Category Archives: Design

My Response to Responsive Design & Why You Should Be Besties with The Devs

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I recently began to redesign my personal website which is just a place for me to show off all the different kinds of work I do (illustration, design, photography). I like to consider myself a pretty qualified front-end developer, so I am always interested in new practices and technologies.

I’ve been hearing and seeing the term “Responsive Design” everywhere. From the amount of screentime its getting all over the interwebs, its definitely only becoming more and more prominent. The reason it is so huge right now, is because everyone has a smart phone and tablets are on the rise. Everyone can get a google result or a webpage up in seconds with the little computer in their pocket or purse. The thing is, the layout of a phone’s screen is completely different from a computer screen, and people are viewing the web in so many different environments. What responsive design does is create a fluid transition between different site layouts, by determining what screen size the viewer is looking at.

So, instead of making three different websites, like one for a desktop, one for a tablet, and one for a phone, you make one website. Within the CSS, you just write different attributes for classes that will change and assign them to a specific screen size media query. Anything that is global, is written once in the global CSS and will apply to each layout.

For example, let’s say I want a different font size on the desktop version as I do for a mobile version. So, I’d go about my way for the desktop version, write the simple class like so:

.leftColumn {font-size: 12px;}

Cool, now on my computer’s browser the font is 12px. But on the phone I find that a little bit hard to read so I want to make it a bit bigger. I create a new section in my css and write this:

@media handheld, only screen and (max-width: 767px) {

.leftColumn {font-size: 14px;}

}

And voila! When it is detected that I’m viewing the site on a browser smaller than 767 pixels, it will change the font to 14px.

SIDE NOTE *** I should also note at this point, that a few of these attributes do not play nice with IE (surprise, surprise). This will like total doodie on IE6 (www.responsiveie6.com), and so far I’ve only tested in IE9 and 8. Looks pretty okay in 9 but 8 gets a little wonky. ***

A lot of the changing layouts rely on percentages and a columned grid. On my site, I have three columns for my content each at about 30% width (taking into consideration margins and padding). I also put a max-width on the columns, so if the screen is enormous, the layout is controlled.

I ended up using a template called the 1140 css grid (cssgrid.net) and it couldn’t have been easier. I often get completely intimidated by new coding styles and technology I’m unfamiliar with, so I was very hesitant to get immersed in this for fear of severe self-humiliation and potential pillow-punching… but it ended up feeling like I’d done it a million times before. This is why people should absolutely start implementing this. Its SO DARN EASY PEOPLE! This is coming from someone who didn’t really know what floats were and what they did until about a year ago. Just do it. There are so many templates out there (just google ‘Responsive web design template’).

This brings me to a topic that has also been popping up a lot, and that is the thinning line that divides designers and developers. There has been such a distinct separation in the past where its two completely different steps. The designer figures out the architecture of the site and then makes the pretty PSD files. Then those get handed off to the developer who just builds off of that psd. There is hardly any collaboration. With responsive design, the functionality and working parts  are now the designers’ concern, as is what the site will look like in three or more different ways is the developers concern. Both parties need to be conscious of the deliberate decisions the other is making.

I read an article recently that discussed working together and how important it is to involve the designer in the development process, and vice versa. I know from personal experience that sometimes some developers end up needing to create a new, minor functionality. Usually, they’ll just make it work and make their own decisions on how it should look because they think it is so minor, and then months later I just happen to see it and it looks terrible!!! (No offense devs… but its my job to pick out colors :) and emphasis on some.. some devs do know good design) and at that point, the project will be too far along to fix or change it. I’ve experienced handing off designs, and then feeling like I’m no longer a part of the project.

Especially with the current state of programming, its not all about being pixel perfect anymore. Its about making the site display correctly across many different browsers and operating systems. But, just because the designs are guidelines, doesn’t mean that the designer shouldn’t be questioned when there isn’t a deliberate design available to reference. A really important step is to assess any and all interactive functionality with the designer. I’ve seen a few hover effects appear out of nowhere after development that I did not design that way. Any page transitions, or changes in appearance, however slight the function may be, should be intentionally designed. One bad gradient, and the site can go from super classy to mismatched and funky.

