This is where I share my ideas, inspiration & thoughts. Generally though I'm just the Creator of Rockstar Awesomeness and this tumblog is further proof of that.
Follow me on Twitter if you prefer me in more digestible chunks or if you really like me, then read more about me.
Hosting by RSAWEB
Copyright © 2009. Powered by WordPress. Remember that it’s not so rockstar to steal from others.
I find myself and my team so often designing a mockup whilst being so heavily influenced by the “best practice” way (or the CSS design gallery influenced way) of doing something, that we tend to over-do a design, instead of focussing on the most important things the design should aim to achieve.
Take for example the design on my blog; it totally lacks a footer, a “back-to-top” link or even a little “designed by Adii, powered by WordPress” credit link. When I designed the reboot, I specifically chose to exclude any kind of footer, because even though my habit would be to design a footer, I didn’t feel that it would add value (from a design-perspective) in this regard.
As web designers, I think our main challenge is to actually design something that is different to all of the beautiful sites we come across every single day. And one of the main things that we should do to break out of this box, is to stop including design elements because it is generally included on your average website that does A, B & C. Even though this seems simple, I think it’s important to get back to the point where design elements are only included if they add value or they’re really required.
Maybe I’m in a bit of an unique position with regards to this, considering my work for WooThemes, where we need to cater for multitudes of user in our theme designs. So we’re often faced with a question of whether to implement something or not. Ultimately that decision (I’d like to believe) is made on whether value will be added for the user. So it really shouldn’t be about the design of that feature or whether that design element adds “prettiness” to the overall design.
Otherwise, you’re just robot-designing by habit and you’re actually sacrificing the freedom that should come along with a brand new, blank canvas…
Before I say anything I should point out that I’m not a “rockstar” designer by a long shot, but I think a footer adds definition to a page. It clearly shows you have reached the bottom of the page. Personally I think this page feels “cut off” and incomplete.
However, maybe this is just because I “design by habit” as you say and am not free thinking enough.
Guilty as charged. I tend to accommodate headers, sidebars and footers without hesitation.
Your post made me realise that I am behaving like a robot
So glad you posted this – I completely agree. I’ve found myself recently doing the same old gradient header – clean content area – dark footer design. I’m getting totally sick of it! I’m redesigning my business website at the moment and I’m going for something totally outside the box – can’t wait to finish it off and launch it!
Interesting point, but I think it is a highly subjective argument.
Question is would you leave something out because YOU think it adds no value?
or
should you include it simply ‘cos USERS are used to a UI having the particular feature?
I believe when you design something that is meant to be used by ‘users’, then THEIR preferences should be made a priority NOT the website owner/designer’s.
One major point you need to consider is users of any website would look for the footer to know more if it pleases them. Since there is a define set of standard elements that need to be mentioned in the footer like disclaimer, privacy policy, terms, credit links etc., users would tend to look for that in any website. There are 2 perceptions, 1. You design how you want it to be, 2. You design what users want , considering the fact both the designs are to standards. So its a hard call to take up such decisions, but good luck for you to raise your hands and step out of crowd.
I too agree that we should stop including those design elements that serve no purpose beyond visual one, but I too support for the ones which serve purpose like terms, disclaimer etc.,
I feel like missing out elements such as the footer makes the client feel like I’m not including everything. Most clients I work for don’t know about website design/development but what they do know is that their competitors or websites they like do have them so why shouldn’t they?
You’re totally right though as are others that have posted – the tedious motion of header, content, sidebar, footer can be robotic at times.
I think you make a great point that as designers we have to be more original and less about what is suppose to be done or expected because everyone else does it, we will begin to unlock creativity.
I would never have noticed that your site doesnt have a footer, and personally, I like it, I think it keeps the site clean. I think you obviously have enough color differentiation to tell when the site page ends.
O Adii, I wouldn’t remove that footer too fast. Google’s home page originally had no footer, until they did some testing. They watch people use their site and found it odd that people would stare at the fully loaded home page for 4-5 minutes. They finally went up to them and asked why. It turned out they were just waiting for the page to get done loading and though this site would be just like the others. To fix this problem, Google added the copyright at the bottom, solely as a design feature to show that the page has loaded.
I was just kidding about your footer… It’s nice you think outside the norm and more importantly about the value in each element. I guess that even fits in with my story… Google’s footer adds value by showing the page is loaded, not necessarily to show copyright.
I’m, with you Adii. Maybe the focus should not be so much on weather a site has a footer or not, but weather the site serves its purpose.
If the purpose of the site can be served without a footer or sidebar or header – Bring it on!
