21 Pothole repair

First of all, I love the article. It is a fantastic piece or prose and thought, I couldn’t agree more.

Just a random through: as a technology guy, the analogy I am most fond of when speaking to disbelievers (budget constrained executives) about design is one of pothole repair: if DoT goes out and fixes a pothole, who calls to thank them? No one. If they do not, who calls to complain about the pothole? Those who care enough about it to look out for their fellow human (or those with nothing better to do and wanna complain about something). If you have too many potholes in your roads (Pennsylavnia anyone?) then people will stop driving on them …

How do you go about selling pothole repair to budget constrained executives (the IT guys)?

posted at 07:45 pm on November 20, 2007 by Deano ...

22 requesting a T-shirt

Mr. Dan Cederholm, in one of his quick bits, mentioned this entire article should be printed on a t-shirt.

I agree.

I want one. I think you should take up his suggestion =)

posted at 08:33 pm on November 20, 2007 by Brian Artka

23 Thank you

For a fantastic and susinct article about what web design is. Having been in web design since 1995 (you think I would have more to show for it) educating our clients, friends, colleagues and partners has always been one of the most challenging aspects of our jobs.

This article will now take a permanent place in my educators tool box. Thanks.

@ioubeer

posted at 10:22 pm on November 20, 2007 by Julian Moffatt

24 Refreshed

Hi Jeffrey, this was refreshing to read. I am engaged more and more into opinion pieces on web design and hearing your philosophical thoughts on the matter is exactly the torque this industry needs. Opinion is becoming less and less on the web these days in regards to web design (kids these days just want answers). And albeit slightly less technical, it reminds me of a classic when John wrote about the Dao of web design here on ALA in 2000. Good times.

posted at 10:25 pm on November 20, 2007 by Dustin Diaz

25 You win

Just wanted to be one more voice added to the many: this is fantastic. Good job.

posted at 11:21 pm on November 20, 2007 by Jon Bell

26 And I'll add another

Great article, just… great.

Thanks!

posted at 11:53 pm on November 20, 2007 by Edward Vermillion

27 Thank you very much

You’ve very eloquently conveyed a sentiment that I have been abstractly wrestling with for a long time. Specifically concerning “New Media Design,” which is where I started.

I appreciate your candor in explaining the difference between a good marketing website and great web design. I also appreciate you calling on us, the web design community, to be the educators. As mentioned in other comments, I’ll be printing this and using it to educate clients.

posted at 12:28 am on November 21, 2007 by Rob Knight

28 Nice Review

I totally agree. I like to think that I’m creating my own website (for example), not only to advertise myself, but I’m creating it for other people. I keep in mind what kind of people are going to be visiting it and how they will get around through the pages. Just like a building. Great comparison. Great post.

posted at 12:29 am on November 21, 2007 by Misty Beier

29 A Modern Classic

Like Allsop’s Dao (A Dao of Web Design), this is sure to become a modern classic.

posted at 12:30 am on November 21, 2007 by Robert Love

30 Typography is not type design

When you say “typography”, what you mean is “type design”. Typography is the arrangement of typefaces, type design is the drawing and creation of typefaces.

posted at 12:30 am on November 21, 2007 by Stephen Coles

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