Author: dhilhorst

To keep this post focused and simple I will assume that websites have two layers:
design (UI/presentation) and code (technology/mark-up). Which layer is most
important in building a succesful website? Both you will say. But in the end
the web is about interaction. Jason
Fried at 37signals on the topic:

“There’s way too much talk about CSS and XHTML and Standards and
Accessibility and not enough talk about people. CSS and Standards Compliant
Code are just tools — you have to know what to build with these tools.”

People, people, people! Web design is a bit like a car —
the engine (technology) and everything else that makes using it bearable (interface).
Over at the wonderfully designed Airbag, thoughts
of Greg Storey follow a similar pattern:

“Now I’m all for a good conversation and exhibition of great design work
but enough is enough. Web standards and style sheets are here to stay (ya hooray!).
It’s time to move on. So let’s talk about money and metrics.”

So? Is the fuzz about XHTML, CSS and other new exciting technologies over?
Can we move on? If you buy a car you assume its engine will function. Nowadays
there are no shamelessly bad engine manufacturers left. What really differentiates
brands such as Ford, BMW and Volkswagen is the experience they sell. The automobile
industry is a mature industry. The web is not — yet. Look around. Do we
see standard compliant code everywhere? Can we assume websites have solid mark-up?

Personally I agree with both Jason and Greg. Yet I think they’re looking
in the wrong places. The blogosphere tends to talk about code. Yadi yada validation
yada yadi standards yada yada. We are part of a small group that cares and knows
about good mark-up. But there’s more happening around us. SxSW
is not solely a user experience conference, nor is it purely a design event.
SxSW just happens to attract a lot of people talking about CSS. Leave the coders
do the talking about what they know best: clean mark-up. They should not stop
innovating or spreading the word — on the contrary.

If I want to discuss all things user experience I post a message to CHI-WEB,
check the latest news at Information
Design and have a good laugh with the folks from OK/Cancel.
Oh, and maybe even read what Jakob Nielsen
has to say. It’s not a matter of “or”, it’s a matter
of “and”. We need both. I focus on design, not code — it’s
what I do and talk about. If you want to change the industry put your money
where your mouth is, but don’t tell people to stop doing what they love.

While worldwide the news was dominated by the terrible bombings in Madrid,
Spain software developer and browser maker Opera was the rising star on the
Oslo Exchange. The stock jumped from its NOK 10 introduction price to 11.40
later in the day. Opera raised about $16 million in cash to spend on development.

Although I doubt they will take the desktop browser market by storm any time
soon their software for mobile devices is impressive. In my opinion their focus
on mobile connectivity and software is a good strategy. On another note
it seems investors are picking up tech shares again, a renewed interest so it
seems. I’m still waiting for Google to go public.

• Opera
  IPO opens on high note Matthew
  Broersma — CNET News.com
• Investors Relations: Stock
  Information Opera
  Software

Some
mucho smart people have ranted
about and analyzed
the Lockergnome affair in much detail. What Lockergnome did is incomprehensible
for rationally thinking people. That’s a fact, right? I really have a
hard time believing they can justify the change to themselves, or their audience
for that matter. I do however think Pirillo is a smart guy and he’s a
funny geek on occasion. But this time I guess he missed a few braincells —
and it surely isn’t funny. Anyway, this whole Lockergnome debate reminds
us of the harsh truth. The human brain can’t adapt as fast as technology
develops.

While I think the current Lockergnome website is deplorable I can see how the
decision came to be. Not the reasons they mention per se, something a bit more
psychology related. Let me put it this way: how do you feel when upgrading your
favorite software or application? I always think it’s a bit scary. Sometimes
new software releases will require users to adapt to a new environment, new
tools or lost features. While my subconscience knows that a new release will
eventually make me achieve my goals faster or better, I have a hard time seeing
the long term benefits as opposed to the short term required investment in time,
money and efforts.

Coding with web standards is pretty much the same. Yes, it took me some time
to kick the old habits and abandon my WYSIWYG editor. But you know what? In
the end it made me a better designer, and I now know why it was and is worth
the short term investment in time, energy and gallons of coffee. Don’t
get me wrong, I’m still struggling and web standards isn’t coding
nirvana. But it sure is a hell of a better place than tables. Can you imagine
any designer worth his salt throwing his comps together in Photoshop 3 —
or people serious about IT using Windows 95? Probably not. Though I could argue
that anyone serious about IT should not use Windows at all.

So Chris, why the fear? You of all people…