative!
Posted by struthy on 12/20 at 01:02 PM
Web Design •
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<p>I work as a web designer in an IT department so of course keeping up to date with new internet trends is part of my job. However, sometimes it feels like I am swimming against the tide. As soon as I start to get a handel on one new skill set I start to hear about a new better way of doing things.</p>
<p>In this industry it sometimes feels like it is the tools operating the workers, Is this the way it should be? Let me clarify what I am trying to say. A navigation bar for a web site is a simple concept, It should allow users the ability to navigate through the site with minimal effort.</p>
<p>A navigation bar is generally a simple thing to create for most web designers. Yes the navigation should look part of the site as a whole, but how complicated does it need to be? How many hours extra should be invested in a java script, flash or moo tools driven navigation? How many extra hours will be needed to maintain this new navigation when changes to the structure of the site take place? Then again it is allways fun learning and some of those moo tools menus are pretty cool!</p>
Posted by struthy on 12/18 at 04:23 PM
Web Design •
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