Description: In great interactive design, form always follows function...or does it? Of course usability and efficiency are critical, but what about the more intangible sensibilities that infuse great designs, those qualities inspired by fashion, culture, and taste? What about art direction? What about style? Learn how the history of design encompasses style and problem solving, and see how great designers think about form and function, style and efficiency, at the same time—whether they know it or not.
Note: I live blogged this after the fact from notes I took with some primitave ink dispenser and a piece of tree pulp or something.
What is style? Style has structures. Any individual style or personal identity can be reproduced, then style becomes about fitting in.
Even someone who thinks they have no style has a style and fits in with others who think they have no style. Even grandma has a style.
Style is a moment on a timeline, a set of rules (vocabulary). Style happens no matter what.
Style can be a dirty word (superficial, elitist, diverts focus from functionality) but it can be good too (normalize, inspire, sell).
Style in history: Ladies still wear shoes, jackets, hats but the style changes.
Fashion designers have a vocabulary to talk about their craft (A shape dress, T-shirt), do designers have the same vocabulary?
You have to have rules to break them.
All design fits into a style, if you know the styles you can design for the appropriate one.
Styles vs. Trends: Trends don't change anything permanently, they just change for the sake of change.
Design is a commodity to be sold.
We're trying to solve problems on the web rather than making new styles.
iPod is an example of selling style. The style gets old so you have to get a new one, yours still works and they do the same thing, but you'll pay more for style.
Style can make people feel comfort, confidence, pride, ambition, peace and security.
Designers solve problems and make things look good, there's an internal struggle to balance both.
You want to work by planning it out and following the process but really you get an idea for a sweet design and go nuts then hope it works.
Companies have style guides.
Expose yourself to lots of patterns (style guides) and keep them in your bag of tricks. Pull them out when necessary.
Sketch/storyboard for interaction design and you'll have something to base your wireframes on.
Look at showcase sites for inspiration. Look at as many websites as you can, all the time.
End
Matt
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