Calling All Designers: Learn to Write!
Just a thought from 9 May 2006 about
Design, Elsewhere, Writing.
I recently had the good fortune to work with a client who asked me to, in addition to doing my usual experience design / visual design thing, also write much of the text that appeared on the site. And it made me realize that I've often done this for clients - it just wasn't an official part of the process. It was more like, "well, somebody had to write it, and I knew what it needed to say, so I just kinda did it."
Having a client actually encourage me to use my words in addition to my pixels renewed my appreciation for the role writing has in designing good experiences online. Words are how we think, communicate, and create experiences every day. A designer without words is like a car without an interior: nice to look at, but I'd hate to have to drive it.
So I wrote an article for venerable web magazine A List Apart on this topic. If you, or someone you know, designs experiences for a living, give it a read and let me know what you think.
Wha?
This section is called Just a Thought. It's a blog where I post little pieces of what I'm thinking about at the moment. This page is an individual entry called “Calling All Designers: Learn to Write!” that I wrote on 9 May 2006.
Before this, I wrote a little something called “Abdicatechnology” on 7 May 2006. After this, I wrote “Thanks a lot, Apple” on 12 May 2006.
BEFORE
Abdicatechnology
I've been thinking about something lately. What do you call it when you voluntarily give up control of some piece...
7 May 2006
AFTER
Thanks a lot, Apple
I've used Apple computers since high school. If it wasn't for the Mac, I probably wouldn't have wound up working...
12 May 2006
Working the web since 1995, Derek Powazek is the creator of many award-winning websites, a couple of which still exist. Derek is the cofounder of JPG Magazine and the CCO of 8020 Publishing. Derek lives in San Francisco with his wife, two nutty Chihuahuas, a grumpy cat, and a house full of plants named Fred. More »
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