WRITTEN BY Erin Cooney
A Debate of Form vs Function.
Trends are inevitable and hard to avoid, but in this blog we’ll be looking at the dangers of blindly following them without consideration of effectiveness and the longevity of your design work, specifically in the realm of web design. In essence, this discussion boils down to the age-old debate of form vs function.
Isn’t It All Subjective?
First, let’s look at graphic design as a broader concept and break down what we’re all actually trying to achieve as designers. Design is founded in form and visual appeal. However, it is not to be confused with art. The distinction can be made though the fundamental need or function found in design, that is absent in the realm of pure art. Every single design outcome, from product, to print and digital exists to serve a purpose of some description. In contrast, art can simply ‘be’, free of necessity and restrictions. In short, design is objective while art is subjective. Many consider graphic design at its purist form to be problem solving, which inherently requires an effective solution.
So what happens when getting so caught up in how the newest pretty and shiny solution looks, that it fails to serve its practical purpose effectively?
Web Design Trends.
With advancements in technology, AI and design software, there is a never-ending stream of trends appearing and, often times, disappearing in the web design realm. Some last and evolve with the times, others are fleeting and quickly become obsolete. A notable theme seen in these trends is that they often prioritise aesthetics and, in tandem, neglect function. With design existing in the context of communication, problem solving and function, it is dangerous territory to fall into the trap of designing without rigorously assessing work against the relevant criteria of needs. By following beauty-driven trends without consideration for their practical application in the world, are you designing successfully?
Imagine you’ve designed the most aesthetically pleasing website ever to grace the internet. But, it’s littered with small type in a low contrast state, intrusive and distracting animation effects and no sense of hierarchy. The user experience has been compromised to a point of content being illegible and user engagement being lost. Now, they have closed your site and sought out a competitors more user-friendly site. Essentially, mission failed.
The Cost of Trendy, Impractical Design.
Having touched on the negative impact that short-sighted design can have, let’s asses the fallout of ill-considered trendy web design. Starting with the obvious; users are looking for some kind of service when visiting a brand’s site. If you fail to provide them an engaging and smooth user journey that ends with the vital outcome, of user goals being met, you have lost a customer in the process. The other end of the costs is from a business’ perspective, website design and builds are not a cheap endeavour. By creating a website lacking in longevity, the costs incurred by a business are going to be twofold in the loss of customers and revenue, as well as the long-term costs with an inevitable need for a re-design and build of a site in unnecessarily quick succession.
Finding the Balance.
Fear not, there is indeed a balance to be found! Utilising trends to remain current in the ever-evolving digital landscape, whilst keeping in mind user journey and experience is very much achievable. Apple is a great example, exploring trends freely and incorporating modern design elements but always referring back to their core brand identity, target audience the ultimate functional needs of their work. Their site utilises trendy web animation effects such as parallaxes, but does so subtly and within a carefully considered system that ensures the core e-commerce format is entirely user-friendly, by implementing practices such as hierarchy, whitespace, optimal contrast levels and clear typography.
The perfect harmony of form and function.
Always keeping the user at the forefront of your design choices will aid you in managing the decision making around the design system for a site. Every major design choice you make, think: how does this service my core user? If you are working with a brand that has an older target audience, using small font sizing and complex scrolling animations is going to be impractical for the demographic interacting with the site and therefore is not servicing the core customer base of the brand. But by using a design system that is light on text at first, mixes visual elements to highlight key concepts, has wider page margins and sets clear boundaries between foreground, background, exposition and action, you can have a carefully considered, stunning design that accounts for the needs of its user.
In summary.
Consider the whack-a-mole cycle you enter by jumping on every new trend that pops up only to disappear and a new one appearing in its place. Approach new trends with caution. By focusing your work on the core user, longevity and proven best practices and applying your creative flair with consideration and intention, you can find the elusive balance between form and function. Check out our web design services here or explore our agency offerings here or learn more about agency work here.