Commentary on web design and other topics by Guy Leech, web fanatic.
Last Thursday my family headed out to a restaurant, for my brother’s birthday. At the end of the meal, I jokingly asked the waitress to give me an elephant; she returned with a cartoon elephant drawn on a paper napkin.
How many websites can give you that?
How many websites have you left with a smile on your face, looking forward to seeing it again, tomorrow? If you’re anything like me, probably not many.
I feel that most websites lack a personal touch, something for their visitors to enjoy. In a strict corporate environment this is fine, but when designing websites for bands, surf clothing, and so forth, I think designers should make more effort to add that touch.
Sketches, humorous messages, little asides, fast updates and so on are all ways of adding personality; anything that will encourage visitors to stick around, find the various quirks of the website, and the people behind it should be thrown in.
The aim is to add little details that accent, and draw viewers into, the personality of the outfit. This not only adds value to the website, but is a great way of brand building, and will encourage people to not just look at the website, but to visit the store, event or whatever is being promoted.
We progress, my comrades. Most so-called ‘Web 2.0’ sites seems to have grasped this idea of design, of making the users enjoy themselves. From Pownce’s 404 page, to Blip TV’s sidebar there is personality, humour, and arrogance. And I’m loving it.
I think this trend is on the rise, with more and more ‘Web 2.0’ style sites out there, and with people grasping the idea that the web isn’t something to passively look at; it’s just another medium that we use. And, as just another medium, it can be played with, and enjoyed, along with all the rest.
This site mostly fails at adding a personal touch. My writing style may be fairly distinctive, but the graphics are pretty bland, compared to my personality (I’m fairly ‘unusual’). To remedy this, I will embark on an endeavour to add some more spice, variety and interest to this site. Keep an eye out over the next month.
Ideas just popping into my head include hand-drawn type backgrounds, Twitter asides, and funny little sketches.
Or the waitress could have drawn me the elephant because I’m a particularly handsome man. We may never know.
Josh
11 / 06 / 2008
You make a very interesting point, Mr. Leech. I think I too am going to endeavour to add a more quirky, personal touch to my website. You have inspired me, so thank you very much. :)