#1: Allowing the Grid to Restrict UI Design
Despite my treatise against rules - here’s a rule: there is no way for a UI Designer to design without a
grid. The web or mobile interface is fundamentally based on a pixel by pixel
organization - there’s no
way around it. However, this does not necessarily mean that the interface has to
restrict designers to
gridded appearances, or even gridded processes.
Using the Grid as a Trendy Tool
Generally, making any design moves as a response to trends can easily lead to
poor design. Perhaps
what results is a satisfactory, mostly functional product. But it will almost certainly be boring or
uninteresting. To be trendy is to be commonplace. Therefore, when employing
the grid in a design,
understand what the grid has to offer as a tool, and what it might convey. Grids
generally represent
neutrality, as everything within the restraints of a grid appear equal. Grids also allow for a neutral
navigational experience. Users can jump from item to item without any interference from the
designer’s curatorial hand. Whereas, with other navigational structures, the designer may be able to
group content, or establish desired sequences.Although a useful tool, the grid can be very limiting to designers.
Defaulting to the Grid as a Work Flow
Dylan Fracareta, faculty of RISD and director of PIN-UP Magazine, points out
that “most people
start off with a 12 - column grid...because you can get 3 and 4 off of that”. The danger here is that
immediately the designer predetermines anything that they might come up with. Alternatively,
Fracareta resides to only using the move tool with set quantities, rather than physically placing thingsagainst a grid line. Although this establishes order, it
opens up more potential for unexpected
outcomes. Although designing for the browser used to mean that we would input some code, wait,
and see what happens. Now, web design has returned to a more traditional form of layout designer
that’s “more like adjusting two sheets of transparent paper”. How can we as designers benefit from
this process? Working Without a Grid Although grids can be restricting, they are one of our most
traditional forms of organization. The grid is intuitive. The grid is neutral and unassuming.
Therefore, grids allow content to speak for itself, and for users to navigate at their will and with ease.
Despite my warnings towards the restrictiveness of grids, different arrays allow for different levels of
guidance or freedom.
#2:The Standardization of UI Design with Patterns
The concept of standardized design elements predates UI design. Architectural details have been
frequently repeated in practice for typical conditions for centuries. Generally this practice makes
sense for certain parts of a building that are rarely perceived by a user. However, once architects
began to standardize common elements like furniture dimensions, or handrails heights, people
eventually expressed disinterest in the boring, beige physical environment that resulted. Not only
this, but standardized dimensions were proven to be ineffective, as although generated as an average,
they didn’t really apply to the majority of the population. Thus, although repeatable detail have their
place, they should be used critically.If we as designers choose to automate, what value are we providing?
Designers Using the Pattern as Product
Many UI designers don’t view the pattern as a time saving tool, but rather an off
the shelf solution to
design problems. Patterns are intended to take recurring tasks or artefacts and
standardize them in
order to make the designer’s job easier. Instead, certain patterns like F Pattern Layouts, Carousels or
Pagination have become the entire structure of many of our interfaces.Justification for the Pattern is Skewed
Designers tell themselves that the F shaped pattern exists as a result of the way that people read on
the web. Espen Brunborg points out that perhaps people read this way as a result of us designing for
that pattern. “What’s the point of having web designers if all they do is follow the recipe,” Brunborg
Despite my treatise against rules - here’s a rule: there is no way for a UI Designer to design without a
grid. The web or mobile interface is fundamentally based on a pixel by pixel
organization - there’s no
way around it. However, this does not necessarily mean that the interface has to
restrict designers to
gridded appearances, or even gridded processes.
Using the Grid as a Trendy Tool
Generally, making any design moves as a response to trends can easily lead topoor design. Perhaps
what results is a satisfactory, mostly functional product. But it will almost certainly be boring or
uninteresting. To be trendy is to be commonplace. Therefore, when employing
the grid in a design,
understand what the grid has to offer as a tool, and what it might convey. Grids
generally represent
neutrality, as everything within the restraints of a grid appear equal. Grids also allow for a neutral
navigational experience. Users can jump from item to item without any interference from the
designer’s curatorial hand. Whereas, with other navigational structures, the designer may be able to
group content, or establish desired sequences.Although a useful tool, the grid can be very limiting to designers.
Defaulting to the Grid as a Work Flow
Dylan Fracareta, faculty of RISD and director of PIN-UP Magazine, points out
that “most people
start off with a 12 - column grid...because you can get 3 and 4 off of that”. The danger here is that
immediately the designer predetermines anything that they might come up with. Alternatively,
Fracareta resides to only using the move tool with set quantities, rather than physically placing thingsagainst a grid line. Although this establishes order, it
opens up more potential for unexpected
outcomes. Although designing for the browser used to mean that we would input some code, wait,
and see what happens. Now, web design has returned to a more traditional form of layout designer
that’s “more like adjusting two sheets of transparent paper”. How can we as designers benefit from
this process? Working Without a Grid Although grids can be restricting, they are one of our most
traditional forms of organization. The grid is intuitive. The grid is neutral and unassuming.
Therefore, grids allow content to speak for itself, and for users to navigate at their will and with ease.
Despite my warnings towards the restrictiveness of grids, different arrays allow for different levels of
guidance or freedom.
#2:The Standardization of UI Design with Patterns
The concept of standardized design elements predates UI design. Architectural details have been
frequently repeated in practice for typical conditions for centuries. Generally this practice makes
sense for certain parts of a building that are rarely perceived by a user. However, once architects
began to standardize common elements like furniture dimensions, or handrails heights, people
eventually expressed disinterest in the boring, beige physical environment that resulted. Not only
this, but standardized dimensions were proven to be ineffective, as although generated as an average,
they didn’t really apply to the majority of the population. Thus, although repeatable detail have their
place, they should be used critically.If we as designers choose to automate, what value are we providing?
Designers Using the Pattern as Product
Many UI designers don’t view the pattern as a time saving tool, but rather an off
the shelf solution to
design problems. Patterns are intended to take recurring tasks or artefacts and
standardize them in
order to make the designer’s job easier. Instead, certain patterns like F Pattern Layouts, Carousels or
Pagination have become the entire structure of many of our interfaces.Justification for the Pattern is Skewed
Designers tell themselves that the F shaped pattern exists as a result of the way that people read on
the web. Espen Brunborg points out that perhaps people read this way as a result of us designing for
that pattern. “What’s the point of having web designers if all they do is follow the recipe,” Brunborg
No comments:
Post a Comment