[IxDA Discuss] The mighty UX guru has spoken - Discuss!!

[Kim Bieler]

Murli,

I think that's a really useful distinction -- good design versus not- 
bad design.

Perhaps unusually for a designer, I long ago put myself in the not- 
bad design camp. To flourish as a designer and business person, I had  
to let go of the conceit that every job has to be award-winning -- or  
even portfolio-worthy.  So much of what we do as designers is turn  
things from bad into not-bad. And it's still, as often as not,  
putting lipstick on a pig. Very seldom do we get the chance (or the  
inspiration, or the budget, or the daring clients) to do something  
great. And usually, the only people who can tell it's something great  
are other designers.

95% of what's wrong with most web sites can be cured by applying the  
not-bad prescription. And, as you point out, most of this  
prescription is an objective set of rules and standards that any  
clever, motivated person can understand. (Unfortunately,  
democratizing design will always scare the people who have a vested  
interest in exclusivity and mystique. But that's another topic...)

I have to view Nielsen's design-agnostic persona (and website) as a  
design statement in itself. I think his point is, people don't care  
about the wrapping as long as they're convinced they want the present  
inside. Or, put another way, content is king.

And yes, I do think he's thumbing his nose at all those lipstick- 
wearing pigs out there.


-- Kim

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    Kim Bieler Graphic Design
    www.kbgd.com
    240-476-3129
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