TrippingWords unalterated verbiage

Adit Gupta tripped on Sun Jan 03,  2010  at  07:28 PM

I support your viewpoint of being unique with certain blog designs. However, I think this post will raise many eyebrows because design is considered to be bound by a certain set of laws. Some might even say that why are you into designing if you want to get so much creative - go into fine arts!
The above statement would be strongly echoed by those who believe in the notion that creativity has nothing to do with design.
I think there are two camps in the design community - some designers hate the idea of relating creativity with design while others like me believe that they are interrelated.
I think there would be a lot of discussion about this article and I am really looking forward to it. :D

Angie Bowen tripped on Sun Jan 03,  2010  at  08:46 PM

I totally agree. I think, especially for web design, there are a few rules that you need to stick to. Like having the logo/name in the upper left and having a clear navigation. And obviously business sites and such aren’t going to be all that creative.

But I have the pleasure of getting to design for a lot of the local artists here and I try to let my creativity really flow for those. And honestly, I’ve gotten a bit of flack for some of my designs from other designers. But if you can’t break the mold for an artist site and make it a unique, it seems like the web will just end up boring and all the same.

And maybe it’s because I come from a past in fine art that I still see the need for creativity in design, and see creativity as being just as important as theory instead of secondary.

Great discussion as always!

Liam McCabe tripped on Sun Jan 03,  2010  at  10:05 PM

A very good post Josh. I too value uniqueness but I also value what I like, if a design follows a similar layout or style to various other sites then I will, by all means, stick with it. I will try to include something new and creative but if it’s not required then I won’t.

It is very hard to be unique when we’re flooded with css galleries and showcases. However, if you want to be truly unique, I would suggest completely forgetting about a typical webpage’s layout. In fact completely forget about website design in general instead find your inspiration elsewhere.

Oh and I do dare! :D

Lam Nguyen tripped on Mon Jan 04,  2010  at  03:23 AM

Great idea for a post!

Thanks Josh! Keep your great work up!

Josh tripped on Mon Jan 04,  2010  at  06:55 AM

Adit

Thanks for the wonderful response as always Adit. You are right, it does boil down to weather design and creativity are interrelated. I am a quite certain that many designers would disagree with the whole conception of “unique designs”. For me, design is a science, but at the same time it is also a science that encourages exploration. Certain basic conventions have to be followed but apart from that, personal blog websites should be experimental playgrounds…or at least that’s how I feel currently.

Angie
Love reading your comments Angie! That’s a good point you brought up, about designing websites for artists. I’ve never had the opportunity to design such websites, but I do see the need to be more creative in such instances, especially when “art” is the focal point.

This brings me to another point. Sometimes, I guess visual uniformity does serve as a “guarantee” to the designer that their work will be widely accepted. So there is this innate fear to venture into the “unknown”. I do wonder if this might be the case.

Liam
Haha…I certainly agree with your sentiments and its refreshing to know that you are up for the challenge to push the boundaries of web design.  We do have website designs based on magazine layouts/posters etc, but the creative focus is slowly but surely expanding into other mediums as well.

In fact, Flash websites are becoming more usable as well in recent times. Great comment!

Lam
Thanks for the compliment Lam. Glad you liked the article.

Shurandy Thode tripped on Mon Jan 04,  2010  at  02:43 PM

First of all great article. I’ve read it the other day already and had a lot in mind to comment. I’ll keep it short this time.

I personally value uniqueness in designs. Sometimes the inspiration you get through other sites/blogs do lead to less uniqueness. But I think also that without being out there you can’t do much about your own site. You have to keep up with the trends other sites follow.

When it comes to commercial designs, I really stick to basics of designing for the web and try to draw layouts and create looks for myself. I don’t want people coming to me or a company and tell that ur design is just a copy of mine.

Furthermore I agree with both Liam McCabe (whichs site I like a lot) and Angie Bowen. I share those same thoughts. They both touch some great points of being unique.

And to you Josh I really appreciate that you started engaging with me through twitter and that u asked me if I can leave my thought on unique designs. As I said i did read it yesterday but sometimes it takes me two or three times for reading before i can form my opinion. So it’s a good thing you drop me a mention on Twitter. Keep up the good work here at trippingwords and I will be pending for more great articles.

Regards =)

Mantiuxa tripped on Mon Jan 04,  2010  at  04:04 PM

Hello Josh!

Even thought I don’t fully agree with your opinion you are very right about emotions.

What I want to say it is not the matter of how different you are, it is matter of emotion you spread. Difference is tool. You can’t ‘dare’ to use it, you might ‘have’ to use it to expres certain message.

