[chips]

do you find web design creatively restricting?

Browser differences, having to compress images,always thinking about load up times,useability issues...etc

You can't just create a piece of work...you need to consider all of the above before doing anything. I feel that they get in the way of the creative process sometimes.

maybe web design is not for me huh?

[sleepingfish]

But all formats have restrictions.

Print has restrictions, but over the years it has become increasingly easier to work to the "rules" of print.

Web design is a relatively younger format, I think as it develops, and designers' knowledge and understanding of the format increase, designing for web will become less restrictive.

[Mik]

Originally Posted by chips

do you find web design creatively restricting?

Browser differences, having to compress images,always thinking about load up times,useability issues...etc

You can't just create a piece of work...you need to consider all of the above before doing anything. I feel that they get in the way of the creative process sometimes.

maybe web design is not for me huh?

but you are producing a useable interface for information / service / ecommerce.

its not meant to be "a work of art"

these considerations should be seen as a bonus to rein and focus.

focus lol sound like fash

[oli]

Originally Posted by chips

Browser differences, having to compress images,always thinking about load up times,useability issues...etc

You can't just create a piece of work...you need to consider all of the above before doing anything. I feel that they get in the way of the creative process sometimes.

all part of the job, always has been. I think its getting less restricting ; The browsers are getting more towards standards now, we dont have to work to 256 colours, optimise for 16k modems etc etc.

[Mik]

dont we? bugger nobody told me!

[tomson]

the very essence of being a good designer is being able to work around limitations and restrictions.

And like fishboy says all formats have limitations - some originate from the media used (whether you design for web or you design abstract elephant turd sculptures) others from the client, others from the intended application of what you design and so on... you'll encounter them everywhere.

Also gotta agree with aarons comments about flash - I only ever build in flash; If i design an html or whatever based site then someone else can code it. I did a design degree cos I wanted to be a designer not a coder.

(oh no, a sudden sense of deja vu...)

[chips]

Originally Posted by tomson

the very essence of being a good designer is being able to work around limitations and restrictions.

well maybe a good web designer yes, but say if you worked on animation for music videos...or if you wanted to create a digital short film...you can pretty much do whatever you like.
If you can visualise it, and you know the software then you can create anything without any limitations.

but as JapanMik says - websites are not meant to be a work of art.

[tomson]

Originally Posted by chips

If you can visualise it, and you know the software then you can create anything without any limitations.

"you know the software" - thats a limitation in itself. As are record companies and artists if you do music videos, audiences if you make films, critics and buyers if you do fine art..etc etc. Unless of course you do it all entirely for yourself at a personal level, in which case there are no restrictions other than those you might apply yourself (if any). But then that can be said of web design too.

[aaron]

Originally Posted by chips

but as JapanMik says - websites are not meant to be a work of art.

Nobody said a work of art.... but for 'showcase' sites in particular (as opposed to information/data driven', you at least wanna be able to show some creative flare.

[Mik]

but surely any piece of work should encompass creative flare otherwise my mum could do it.

[flatcat]

Hmmm.......I dunno.... I find web design incredibly rewarding. It's a constant challenge to create a visually attractive site, as well as something that works in all browsers...but then again, I find I create better under heavy restrictions than I do with free reign so.....

[Mik]

restrictions are good.

[Bill Posters]

Originally Posted by JapanMik

its not meant to be "a work of art"

:tongueincheek: Who died and made you fcuking Vince Flanders?

Most aren't. Some are.
Whether the goal is creative flair or even 'high art', the compromises associated with producing work/art for the web can sometimes make it impossible to achieve the goal.

However, in the scheme of things, the web is still only a baby.
I'm sure there were similar frustrations experienced by many in the early years of every 'new' media movement from the very first cave paintings onwards.

[Mik]

i thought you said Ned Flanders when i first read it

[alice]

Tomson - seriously, you only build in Flash?
I'm on a design course, and the tutors are always going on at me to use more of my coding skills, i hate it.
Flash works, why can't I specialise in it?
or is it just 'cause theres less Flash designer's jobs out there?

anyway where is the future of web design meant to be going?

[chips]

It takes great skill to overcome the restrictions, but this fact is totally lost on the general public....average Joe doesn't realise the effort that goes into overcoming these obstacles...Neither does Flanders.

[Angryblue]

like ANY medium, its about working within the guidelines set before you.

[chips]

but I'm talking about the fact that web design has more restrictions on creativity than other mediums.

so, if there's more restrictions =less diversity

[flatcat]

then, in theory, wouldn't it take more creativity to come up with a viable, visually interesting solution to the problems that you are presented with?

[chips]

Originally Posted by flatcat

then, in theory, wouldn't it take more creativity to come up with a viable, visually interesting solution to the problems that you are presented with?

yeah - it does take alot of creativity to work around these problems.

I was thinking along the lines of visually creative, rather than problem solving creative, but take your point.