Comments on: The AIGA is Irrelevant http://www.ianlabs.com/2007/08/17/the-aiga-is-irrelevant/ The adventures of a freelance web designer Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:57:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Douglas Karr http://www.ianlabs.com/2007/08/17/the-aiga-is-irrelevant/#comment-4875 Douglas Karr Fri, 28 Sep 2007 22:01:41 +0000 http://www.ianlabs.com/2007/08/17/the-aiga-is-irrelevant/#comment-4875 I'm working for a company here now that spent deep in the 5-digits for their flash site. Not only does it not 'do' what was requested, the group actually argued that 'they' liked it that way. It's probably a site that could win quite a few awards, but we haven't got a single prospect off it because it's not Search Engine Optimized, it's static, and there's no ability to update it. What a waste! Someone has to teach people that there's more than Flash in the world. Sometimes it means sacrificing 'cool' for older technology and that's perfectly alright. One great example is HTML Email... you can utilize advanced CSS techniques all you want, but since many email clients ignore styles, good 'ol tables and inline style tags work best across all clients. I’m working for a company here now that spent deep in the 5-digits for their flash site. Not only does it not ‘do’ what was requested, the group actually argued that ‘they’ liked it that way.

It’s probably a site that could win quite a few awards, but we haven’t got a single prospect off it because it’s not Search Engine Optimized, it’s static, and there’s no ability to update it.

What a waste! Someone has to teach people that there’s more than Flash in the world. Sometimes it means sacrificing ‘cool’ for older technology and that’s perfectly alright.

One great example is HTML Email… you can utilize advanced CSS techniques all you want, but since many email clients ignore styles, good ‘ol tables and inline style tags work best across all clients.

]]> By: Ian http://www.ianlabs.com/2007/08/17/the-aiga-is-irrelevant/#comment-4874 Ian Fri, 28 Sep 2007 21:46:38 +0000 http://www.ianlabs.com/2007/08/17/the-aiga-is-irrelevant/#comment-4874 Thanks for your comment! I have noticed the exact same thing locally. The AIGA, award winners, and the "design clique" doesn't normally include standards and usability proponents. Thanks for your comment! I have noticed the exact same thing locally. The AIGA, award winners, and the “design clique” doesn’t normally include standards and usability proponents.

]]> By: Jon Crawford http://www.ianlabs.com/2007/08/17/the-aiga-is-irrelevant/#comment-4873 Jon Crawford Fri, 28 Sep 2007 21:20:21 +0000 http://www.ianlabs.com/2007/08/17/the-aiga-is-irrelevant/#comment-4873 This is actually a subject I feel very strongly about, and I want to figure out how to better communicate the disconnect between web design and the AIGA. In my opinion, the values of the AIGA are actually in direct opposition with everything I web-type like myself holds dear. My experience has been that designers and agencies with a strong presence in the AIGA don't know the first thing about Web Standards or Usability. They only care that it looks great. And there seems to be no drive to educate designers how to better design for the web. My favorite comment of late came from a technical lead at a prominent ad agency in Kansas City. When asked why his agency uses Flash for all of its websites, he gave a few reasons that were each quickly dismissed by the person asking the question. Then the guy said with a smile on his face, "The real reason we use Flash is because it wins awards." (!!!) It seems like graphics departments are just steering students into this AIGA-Flash design universe with no regard for semantics, RSS feeds, or anything else that will truly change the web over the next 5 years. It's gotten bad enough that as a web developer/business-owner, I've mostly had to look OUTSIDE graphics departments of universities when recruiting. P.S. The best part about the little story above is that the same agency is currently on task to help design a social networking site. And they're contemplating doing it in Flash! This is actually a subject I feel very strongly about, and I want to figure out how to better communicate the disconnect between web design and the AIGA.

In my opinion, the values of the AIGA are actually in direct opposition with everything I web-type like myself holds dear. My experience has been that designers and agencies with a strong presence in the AIGA don’t know the first thing about Web Standards or Usability. They only care that it looks great. And there seems to be no drive to educate designers how to better design for the web.

My favorite comment of late came from a technical lead at a prominent ad agency in Kansas City. When asked why his agency uses Flash for all of its websites, he gave a few reasons that were each quickly dismissed by the person asking the question. Then the guy said with a smile on his face, “The real reason we use Flash is because it wins awards.” (!!!)

It seems like graphics departments are just steering students into this AIGA-Flash design universe with no regard for semantics, RSS feeds, or anything else that will truly change the web over the next 5 years. It’s gotten bad enough that as a web developer/business-owner, I’ve mostly had to look OUTSIDE graphics departments of universities when recruiting.

P.S. The best part about the little story above is that the same agency is currently on task to help design a social networking site. And they’re contemplating doing it in Flash!

]]> By: Douglas Karr http://www.ianlabs.com/2007/08/17/the-aiga-is-irrelevant/#comment-4438 Douglas Karr Sat, 18 Aug 2007 03:11:56 +0000 http://www.ianlabs.com/2007/08/17/the-aiga-is-irrelevant/#comment-4438 It's interesting that I worked in Print at a newspaper and with several regional direct marketing and direct mail firms for the first 3 years I was here - and I had never heard of the AIGA. Ironically, the first time I heard of the AIGA was when I actually met one of their board members! I've personally hired and utilized a lot of design talent in the region and never did I worry about whether or not they were with the AIGA. You nailed it with 'relevance'. What are the benefits of the AIGA regionally? with designers? with employers? It’s interesting that I worked in Print at a newspaper and with several regional direct marketing and direct mail firms for the first 3 years I was here - and I had never heard of the AIGA.

Ironically, the first time I heard of the AIGA was when I actually met one of their board members!

I’ve personally hired and utilized a lot of design talent in the region and never did I worry about whether or not they were with the AIGA.

You nailed it with ‘relevance’. What are the benefits of the AIGA regionally? with designers? with employers?

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