I’m sorry, I have to admit I didn’t really read your whole post because it too hard for me and I am kinda saving my eyes.

Josh tripped on Mon Jan 04,  2010  at  04:45 PM

Shurandy

Thanks for your response mate. It is heartening to know that you found the article thought provoking.

I agree that a certain element of uniformity can indeed be a “passport” towards gaining the deserved recognition for your work. If you do stick by conventions, it induces a kind of familiarity amongst readers which has its benefits.

Oh and thanks for the kind words. I try my best to interact with all the readers on this website, when time allows. The design community (particular designers like yourself and the rest who participate in discussion) is the sole reason behind this website’s continued success.

Cheers

Josh tripped on Mon Jan 04,  2010  at  04:50 PM

@Mantiuxa

Oops…sorry I missed your comment.
Well for me “difference” is definitely a tool, but it takes a certain degree of boldness and “courage” to go about making those changes that you deem to be in variance with mainstream design trends.

But I do agree with you on the emotive context of design. Design is definitely the artful delivery of rich “emotional experiences”. It is something that you feel but rarely consciously acknowledge.

.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) tripped on Mon Jan 04,  2010  at  06:44 PM

Great Post, it really hits home for me. I am just starting out and I always ask myself these questions. When you touched on designing with your heart and not your head really helped because I get so wrapped up in structure and etc. to the point I lose the whole meaning.

Josh tripped on Mon Jan 04,  2010  at  07:03 PM

Hi Shondra, thanks for stopping by.

Great to hear that the article has helped you. Yes it’s certainly very easy to be overtly pre-occupied with structure to the extent of leaving the emotional dimension of design out. I guess some sort of balance is required to fully understand the design process.

HullDO tripped on Mon Jan 04,  2010  at  07:23 PM

This is a really interesting article - definitely controversial to a point.

You clearly know what you’re doing though, as I think this website is extremely well designed.

Thanks for the great post and it’s a pleasure to spread the word.

vikas ghodke tripped on Mon Jan 04,  2010  at  07:24 PM

Nice article josh.. yeah for design blogger there blogs should be there playground, i like your blog design its very different, creative and unique. Thanks for this great article you opened my eyes now will play with my blog will surelly come up with something unique and creative like you josh.

kamal tripped on Tue Jan 05,  2010  at  02:37 AM

Nice article, unique design…great josh..!!!
awsome work..

Josh tripped on Tue Jan 05,  2010  at  06:09 AM

@ HullDO

Thanks for the kind words. Glad you enjoyed the piece.

@vikas ghodke

Thanks for stopping by Vikas!
Yes, I’m always a strong proponent of the creative spirit. Looking forward to future designs from yourself. I’m sure they will be fantastic!

@Kamal

Welcome to Tripping Words.

Cheers for the compliment! My aim was to make Tripping Words a little different from the usual blog design, so hopefully I’ve achieved that. BTW, had a look at your portfolio and it looks pretty impressive!

LukeSF tripped on Tue Jan 05,  2010  at  10:33 AM

Overall the message is definitely right and I guess noone will doubt the truth of being unique to be successful. Though IMHO the idea of not running a blog which looks and functions like others may really turn off lots of social media newcomers… You never get unique immediatelly… it takes time and effort to pick your uniqness, cherish it, grow and let it flow on its own in the harsh seas of modern online world…  Though of course one should always bear in mind - uniqness sells… maybe even better than sex does

Josh tripped on Tue Jan 05,  2010  at  11:19 AM

Hi Luke, cheers for the response!

Very well said. Uniqueness is definitely an aspect of creativity that is nurtured over time. Only through familiarity will a design eventually gain public acceptance and recognition.

I also do find that certain designers who have a particularly strong traditional grounding in design theory, are at times unsettled by highly unique projects that defy common design principles. I might be wrong though (and most likely I am). That’s just my impression.

Haha and as for sex and uniqueness - thats a whole different story for another post.

Thanks for the comment!

vikas ghodke tripped on Tue Jan 05,  2010  at  12:41 PM

Very well said Luke. he he he lol about sex and uniqueness

Bluefaqs tripped on Tue Jan 05,  2010  at  02:37 PM

A great read as usual Josh!

Displaying your personality within your blog really helps to engage the audience IMO. Readers like to know that the design and content of a blog are created by humans and not by some monotonous robot. By writing and designing from the heart, you personality can’t help but shine through.

You made an excellent point when you stated that, “A ‘soulless’ blog is bland and it usually (but not always) provides an uneventful experience for the reader.”