So, designers, become besties with the developers and communicate with project managers that, yes, it is okay to come to me for a minor thing like a popup modal. And developers, you are amazing at what you do, thats why you do it, and same goes for me… I was hired to make the aesthetic decisions, but I want your input. Its hard to keep track of every little thing that should occur on a site, along with bajillions of potential use cases. So, its really important that if there is a certain function that was not designed, it should be just as important as every other designed element. This is all reliant on communication, and usually there is a middle man and/or woman, like a Project Manager, that needs to be a liaison between the two. If there is any uncertainty about something, everyone should discuss with each other to figure out the best course of action.

Viva responsive design!!

I would love to hear what you think about this… is responsive design the way to go? Do you actually think designers and devs should be separated in their work?

Remedies for Writer’s Block and Other Mental Constipations

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Writers’ Block. Everyone gets it whether they’re a writer or not. Its that part of your process where you hit a brick wall and your brain cannot process any new thoughts. I tend to get this when I’ve been staring at a design or wireframes for a few hours and my eyes start crossing. It usually hits in the afternoon, and sometimes just getting up to get a snack or glass of water remedies my predicament, but other times its a bit more serious.

All I need is some serious inspiration… and with the internet at my fingertips, its not hard to find some.

Designers (and non-designers!) can be influenced by so much. Everything in the world can somehow be interpreted into something creatively plausible by anyone with the ability to see. Color, light, movement, and shapes are everywhere, its impossible not to notice.

Here are some blogs and websites that I immediately go to to gain some creative input.

tympanus.net/codrops/

I always go here, even when I’m not stuck, just to check out the new stuff they’re doing. There are constantly new write-ups and demos with all the fancy new trends. I tend to do keyword searches like, typography or design and browse multiple articles within one theme to get in a certain mindset. Originally shown to me by Jeff Chew, I quickly became enamored with this group for their vast skill-set and wide arrange of knowledge across design, the web and usability.

www.thenewgraphic.com

I love coming to this site to clear my design hang-ups. This group of illustrators, designers, writers, photographers and thinkers compile a wonderfully simple, continuously scrolling blog. I find that their design aesthetics reference a lot of vintage and traditional graphic design, which is, appropriately, very graphic. The bold use of color with minimalist type is seen often, along with nostalgic photography and tons of patterns. This blog always brings me back to the basics and reminds me why I love to create.

www.ffffound.com

ffffound is a great site that just has tons of images. What I love doing is scanning through until I see something that catches my eye, and then losing myself in an infinite cycle of clicking related images. There’s a lot of content on here, but with proper determination, you can find tons of inspirational posters, illustrations, designs and photos.

www.jjjjound.com

Clearly, the name is referencing ffffound, but this is a blog created by one guy who has a love for all things menswear, women and sleek design. Warning: There are nude images intermingled amongst so most definitely NSFW. He only posts occasionally but he posts so much its fairly easy to lose track of time scrolling through. This brings out the minimalist in me… his taste and aesthetic are beautifully simple.

www.cdryan.com

Christopher David Ryan is a designer that I keep coming back to. He is incredibly talented with iconography and imagery. He invokes so much thought and feeling through his charismatically simple and joyful images. I usually keep up with his blog, but its always refreshing to just go back and look at his portfolio. A lot of his designs end up being my desktop!

www.designsponge.com

Design Sponge is one of the most renowned design blogs out there, for good reason. Mostly directed towards interior design and decorating, Grace Bonney overflows her blog with tons of design-driven posts that are sure to inspire anybody. She has a ton of different writers from all walks of the earth that keep the content fresh and ever-changing. The DIY and Before-and-After posts are huge for getting you motivated to use your hands and get those creative juices flowing.

www.pinterest.com

This is an invite only site, but once you’re in, it is incredibly addicting. You follow people who like the same kind of things you do, and the homepage pushes other users that are similar to you as well. This is honestly just a huge burst of inspiration… you can search any kind of keyword and just pour over images upon images.

www.forrst.com

Forrst is also an invite only site, but specifically for designers and developers. It is a social network directed towards those who design sites and those who code sites. They encourage critique, feedback and sharing your knowledge with others who ask. I spend a lot of time checking out other people’s designs and reading all the feedback to keep up with what audiences are seeing and feeling. Its like a virtual classroom, and its very rewarding for users who are active in the community.

At this point, I’ve probably lost you to at least one of the above websites, but I hope that if any readers are ever in a pickle, they can find solace and get revived from one of my suggestions.

Would love to hear other people’s suggestions for sites that spur creative thinking, so please share in the comments!

Designing for the Web

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One of my favorite parts about being a designer is communicating an idea or getting a certain point across to the audience. Designers translate a thought into a visual representation with the intention to help people understand that initial thought.

