>On Dec 19, 2007, at 12:39 PM, Robert Hoekman, Jr. wrote: > >> Ditto. I've had plenty of practice, but I'll never be half as good >> as a real >> visual designer. > >I've long hated the term "visual designer." It's really nothing more >than a cop out in this field and I hope people will start to drop it >one of these years. > >Practically speaking, anyone who designs interactive software or >digital products needs to be good at the core basics of graphic >design. No ands, ifs or buts about it. This is effectively type, >color and layout. (Layout meaning general composition and the grid.)
And there you have the reason for the persistence of the term "visual designer". What do you mean by "Core basics" do you mean that I know what they are or that I can combine them in the optimal -- or approximately optimal -- fashion (the latter is what people generally mean). I can tell you a typeface is illegible or too small or makes an element too prominent. I can tell you that the colors are detracting from the purpose rather than supporting it. I can tell you that the layout is too busy, too complex, or too simple for the purpose. I can usefully and accurately critique design. But (oooo! Look! a "but") if (with the "if" right after the "but"!) you let me create the visual design, you will regret it...and (so...there's the and!) you will end up with an unattractive, mechanistically appropriate appearance. I recommend against it. I know *enough* about the issues involved in the visual side of things that I can usefully interact with them and both give and accept valid criticism and I know what I don't know and am not qualified to critique. I know *enough* about the issues involved in coding. I know *enough* about the issues of product management...and so on. I expect that the team I will work with will be similarly broad with a deep and complementary specialty and able to usefully participate in the give and take and compromise that creates the result - whatever that may be. Katie -- ------------------ Katie Albers User Experience Consulting & Project Management [EMAIL PROTECTED] ________________________________________________________________ *Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah* February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/ ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
