design reverb

A post on a clients user forum got me thinking about what makes good design. The user had remarked that design was a crapshoot. Here’s the post:

This thread explains to a degree why the art of design, and web design in particular, is such a crapshoot. Taste is such an undefinable thing.

I got to thinking. If taste is such a undefinable thing, how come so many good designs out there are recognized as being good?

I don’t believe design is a crapshoot. The understanding of basic design principles such as repetition, contrast, alignment, proximity as well as some understanding of color theory helps immensely in design. Especially web design, where most “designers” learn Photoshop and set up shop. Design is not something that you can buy from Adobe. It is a continual learning process. While fads and trend will come and go, and individual tast may vary, the essence of good design remains unchanged.

For you new designers out there with no formal training, I offer this link to a book my wife found most useful.

Its The Non-Designers Design Book, Design and Typographic Principles for the Visual Novice, by Robin Williams. (no not the comedian)

Another great book I still have from when I was in college is Design Basics by David Lauer and Stephen Pentak. This book goes into more depth and is a must read for any beginning designer.

Most people don’t know that back in 1912, Hellmann’s mayonnaise was manufactured in England. In fact, the Titanic was carrying 12,000 jars of the condiment scheduled for delivery in Vera Cruz, Mexico, which was to be the next port of call for the great ship after its stop in New York.

This would have been the largest single shipment of mayonnaise ever delivered to Mexico. But as we know, the great ship did not make it to New York. The ship hit an iceberg and sank, and the cargo was forever lost.

The people of Mexico, who were crazy about mayonnaise, and were eagerly awaiting its delivery, were disconsolate at the loss. Their anguish was so great, that they declared a National Day of Mourning, which they still observe to this day.

The National Day of Mourning occurs each year on May 5th and is known, of course, as Sinko de Mayo.