Designing for the web is a particularly challenging but interesting process. Although I’ve been a graphic designer for years, my background is in illustration; painting and drawing specifically, occasionally using a computer for slight enhancements. When it comes to artwork I’m pretty much a pen to paper kinda gal. In any type of design though, whether it is with a mouse and pixels or a paintbrush to a canvas, the designer has to take into consideration all aspects of good design. Knowledge of composition, color schemes and contrast (among many other skill sets) are integral to being a good designer.

Yet, when it comes to the web, all these skills are relative to a designers’ knowledge of interface design. In an illustration, the audience is receiving the information being passed on by the artist and interpreting how they want to. On a website, the user is receiving the information, and when it comes down to it, there’s only one interpretation possible. It all depends on how intuitive the design is in order for the user to get that information properly.

The key to a great website isn’t how bright and crazy the design is, or fancy animations and tons of unnecessary features. Its how understandable it is to use, and how enjoyable the experience it is. Of course visual design (colors, typefaces) plays into the enjoyment factor, but really, you want a user to come to your website, know what they want to do, be able to do that, and come back and do it again. Hopefully somewhere in between that, they’ll tell someone about your site too.

When I design for a site here at Bootsoft, I’ve most likely spent a lot of time on wireframes (or someone else did) and I have the interface issues solved. Sometimes, for personal projects like artist portfolios, especially, I just jump right into the designs. When that happens, I am still always keeping in mind the importance of the user, and making sure that anyone who comes to that site can navigate it easily and successfully. Following this, certain things in a design are going to be adjusted, or compromised. For example, if you have some awesome photographs that you want to display, it all depends on what your site is for. If it is a photography portfolio, by all means, those photos should be the main attraction of your website, and of course be larger in proportion to any other elements on your site. On the other hand, if you are a company that offers special services or products, you may have other information on your site that is much more important than a nice picture. Especially if you have an ambiguous company name or logo, users are going to want to find out what you are all about, immediately, and if you have an enormous photo pushing all your content below the fold, it is going to effect the user’s productivity and impede on their overall efficiency.

Certain color schemes also have to be taken into consideration. For a print poster advertising a huge sale, bright colors and large text can be incredibly effective, especially when people are viewing from a distance. On the web, readability is crucial. Sure, there may be important things you want to ‘pop’ on the page, but if it is taking away from the overall goal of your user, there are plenty of other ways to emphasize certain elements than using bright neon colors and enormous text. If a site is going to have a lot of text, such as a blog or a web based newspaper or magazine, there are certain color schemes you must follow. Typically, light text on a dark background is looked down upon on the web, because of the ‘glow’ that can occur around letters, which can be incredibly distracting if the text is smaller and more compact. On the other hand, it has been said that if someone is staring at a screen and reading for a long time, having a light background can be straining on the eyes because its like you’re staring at a bright light for hours. Either way, taking into consideration the color and type of text you use is incredibly important. Put yourself in your readers’ eyes, would you want to be reading neon green text on a hot pink background? I don’t think so.

All that being said, design and the web are constantly evolving. With all the possibilities of programming, designers are now more able to stretch their creative muscles and really experiment with new elements and designs. As exciting as it is, we still have to remember that we are designing for an audience and their experiences are what make us grow.

Redesigning BootsoftSoftware.com

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Over the seven years I spent with Bootsoft, I’ve seen the company grow from a development company, to a fully evolved team that provides everything from well-defined discovery, smart development, and a refined maintenance/support process. During that time, I was able to add usability and information architecture to the many services that Bootsoft provides today. However, one of the bigger milestones for both Bootsoft as well as my career was the birth of the Creative team last year.

As with any client’s redesign (or initial design for that matter), it’s important to understand the business goals, objectives, identity, and overall brand. Our creative process includes many steps and deliverables in order to identify these points, as well as a game plan on how to achieve the client’s needs. We deemed Bootsoft as a client, and treated ourselves no differently.

The User Experience

As part of our research, we studied the competition as well as applying what we know about our previous site visitors. We identified the target user personas, then began to structure how we want to deliver our message using UX design and information architecture techniques.

In parallel to this, we generated and explored various mood boards to get a better idea of the look and feel we wanted to achieve.

Based on feedback and several iterations, we were able to determine the general feeling we wish to convey to our visitors, as well as how our visitors can find the information they need quickly. This brought us to two different design directions; circle and square.

