As a designer, it’s honest to say that I’m a perfectionist always trying to achieve that perfect web design. However, as much as I tweak and nudge the designs around in Photoshop, it sometimes leave me with either a messed up design or a design that I’m still not so happy over.
Design is a totally subjective manner because everyone who views it feels differently. When you stare at the Mona Lisa, an artist would label it as the artwork. If you asked an accountant, he/she might label it as a nice picture. If you asked a designer, they’ll admit it being the artwork because they were taught that way but in their mind and heart they know there’s room for improvement because they’re perfectionist.
D. Keith Robinson recently posted his article on The Myth of Perfect Web Design, and also switched over to a simpler design for this blog.
His entry deciphered the perfect web design that many designers have been struggling to achieve. And I quote this from his post because it cleared up the mind of seeking the perfect web design.
Based of those two fairly obvious assumptions there is no such thing as perfect design, or a perfect solution on the Web. That is ok, we don’t need a perfect Web, in fact I’d settle for a pretty good Web at this point. But is there anything wrong with striving for perfection? On the surface the answer quite obviously is no, but expecting perfection can cause you problems.
In his post, Keith also explained the problems that occur in projects when either client or designer is seeking for the perfect web design. He clearly puts it that as much as both parties are looking out for the impression that is left behind, many forget the more important role of the website – avhieving goals.
And the solution that Keith suggested to every designer or client was summarized in just 1 paragraph.
To be better than most what you need to do is decide upon what would be very good, stick to that, and strive for what are the best possible solutions. They won’t be perfect, but they’ll be in the realm of the realistic and very good if done right.
Keith is a very insightful writer on website design, usability and almost anything to do with web design. In my humble opinion, he stands very closely to figures like Zeldman or Stopdesign’s author, Douglas Bowman.
More great articles could be found on Ketih’s blog, Asterisk.
‘pixel design’ is also possible. I would spend the whole day just to get that one pixel align right. Perfectionist? nope, just cant sleep well if it’s not done right. ^_^
to get to ‘perfect’, one have to be at least ‘good’. To get to a level of ‘good’ seems to be an endless journey to me :P then again, ‘good’ is subjective too :D
it’s hard not to be overly-critical.