The Design Arsenal

It’s missing the wow! factor

If a client tells you your design is missing the wow factor, what you have to do is find the wow factor. Here's your three-step process for finding it.

Why doesn’t it look the same in every browser?

Web browsers vary in the way they support, interpret and render code. Users preferences, plugins and screen size all affect the way a website

Why responsive instead of a separate mobile site?

Mobile-optimized websites are more future-device-friendly, and are generally easier to maintain than separate websites for desktop and mobile.

Why should we use HTML5?

HTML5 can add rich features to your web site or application.

What’s wrong with using images for text?

Using images for text is bad for SEO, performance, and accessibility.

Why shouldn’t my links say “click here”?

"Click here" is bad for usability, readability, accessibility, and search engine optimization.

What’s wrong with playing a sound when you load the page?

Playing sound (or video) automatically when a web page loads is unexpected and rude.

We need to support IE6

IE6 does not support modern web languages such as HTML5 and CSS3, and renders pages inconsistently or unusable.

Make sure everything is above the fold

Usability and eye-tracking studies have shown that users can and do scroll on web pages.

I only use Arial because my daughter’s name is Ariel.

- A good way to make decisions

Use the black and white photo of me in the green shirt.

- Some helpful instructions

Make the design more pizazzy.

- The best feedback

Maybe we should write the website in another colour or font - how about blue and underlined?

- A good suggestion

The images need to be in JavaScript format.

- Probably trying too hard to sound knowledgeable

We want an epic, end-of-world doomsday scene - with a fun Christmas edge

- Kind of an awesome request

Could we take a picture of the glove and Photoshop some breathability?

- A client who has a lot of faith in the capabilities of photoshop

I know that Papyrus font is considered old-fashioned, but I have to say, we find the font easy on the eye and ultimately easy to read. It’s all about professionalism.

- A font-savvy client

You know, you need to work harder on making me happy. The design community is very small and I can ruin your reputation.

- A motivational client

Can you please change the woman in the “technology” section to a man? Also, please change the man in the “administrative” section to a woman.

- A sensitive request

I don’t know what I want, but I’ll know it when I see it.

- At least he’s honest?

I’m not giving a raise to someone who sits and plays with lines all day.

- Someone who appreciates design skills

Okay, yeah I think the word program I used to design that doesn’t have the strongest pixels.

- A client with weak pixels

The video looks really good, but just one little thing: I said ‘I’ve been a chef in New York for several years’ with a strong Philly accent. It sounds weird. Could you change that? Maybe Photoshop it out?

- Someone who doesn’t realize what a video editor does or what Photoshop is

We just want “iconic” icons.

- A client who knows what he wants

I can do what you do in the Paint program.

- A client with skills

Please remove the background image of snow. Avoid ‘cold’ stuff and update with ‘wintery’ graphics.

- Clearly expressed client feedback

This is dead space here that you aren’t using. You can fit another paragraph in there!

- Client revision on a centimetre square in the corner of a relaxation therapy advertisement

I don’t want to hire a company. I want an individual so I can call and chew their butt when they don’t do exactly what I what.

- A client exhibiting true professionalism

Can you please make a quote from one of our executives? Below are some topics. And make it sound natural, the last thing we want to is to seem disingenuous.

- An honest client

Make it more subtle, but try to have it pop too.

- Helpful feedback from a client

I can’t say why, exactly, but the illustration of the dinosaur doesn’t seem realistic enough. Can we use a photo instead?

- A client who paid attention in science class

I’ll send you a Paint file with the layout I want.

- A client who probably has a hard time retaining designers

It’s hard to communicate anything without some creative and/or image assets, but can we otherwise make it look a bit snazzier from a graphical perspective?

- A real client

Can we do the website in black and white to save some money?

- A resourceful client

The experience needs to be more whacked out and random. What if a giant tongue came out from the ‘V’ of the logo and licked the whole screen every now and then?

- A very creative client

I prefer a mirror image, reflective image with a floating image in a three dimensional image

- A client’s notes on logo preferences

Ammo for user experience battles