As with any design process, iterations can conceivably go on forever. We tasked ourselves with defining the pros and cons of each direction, then ultimately deciding on one. From there, we took the things we liked from the other and applied more detailed iterations. The end result is the site that you see today.

Interaction Design
The look and feel is only half the battle when it comes to design. What the user sees has been established, now how about when the user starts clicking around? One of the continuing mantras said throughout the discovery process was “no flash”. The whole Internet industry is abuzz with “HTML5”, and we wanted to flex our muscles as a company to show some of the latest and greatest your browser has to offer.

It’s easy for a designer to get carried away with how a site should behave in their mind. This is when it’s important to sync with a front-end tech lead on what we can and cannot do, according to the browser scope of the project. Storyboarding the site interactions is important to convey these ideas, either by conceptual or detailed wireframes.

In the past, we were accustomed to developing the “pixel-perfectness” from browser to browser. However, the industry is gradually seeing the importance of delivering speed and good UX over visual or functional consistency. This is why progressive enhancement is Bootsoft’s approach today over yesterday’s idea of graceful degradation.

Progressive Enhancement
As a front-end developer, I was no stranger to browser sniffing and conditional behaviors. I still cringe when I think about how much Netscape 4’s DOM differed from Internet Explorer. As part of progressive enhancement, the idea instead is to set a baseline that all browsers can understand, then go from there. We use a couple of tools in order to achieve that “reset”, then feature detection:

Because we want to develop our site using HTML5 semantics, it’s great that Modernizr includes an HTML5 shiv that will allow “oldie” browsers like IE6/7/8 to interpret tags like HEADER, NAV, SECTION, etc. For anything more complex, we use Modernizr’s feature detection to determine if the user’s browser can handle certain code. Because our site is almost completely based on CSS3 transitions, here’s one we used multiple times:

if (Modernizr.csstransitions){
// do some awesome stuff
}

CSS3
Everyone talks about HTML5. In layman’s terms, when a user sees something that is accomplished without flash, it’s easy to say “oh, that’s HTML5”. Well, that’s partially right. By definition:

HTML5:
(n) 1. The next version of HTML. Its core aims have been to improve the language with support for the latest multimedia while keeping it easily readable by humans and consistently understood by computers and devices

In general, HTML5 is the combination of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. A good chunk of the “magic” in Bootsoft’s new site is in CSS3, both rendering and animations. Because we chose the “circle” route, the site heavily uses rounded corners on elements. If you look at the http requests on our site, the only images that are loaded are the employee images, carousel images, and logos.

Another added benefit of CSS3 transitions is that animations are hardware accelerated. If we tried to achieve the same kind of animation on the “Who We Are” page using JavaScript, the page would get choppy. We made use of the “translate3d” attribute for transitions especially so webkit browsers will take advantage of the acceleration. Try using one of the dropdowns, then repeatedly clicking one of the options.

Google Chrome Frame / IE[x]
The benefit of progressive enhancement is that the site will still generally look fine even on the most stubborn of browsers (i.e. IE). Short of forcing the user to switch to a different browser entirely, another option we give our users (for those viewing our site in IE7 or below) is to install a plug-in called “Google Chrome Frame”. This was developed by Google, and is a plug-in for Internet Explorer that generally makes it behave like Chrome. The added bonus is that it automatically updates, just like Chrome. It installs in seconds, and the user can see all of the new and fancy things that Chrome has to offer, while still browsing comfortably in a browser they have grown used to using.

Although realistically we still need to support the browsers our clients task us to develop for, we hope that this “solution” catches on. As we’ve developed more HTML5-friendly sites, the more we’ve realized that IE[x] is the new IE6. Paul Irish, one of the developers on the Google Chrome team and leading front-end developers of the industry, has a great write-up on this.

Responsible Web Development
Whether if we’re developing a generally small site like ours, or an enterprise level web application, we always hold ourselves to the best practices of web development. The front-end in particular is rapidly becoming more robust, and can become unwieldy and harder to maintain when losing focus on how it is built. And with this great power, it means that much more responsibility that falls on the developer.

Wrap-up
Any project can easily stray off the path, especially in our own site redesign considering this project has a very close emotional attachment to all members involved. That is why our process played a crucial role in moving forward with our milestones and eventual site release. It also doesn’t hurt to have a stellar team working beside you every step of the way.

Jeffrey Chew
Director of UI Design & Development