I easily feel compelled to include in client projects all the bells and whistles of the awesome themes we see so often (kudo’s woothemes.com). The problem is that the purpose of a theme is to meet the many needs of many clients. My client’s site need not necessarily require a Blogroll or Tag Cloud, so i should not use it just so that my work looks like the well known themes out there.
Purpose and Design Principles should dictate the outcome. Not Habit and Design Trends.
Cannot agree more with this
Hi Adii,
BTW your mail me link at the top goes to 404.
I read the thread re: WP and GPL on the Thematic site which convinced me to come to Woo and get a theme (Gonna have to be free for a little while unfortunately) even though I was looking for a minimalist style. I’ve been hunting for about two weeks and racking my brains and playing at being webdev or designer and trying to hack CSS with CSSedit but no joy. I think there might just be too much to learn.
Anyway I echo your sentiments exactly about the way you’ve set this blog up – it’s pretty much what I wanted for my personal blog but don’t have the skills to do. Plus I worry big time about forward compatibility etc. so getting a theme and then hacking at it worries me quite a bit.
How about a ‘this is my bottom’ button
Take care,
R!
It’s funny how the majority of new-age professions share similar traits. I am a programmer, wish I could design, (just don’t have the eye), and I am proud to admit I recently overcame the over-engineered/designed complex. I fell back to what felt right, K.I.S.S. If you’re not familiar, Keep It Simple Stupid.
I too often find both engineers, developers and designers completely over-analysing a problems when it’s quite fine how it is. All that extra time just wasted on a minor detail that only a small majority of people would ever recognize or use. I just thought it was funny considering both developers and engineers use different sides of the brain, but yet share the same problems.
PS. maybe the extra time over-designing could have better been spent on ensuring all content links worked, like the polaroid wordpress theme link
I agree totally, elements of a website design should not just sit there for the sake of it. It’s all about content, if there’s not enough or not relevant enough content to warrant using that element, then don’t bother with it.
I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.
“The content you have allowed for is pretty concerning and useful and I will certainly take note of the point you have made in the blog. That would be identical useful for understanding the entire subject.
Thanks!
Developing your own unique design style is truly a great journey. You start out by learning the basics then breaking them eventually by thinking out of the box so to speak. I honestly find it very interesting that you don’t have any footer and I respect your decision on that. I love following unique
I love following unique and brave designers who are willing to push the boundaries (Elliot Jay Stocks is first on my list). As long as the design is communicating with your audience I’m good with that. Thanks for this enlightening article.
I looked at this design in exactly the same way you are doing when I first designed it and also felt that something was missing. BUT… Does a footer add any value here? I don’t really think so… Sure, it “completes” the page to some extent, but only in a way that we’re used to.
I believe that human beings are inherently resistant to change, since we’re so used to doing routine stuff. Our eyes are “trained” to tell us that a page needs a header, sidebar & footer, but in fact that might not be the case at all.
I don’t think the design is cut off at all. The bottom margin clearly defines the end of the content.
I do some sort of footer might be good from a usability point of view though, links to recent entries for example, but most of that is covered in the sidebar so it’s by no means essential… it just saves scrolling to the top again
I think when designing (especially for clients), that we’re so influenced by our “fear” that other people will see the work and think that it’s not on par with the best designs on the web. Unfortunately the reality is that those people only believe that since their eyes are “trained” to think that.
I do however believe that ANY design can be brilliant, unique & usable if you stick to general web design principles (not styles). So trying something different and possibly unique is a great way to go imo.
I agree 100%. But that’s exactly what makes a good designer great: being able to judge what the users will find important and will recognize as a value add-on.
I’m not suggesting web designers ditch footers completely – in fact, my decision to leave out the footer on adii.co.za is a purely personal one and I just used as an example.
I do however believe that we should stop including supposed “design elements” if they serve no purpose beyond the visual one.
I agree with what you are saying that “beings are inherently resistant to change … our eyes are “trained” to tell us that a page needs a header, sidebar & footer” and I suppose doing something radically different always takes some getting used to.
I think it maybe comes down to what context you are designing in to be able to say weather or not a specific feature adds value. Which means every case will be different.
I totally agree with you.. people nee to think outside the box. This is exactly what I was trying to tell you back when I designed my entry for the WooContest:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ebarcena/2976781433/in/pool-woothemes/
Remember??
I hear you and I can’t “defend” the decision not to include a footer based on what I’ve said above. I think ultimately it was also a preference call in terms of what I *wanted* this blog not look like…
Yes and no… I think if you can motivate your decision to exclude something that is deemed to be best-practice or general, then the client should at least listen. No guarantee though that client will (ever?) accept your professional opinion on that though…
Wow – see, now that for me is true out-of-the-box thinking just there. They use a generic footer, but for a very unique reason. Absolutely incredible “design-thinking” that!
Very well said indeed!