The buzz has been around for years now, but increasingly more common is the proclamation that web standards is essential. It’s not just a good practice, it’s an essential requirement when designing and building great websites. Designers and developers definitely like to note that they design and code with web standards. However, do clients really understand what that means? More importantly, do they know what it means for their bottom line – that ultimately they are going to save money and get a better website in the end?

Given that it is such a buzz word, it’s important to define what web standards really means. In conversations with clients I never go into detail about technical aspects or pure theory of why we should do the right thing for the industry because I don’t think clients really care about that. Web standards are the rules, regulations and guidelines for working on the web. Professionals should follow the standards like in any other industry and your clients probably assume that anyway. But are their assumptions correct?

The web industry is young and there’s a lot of evolution and growing taking place. Standards are still being made and they evolve through time as technology progresses. The fact is that many websites are not built according to current standards because they were built years ago and never updated. The other fact is that laymen often can’t tell the difference from their point of view, so it doesn’t seem to matter that there’s garbled code underneath the surface. In fact, many designers and developers don’t bother either, because they are just trying to get the job done now, not thinking about the future or repercussions of their shortcuts. When it comes to the online environment there seems to be a lot of room for error because the general public doesn’t know any better.

I like to explain to my clients why they should care about web standards by noting how it affects their business. That’s what they care about in the end. Design and development accordingly to web standards means that your website is coded cleanly resulting in faster access for your viewers and less bandwidth costs from your pocket. So often we see a seemingly simple website take forever to load because of the garbled code underneath. Viewers’ attention spans are short – don’t make it harder for them to access your website.

Clean code also means faster development time and troubleshooting in general. Your website will be easy and quick to update as well. When code is clean and design is separated from content, making edits or adding content will not suddenly break the site. There will definitely be less room for error and when a redesign is needed, it’s truly a redesign effort and not a rebuild every page from scratch effort. That means you save money when it comes to updating, editing, future additions and improvements to your website and business.

Your website will also be accessible to more viewers because inherently it will be built in a way that allows graceful degradation in older browsers, accessibility to text-readers, mobile phones and who knows what other devices that may access your content. Gone are the old-fashioned methods of building multiple versions of the same site or restricting access because a viewer doesn’t have the most updated browser. You want your content to be available to as many viewers as possible, in the best way or most sensible way possible as well.

It is important to note that your website can be as beautiful and intricate as you want it to be. There’s certainly the need for people to realize that the online space is not a static print document, so designs and layouts don’t necessarily appear exactly the same on different devices. But that isn’t the goal of your website is it? You want viewers to access your content, information and business offering in a usable manner, no matter what device they might be using. The point is that web standards doesn’t mean a boring site with boxes and text no matter what restrictions there might be.

So in the end, your website can be aesthetically pleasing as well as usable and accessible. The bottom line is that you save money in the short term and long term with a better product overall in the end. Why wouldn’t you want a website with design and development inline with the current web standards?

Posted on April 30, 2009 at 10:19 pm | Design, Development | No comments

Quite often these days, I have come across many instances of internet slander and non-constructive criticism on the web. The negativity seems to thrive in the online social world because people are shielded by anonymity or somehow feel more courageous when it comes to the physically protected action of posting comments online versus offering their opinion face-to-face. I frankly find all of the negativity annoying and distracting.

It seems everyone needs to remember a bit of netiquette, even though I feel it is really just common sense. How do you interact with people normally? Why should it be different when it comes to online communication? When I talk to someone in person, on the phone, in writing or on the web – I treat all with equal respect and attention. As I would want to be treated, which is what we were taught back in kindergarten! Treat others the way you want to be treated.

What is the point of online commentary? I think it is a forum for constructive criticism and thoughtful discussion. Leaving a comment that reads, “You suck…” is neither of those. On the contrary, your credibility has just dropped to negative 100. Even more annoying are anonymous commentators, because they seem to be too cowardly to express their opinion with any connection to themselves. I like the idea of OpenID or similar initiatives so people can be identified or referred to somehow. It puts a bit of credibility back into the web.

Certainly, everyone is entitled to their opinion and when we publish on the web it’s open to positive and negative discussion. I have no issues with people expressing their opinion, even if it is negative. Maybe they just don’t agree or don’t like something. It is completely fine to disagree and that is what fosters innovation and discovery. However, we should all behave like adults and professionals. I like lively debates, but dislike the back and forth of senseless negativity.

I hope that people will put more thought into their comments and think about what they can really contribute. Remember that there are real people behind the websites and forums on the web. Above all, if you really have a bone to pick with someone, contact them directly. You don’t have to scream to the entire world…

Reference reading:
OpenID.net
thinkvitamin.com – Lose the Pedantic Negativity

Posted on April 29, 2009 at 12:14 pm | Internet | No comments

I saw a great piece of typographic art on morenewmath and I am sure many similar declarations have been made with the same point in mind.  It made me chuckle and I sent it out to friends, as it applies to so many more aspects of life than just modern art per say.

“I could have done that…” is probably a statement you’ve heard before in many different situations.  There are also the famous variations such as “my kid could have done that” or “a 2 year old could have done that” and sadly it often comes up in museums and fine art shows.  People see a splatter of paint on a canvas or a couple scribbled lines and completely do not understand why someone would pay a million dollars for a simple or easily reproducible piece.  It happens in craft fairs as well, where the criticism of “I could have made that” often comes up.

Fundamentally, I think people misunderstand simplicity and do not see beyond the physical result of a product or piece of art.  Debates about defining art and what is art are regularly discussed in Art 101 sections of every college campus.  I don’t want to get into a discussion about fine art specifically, but rather the principle of understanding that there is more that lies beneath the surface and people should not be so quick to judge what they do not truly understand.

A common misconception is that simplicity is often easy.  No matter what medium you work in, it usually takes a lot of skill and experience to make something go smoothly and seemingly easily.  It seems that way to an outsider who has no idea what goes on behind the scenes.  How often have you tried something new that you thought would be easy, only to realize it takes a lot more effort and skill?  In all sorts of design, something might look clean and simple, but it took a lot of work and thought to get to that point.  When elements go together perfectly and nothing detracts from the composition – it does look like simplicity.  Perhaps simple means perfect sometimes?  The important point to remember is that simplicity does not equal less work or lack of skill.  I think it often means the opposite actually.

Of course, there are those who say that really they could have done this or that.  I remind them of a wise saying I’ve heard – actions speak louder than words – because executing and succeeding on a great idea is probably more difficult than coming up with the great idea itself.  Didn’t Thomas Jefferson say that success is 1% inspiration but 99% perspiration?  An idea is just an idea, if you don’t act upon it – there is nothing to show for it.

So perhaps there are cases where you could have created that art collage or sewed that shirt or designed that layout.  I commend those who get out there and do things themselves (I’m a huge do-it-yourself person!) and have no issues with those who choose that path.  Go right ahead, I say!  However, to those that criticize, bad mouth and talk for the benefit of their own ego, I think they need to stop patting themselves on the back for nothing.  Certainly everyone has the right to express their opinions, so they can talk all they want about how they could have done that, but in the end we all know that they didn’t do anything at all.

Reference reading:
Germaine.be – I Could Have Done That
Queens Journal – My Child Could Have Done This…

Posted on April 14, 2009 at 10:51 am | About Business | No comments