In my previous entry, I decided to release some of the design or layouts that I came up with for the upcoming revamp. The number of feedback was needless to say quite humiliating, but at least I know now how much a huge head creates a wrong impact.
The discussion we’re going to have today is about determining the difference between a design and a layout. I’d like to find the border that actually tells us when it’s called a design or a layout.
But just so you know in advance, this discussion might end up being very subjective and personal preference.
So what is a design or a layout? With courtesy from Wikipedia, this is what I found for design:
Design as a process can take many forms depending on the object being designed and the individual or individuals participating.
In the context of the applied arts, engineering, architecture and other such creative endeavours, design is both a noun and a verb. Design in its verb context is the process of originating and developing a plan for an aesthetic and functional object, which usually requires considerable research, thought, modelling, iterative adjustment and re-design. As a noun, design is used both for the final plan of action (a drawing, model or other description), or the result of following that plan of action (the object produced).
Because Wikipedia didn’t have the answer for a layout, I fired up the dictionary and found this:
An arrangement or a plan, especially the schematic arrangement of parts or areas: the layout of a factory; the layout of a printed circuit.
In Print:
1. The art or process of arranging printed or graphic matter on a page.
2. The overall design of a page, spread, or book, including elements such as page and type size, typeface, and the arrangement of titles and page numbers.
3. A page or set of pages marked to indicate this design.
Okay, now that we’ve settled its meaning, let’s have a look at what we’re about to discuss upon. A design seems to be the process of originating and developing a plan for an aesthetic and functional object. In other words, the ‘designs’ that I have done are the development of accomplishing an aesthetic and functional object. It was aesthetically simple in appearance but functional in it being a website.
A layout, explained by the dictionary is the arrangement of a plan or the schematic structure or in print, it’s described as the overall ‘design’ of a page. Well, isn’t this fascinating? A layout is actually described as the overall design of a page. So when we say, “is the layout for the magazine finished?” It actually asking if the overall magazine ‘design’ is finished.
But wait, earlier it said that a layout is the schematic structure or a plan. So how do we describe schematic in normal English? Let’s ask the dictionary again.
Of, relating to, or in the form of a scheme or diagram.
This, in other words proves that a layout is a diagram or what I normally call, a site skeleton. The site skeleton is normally my layout or my plan to help me devise a design for the layout that I am doing. But of course, you can’t call a finished design a site skeleton, so we then call it a layout. Or doesn’t that sound right as well?
When dave left me this comment;
Its not even a “design”. It just layout. Sorry to say that but putting a big head up there just doesn’t work.
He’s right and wrong. Right because it is a layout. It’s the finished product of the homepage template design. Wrong because there is a design, just that it isn’t aesthetically complex to many people’s expectation.
Design is being taken for granted for being something complex or artsy fartsy all the time. However, in website design, it isn’t all about complexity every time nowadays. It is about functionality.
What good is an ‘over complex-fied perfect designer type website’ you boast upon when it’s not working for the client and even worst, its visitors? That I leave for you to answer.
hmm, seems like my big head comment on last post has an avalanche effect. I was just trying to be funny :). And big head is ok, i like out of the box idea.
As for this post – i dont think my paradigm places ‘design’ before or after ‘layout’. For me its like concept (psd/illustrator) -> layout (html/php/css). So first design concept, then lay it out. Both involve a certain level of design process.
You know what’s the worst sort of design? When form kills functionality. Easily seen during the “let’s go Flash, everyone!” movement, a couple of years back.
Thank God we’ve returned.
i think layout is more for structure, whereas design is more about the aesthetics. of course, the two are inter-related and overlap, i.e. the layout is part of the design.
i would think of it this way. design will concern a theme e.g. simple, psychadelic, retro, aqua. on the other hand, layout will concern form and functionality e.g. 2-column, fluid, header-less, etc. in my opinion, i would say design is a subset of layout.
BUT… the truth is i dunno what i’m talking about. i use the terms interchangebly haha. part of it is probably because i prefer to say i’m still in the process of designing, rather than i’m in the process of layout-ing.