.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) tripped on Tue Jan 05,  2010  at  03:33 PM

@Vikas

Maybe I should write something on the parallels between sex as a marketing strategy and uniqueness. haha

@Bluefaqs

Glad to read your response mate.  Yes, I like how you put it across, that one’s personality will “shine through” when a design is constructed from the heart. It is easy to be lost amongst the rules of design and it is thus important that as designers we make the concerted effort to seek answers “within”.

M. Joshua tripped on Tue Jan 05,  2010  at  03:53 PM

Designing with your heart is the essence of passion. If you’re not a passionate designer. You’ll fail.

I know some great designers. We’ve competed for work. I’ve won because I bested them in the passion category.

They’ll get by. But they won’t excel, even if they’re work is awesome.

Josh tripped on Tue Jan 05,  2010  at  05:07 PM

Hi Joshua,

Thanks for the excellent comment. Passion is definitely the key to designing with your heart. It can unlock another dimension to design - the extra ounce of dedication put into design work is almost instantly noticeable.

By the way, I just visited your portfolio and it is amazing. Love the creative and minimalist feel.

.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) tripped on Tue Jan 05,  2010  at  06:40 PM

Coming from a motion graphics background, web design has always been a challenge for me.  Balancing information design and print design can be difficult if you’re trying to have a good user experience.  I use to lean towards the really unique, flash heavy websites, but the more I have studied web and fequented blogs, a good old word press theme is the perfect balance if the developer has the right design tools.

Danielle tripped on Tue Jan 05,  2010  at  10:23 PM

Design With Your Heart And Not Your Head. This is so easy to say. I’m working so hard right now to set up my website and blog in the design that best reflects me. I think I’ve changed my mind at least 3 times AFTER I’ve made it to the coding stage. I’ve even changed my Gravtar multiple times (I think my latest is a keeper).*sigh* Daring to be different is causing me much frustration right now.

M tripped on Wed Jan 06,  2010  at  01:59 AM

[...]Style is the ability to get in touch significantly with one’s own identity and express it in a meaningful and impressionistic manner and that itself connotes an artistic sense of being unique and different. [...]

We designers are attempting this everyday. I am a believer that a designer is not an artist; design is not equal to art. The style must interpret the content and context of the purpose of the site or blog.

Websites which stand out from the crowd match their purpose and style. It’s not only being unique and different on the surface, but there must also be layers of processes and deep thoughts behind it to convey the uniqueness.
Design with Your Heart and Your Head as well.

Thank you for the article. I enjoy reading every article. Keep up the good work.

Josh tripped on Wed Jan 06,  2010  at  09:35 AM

@Aaron Hi Aaron, thanks for the response. Well, I started web design with Flash back in the 2001, but once CSS and table-less mark up became institutionalized web standards, I’ve made the switch. A unique design can definitely stem from a static page layout. With CSS (now in its 3rd iteration), the boundaries are limitless!

@Danielle Hello there, thanks for writing in! I know EXACTLY what you mean. I had several versions of Tripping Words too, and then finally chose to incorporate certain elements from each for the final product. Designing a personal project can be very time consuming because as designers, we tend to be amongst our harshest critics.

@M A very insightful response! You are right. There is definitely an underlying foundational layer behind unique designs or any design for that matter. I guess a balance must be struck between practicality and individual style. A style should definitely complement a website’s primary objective and purpose. Oh..and thanks for the compliment!

designi1 tripped on Wed Jan 06,  2010  at  10:46 AM

Nice article and discussion :D

Josh tripped on Wed Jan 06,  2010  at  01:19 PM

Thanks for comment Designi1. I like the layout of your website, its quite innovative.

Eric tripped on Wed Jan 06,  2010  at  04:46 PM

After mulling over this great article for a couple of days I’d like to comment on something that was only just touched on. You mention that it takes courage to be unique and you are correct. I think that, perhaps, it takes more of that trait than of any other characteristics or talents a designer may have.

You ask us, “What is the risk (if any) of being unique in an industry/community which embraces creative ambition but also prefers to preserve certain aesthetic traditions?” and the answer is that we risk our acceptance in the community. A community can be many things and one of those things that it can be is a mob. As you state that some designers will “take great offence when a designer or a person who claims to be well versed with design, disregards its sacred laws”. It only takes one respected and successful member of the community who values the aesthetic traditions a little more than the embracing of creative ambition to get the mob mentality ball rolling and effectively limit someones experience within the community. The same reaction can just as easily apply to a career/industry situation resulting in much harsher consequences than just being cast as a lower class member of an online community.

