I think you misunderstand my point - I'm talking about a very small niche here - design sites where the only purpose is to showcase design - not to be accessible, not to have content, not for any other purpose than showcasing design. In the example of the Foster and Partners example, there is an HTML version and there is a Flash version - if both have the same content, what's the point of having two versions? Remember Kioken? Do you think they cared about accessibility? Do you think they could have put out the amazing work they did if they were? Absolutely not.
>>Do you really, honestly think that there aren't blind or visually >>impaired people in charge of budgets who comission such things? I'm not saying that there aren't - but I do have insight into this very area. The company I work for does work for the worlds largest architectural and design firms. I can say that there is not one single blind or visually impaired person (and I use visually impaired in the since of "can't hardly see anything" sense, not in the "wears glasses or is colorblind" sense) working as either: a. a designer or b. anyone who has any control over design issues. When I'm doing prepress work for a company like HKS, WATG, Kerzner, Cannon Design, etc., and we're arguing over Pantone color profiles, uncoated versus coated, the tint of a particular bronze for a patina - do you think I'm talking with somebody who is blind or visually impaired? Obviously not. I'm also obviously talking about print work here and not the web. However, the concept is the same for design showcases on the web. My point was merely this: when you're doing design for design's sake and nothing else, and when content isn't an issue - there is absolutely no reason to even consider blind people in that scenario. >>The designer that gives half a thought to blind or visually impaired users >>is the one who will ultimately get more business, particularly given the >>current shift in thinking towards a more inclusive environment. I can see that you either haven't worked long in the architectural design field, or haven't worked there at all. Go look around at the majority of architectural firm sites - there's a common thread to the majority of them: 1. Flash and 2. Lots of interesting looking stuff, but scant content. When you submit a proposal to an architect or owner, often times your firm will be chosen based solely on how things look... not on what your price is, not on your reputation, not on your experience, but only for the reason of the person looking at what you've done and saying "WOW". Again, I think that you misunderstand the viewpoint I'm coming from - I'm not saying accessibility doesn't matter at all, ever. What I'm saying is that there are times when it doesn't, given the target audience and what the designer is trying to accomplish. Collin Davis Web Architect Stromberg Architectural Products 903.454.0904 e [EMAIL PROTECTED] w http://www.strombergarchitectural.com -----Original Message----- From: pixeldiva [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2005 4:07 PM To: wsg@webstandardsgroup.org Subject: Re: [WSG] IMAGE(was Mystical belief etc) On 4/20/05, Collin Davis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I would argue that in a heartbeat - when you're talking about an > architectural or otherwise design showcase site - what designer is going to > give half a though to blind or visually impaired users? Quite honestly, in > a situation like this site... who cares about them? - it's not for people > who are blind or visually impaired. Wow. That's one of the most ridiculously short-sighted things I've heard in a long time... and no, I'm not apologising for the pun. The designer that gives half a thought to blind or visually impaired users is the one who will ultimately get more business, particularly given the current shift in thinking towards a more inclusive environment. *particularly* in terms of buildings, fittings and gadgets. Do you really think that people who are blind or visually impaired don't care about design, about nice buildings, about cool gadgets? I know people with sight problems who are fascinated by design - just because it's more difficult to make such a visual medium accessible doesn't mean that you can write off the people who can't access it, just because your creativity only goes so far and you can't be bothered stretching yourself to find interesting ways to make it accessible that fit in with your "grand vision". (and I use the word "your" in the collective sense, not you personally) Do you really, honestly think that there aren't blind or visually impaired people in charge of budgets who comission such things? It's quite sad really. Every time I think that things are taking a step forward in terms of inclusivity, I see stuff like this and realise how far we have to go. pix http://www.pixeldiva.co.uk ****************************************************** The discussion list for http://webstandardsgroup.org/ See http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm for some hints on posting to the list & getting help ****************************************************** ****************************************************** The discussion list for http://webstandardsgroup.org/ See http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm for some hints on posting to the list & getting help ******************************************************
