Design in Context: A Web Design Blog by Greg Kihlstrom

Why Isn't Google's Web site Cooler?

So I was talking with some of my non-designer friends the other day, and that question was asked.  It's a logical one, I suppose, as one would think that a company, like Google, with stockpiles of money and the need to stay on top of the Web game, would certainly want to make their online presence the epitome of coolness.

That brings us to the concept of functional design - certainly nothing new to most of us.  Apple has been very successful at merging the idea of simplicity, functionality and style in their products and their software.  Honestly, not quite as successful at translating it to their Web site, but they're getting better.

But back to Google.  Why WOULD they keep their site looking the same?  The answer is:  because it works, and it works really well.  When I go to that page, I know exactly what they are about, and what I can do there. There is beauty in that simplicity.

I go searching for cool stuff some times, maybe furniture, maybe music, who knows - whatever strikes my fancy.  I will more often than not, stumble upon some really cool looking Web site selling really unique stuff.  The only problem is, while things APPEAR to be designed, the user experience of actually BUYING something is horrible.  Makes me want to go to Amazon.com, where, if you look at it from a 'design' standpoint, it leaves a little to be desired, but I challenge you to find a better online buying experience.

So, in short, some times, it's all about simplicity.  And a white background.  But it's ALWAYS about what works and what is usable.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Greg RS Kihlström is an award-winning Designer and is currently Creative Director at Carousel30, a Washington, DC-based firm that specializes in Web site Design, Video Production and Post-Production and Print Graphic Design.

 

Why Another Blog About Web Design?

I decided to start this blog because there's some things that many of my potential clients ask before we start a project, whether it's a corporate Web Design project or a small online marketing campaign, a video project, or some print marketing collateral, and I'd like to take the opportunity to address some of them because I think that if the people that I run into have these questions, there must be plenty of others that do as well.

My company, Carousel30, has a process where any project that we are involved in starts with what we call a Discovery phase.  This is where we meet with the client in person and over the phone to determine marketing goals for the project: what they want to say, who they are saying it to and how they want to say it.

This is also an opportunity for me and my team to really get to know our new client, their industry, their customers and the culture of the company we are working with.  It's one of my favorite parts of my job.  Carousel30 hasn't set out to specialize in a specific industry or market sector simply because it's too much fun to learn about something different every day and I feel that that constant learning and discovery helps us to be better designers, marketers and business people.

So, that's why "Another Blog About Web Design."

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Greg RS Kihlström is an award-winning Designer and is currently Creative Director at Carousel30, a Washington, DC-based firm that specializes in Web site Design, Video Production and Post-Production and Print Graphic Design.