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Whats_a_Design_Dinosaur
| Whats a Design Dinosaur
Are you fond of applying and scrambling old and new design
clichés in one helpless web page? Are you one of the thousands
not yet enlightened that ‘too much of a good thing is bad’? Are
you too engrossed in improvising other designs and not coming up
with your own?
Being a design dinosaur is a common sickness among designers who
tend to be exposed and awed in latest design clichés coming out
and copying or improvising them to concentrate on making his /
her original design. But this practice isn’t entirely wrong,
though. There’s always some "monkey see, monkey do" in the
design world. Someone comes up with a great logo, Website,
package and the next thing you know, they’re everywhere.
What’s bothersome in using most design clichés is that it
implies you're not using up your own talents as a designer. In
graphic designing, the ultimate creation to make you cry
“Eureka!” may come upon us on our thirtieth attempt. This moment
will happen once you really challenge and stretch yourself.
Here, we give you several examples of design clichés which uses
seem to have gotten out of hand:
- Swooshes – this logo was started by Nike and before we knew
it, "swooshes" were everywhere on the Net. It’s obviously been
successful for Nike. But if your Internet company try to use
this swoosh along with thousands, we can’t guarantee if anyone
would remember you.
- Beveled Anything – this give depth to the appearance of your
graphics and prevent it to look flat and one dimensional. But
avoid excessive beveling just because Photoshop now makes it
easy. Think about the company you're designing for. What sort of
image do they want to portray?
- Ambiguous Icons – doubtful graphic icons for buttons which are
supposed to lead the user to an important link won’t help you in
gaining attention for your internet company. It would only serve
to confuse users and eventually leave your site. Remember -- if
you can't come up with a graphic that is easily identifiable
with where the button leads to, don't use a graphic — or don't
use a graphic with no text.
Some design dinosaurs are fond of Flash - fading text and moving
text is pretty been there, done that. This effect can be seen
everywhere and it's a rare occasion when moving text really
catches the eye. There are also those who abuse drop shadows by
having it go in different directions. A drop shadow, indeed
gives depth to a page but if you won’t be so consistent the
whole idea is spoiled.
If you don’t want to be a design dinosaur, don’t be too
dependent on design clichés. The only way to achieve an original
and outstanding design is by thinking about your design and
deciding what’s really best for it. You have to challenge
yourself and stretch your design muscles. Who knows? You might
be the next one to make a design cliché.-30-
For comments and inquiries about the article visit
http://www.ucreative.com
About the author:
Lala C. Ballatan is a 26 year-old Communication Arts graduate.
Book reading has always been her greatest passion -- mysteries,
horrors, psycho-thrillers, historical documentaries and
classics. Her writing prowess began as early as she was 10 years
old in girlish diaries. With writing, she felt freedom – to
express her viewpoints and assert it, to bring out all concerns
-- imagined and observed, to bear witness.
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