Making the Web Personal Through Design
In a crowded digital world with thousands of websites, creating a web experience “that is simply usable is no more memorable than a meal that is merely edible. Just like a master chef strives to create a menu that is truly exceptional, so should we, as web professionals – endeavour to design and develop experiences and interfaces that are unforgettable”. 1
Visual design plays a powerful role in shaping and stimulating how we feel and respond. Making a web experience that is not only usable but also enjoyable, memorable, fun and filled with personality will set your brand apart from competitors and help you connect with your audience.
Here are some interesting articles about how design can help create enjoyable web experiences that the users will not only remember, but one that they may tell others about it as well:
Designing for Emotion by A Book Apart
“Through our personalities, we express the entire gamut of human emotion. Personality is the mysterious force that attracts us to certain people and repels us from others. Because personality greatly influences our decision-making process, it can be a powerful tool in design.”
A Fun Approach To Creating More Successful Websites by Smashing Magazine
“A fun experience is often an enjoyable one and an enjoyable experience is usually a memorable one. Therefore, it stands to reason that one of the ways to create a memorable experience is to make it a fun experience. In this article, we’ll take a look at how adding a bit of “fun” into the mix can help us produce more engaging, and hopefully more successful, websites.”
The Fun theory: An Initiative of Volkswagen. “Something as simple as fun is the easiest way to change people’s behaviour for the better.”
In Defense of Eye Candy by A List Apart
“When we think about application design and development, how do you think of visual design? Is it a skin, that adds some value—a layer on top of the core functionality? Or is this beauty something more? In the early 1900s, “form follows function” became the mantra of modern architecture. Frank Lloyd Wright changed this phrase to “form and function should be one, joined in a spiritual union,” using nature as the best example of this integration.”
Adding a Personal Touch to Your Web Design by Smashing Magazine
“Having a personal experience on the Web is becoming increasingly important. We no longer want to visit cold, formal and anonymous websites. Rather, we want to feel comfortable surfing the Web and to meet the people behind a website, and we need to trust them before we are willing to interact with their website.”
Emerald to be the colour of 2013 by Creative Review
Why Emerald for 2013? “The most abundant hue in nature, the human eye sees more green than any other colour in the spectrum. Symbolically, Emerald brings a sense of clarity, renewal and rejuvenation, which is so important in today’s complex world. This powerful and universally-appealing tone translates easily to both fashion and home interiors.”
In Bluewire Media we create usable, engaging & enjoyable web projects. You can take a look at our Portfolio to see some of our favorite.