That being said, I’m not trying to imply that this has happened in our online design community or that it even will. What I’m trying to point out is that by the time people come to the point of being a member of our community or industry they have undoubtedly already experienced or witnessed something like what I described at earlier points in their life. These things just seem to happen when groups of people get together and it creates that fear in us and the notion that we need to “go along to get along”. This fear that many people have ingrained in them is one of the greatest obstacles to overcome when deciding to be creative to the point unique.

Great article, Josh, and a very good discussion to have.

Design Informer tripped on Wed Jan 06,  2010  at  11:51 PM

Another well written and thought-provoking article Josh.

I am definitely with you on this. I also value “uniqueness.”

While I think that the design laws should be considered in our designs, I think these laws along with creativity and uniqueness can be inter-woven with each other to produce a fine, high-quality, well-designed piece. Who ever said that uniqueness can’t be possible while abiding by the design laws?

Also, about the blogs, I completely agree. We all need to try to be creative in our blogs, as they are a reflection of us, and you have done a great job of doing just that on Tripping Words. I have tried to be unique as well on Design Informer. While we may not be able to push the limits and boundaries on client projects, we can definitely do it in our own personal work. That is also the reason why I have encouraged the #daily365 challenge. It is to encourage everyone to experiment with different styles, tutorials, etc. on their designs.

Great article once again Josh. Sorry if I’m a little late to the discussion party.

Looking forward to your next article!

Josh tripped on Thu Jan 07,  2010  at  12:12 AM

@Eric
Hi Eric, thank you very much for contributing a very insightful analysis of the discussion at hand. You have brought up a series of excellent viewpoints.

I definitely agree that a community, by its inherent social structure, can often be biased towards certain ideals (for example, design theory) and all it takes is for a single well-respected member to begin an onslaught on a particular design trend or approach that deviates from the norm significantly.

I guess gaining acceptance and recognition is definitely a factor which compels us to follow with mainstream conceptions. In that sense, the social risk involved in being unique is just way too high. I think several designers and bloggers (myself included) feel this sentiment to varying degrees. At the end of the day, as designers and creative individuals we tend to seek for social re-assurance time and again, especially in an industry where reputation precedes almost everything else. 

@ Design Informer
Thanks for taking the time to comment Jad. I truly appreciate it! The #daily365 challenge is an excellent campaign to promote uniqueness in the industry and for designers to experiment with their own personal stylistic affiliations. I spend almost an hour everyday browsing through all the latest design work that has been posted. I hope to contribute something to it soon too, once my work settles. But yes, I agree that client projects do not always provide us with the flexibility to be unique but as for personal ventures, the sky is the limit. Experimentation is really like “soul-searching” – finding a comfortable “identity”.

Chris tripped on Thu Jan 07,  2010  at  03:03 PM

Loved the article. I think all of this falls in boundary of “What is the client paying you to do?.”

Josh tripped on Thu Jan 07,  2010  at  04:00 PM

Hi Chris,

Thanks for your response. Well, the client is essentially the “king” but for personal projects, there are less restrictions.

Design ideas tripped on Mon Jan 11,  2010  at  08:15 AM

Nice tips. Thanks for nice reading

Josh tripped on Mon Jan 11,  2010  at  12:40 PM

Thanks for the kind words.

Maicon Sobczak tripped on Tue Jan 12,  2010  at  06:17 PM

Audacious and full of truth this article. The design is becoming so standarlized that creativity sometimes seems to be the last thing in the head of web designers.

Josh tripped on Tue Jan 12,  2010  at  08:20 PM

@ Maicon Sobczak

Thanks for the comment Maicon. I agree that the structured nature of design principles (which in itself is important) has sometimes overshadowed the creative side of it.

Gisele Jaquenod tripped on Mon Jan 18,  2010  at  06:00 PM

Ey dear, great article, really cant agree more with you :D I <3 design

.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) tripped on Sat Feb 06,  2010  at  02:58 PM

i definitely agree. This is pretty much the same argument that several master painters endured as well as thousands of musicians. Music also has it’s laws in music theory but i would wager a bet these “elitists” you speak of listen to a lot more than classical music. What about Jazz? It’s primary soul is about breaking the rules of music theory in a way that redefines them. Without venturing down the road less traveled we would never have had the advances in science, art, music, and all things intellectual and creative. Just something to remember next time you scoff at something just because it “breaks the rules”.

Josh tripped on Mon Feb 08,  2010  at  09:17 PM

@Gisele

Thanks for the kind words.

@Lokin

I like your point, There is definitely value in being different. Uniqueness (especially in the field of design) has become a prized commodity and it is also the central key towards innovation and progress.