Wow! Nearly 18 months since my last post. I was close to relegating this dormant dusty blog to the annals of history, or more accurately the server recycle bin. I find little time to blog any more, which is quite ridiculous as I’m more than happy to open my mouth.
But the recent circulation of a website supplying a service that replaces default type with blocky blocks has aggravated me, and Twitter’s character limit not allowing me the space to vent my frustration, I dusted off this long-unused blog and decided to quickly set my thoughts to proverbial paper.
The culprit of my dissatisfaction is this site—BLOKK (http://www.blokkfont.com/). Before we get started, I’m immediately set off by the damn right offensive marketing slogan “for clients who do not understand latin”, which although I understand is meant to be tongue-in-cheek, I feel is the first hint of the ignorance of the people behind this product.
Who has ever complained about Lorem Ipsum—the staple filler text for DTP software since before I knew what a QWERTY keyboard was (which I suppose in all fairness wasn’t that long ago)? And for those few and far between situations when an inquisitive client unsuspectingly asks what ‘that latin shit’ is; has a simple explanation never sufficed?
So let’s get past that. I know it’s a joke, albeit a stupid one. If your client is indeed rather obtuse regarding our linguistic heritage, there are a hundred alternative generators. In fact, here is a list of 14 to get you started. But let’s get to the bigger problem.
What’s my beef?
I believe the real issue here is pretty much our whole approach to the entire design process, and the unfortunate position web designers especially find themselves in every day. The web is all about content. I mean, it is like the whole point. Whether that be cat videos or recipes, academic essays or your mate’s Soundcloud—pretty much everything you do on the web is produce or consume.
So the fundamental issue of how we design interfaces that convey that information clearly and effectively runs deep at the heart of what we do. Content influences and informs design, or as you will—form ever follows function. Very rarely is it the other way round.
But we know this, we know it’s a problem and one that doesn’t seem to be improving much—not at the rate we’d like anyway. Most clients simply struggle with creating their own content. We’re not all natural creators and curators. So until we manage to wrangle a copywriting budget, finally convince the client to sort their shit out, or as all too often happens—give up and create the majority of the content ourselves (freelancers—ring any bells?), we’re forced to resort to our old pal Lorem Ipsum.
What’s Wrong with our Latin Ally?
If content should inform design, using fake content, copy especially, isn’t the ideal solution is it? Lipsum is pretty much the best tool we’ve got as far as I’m concerned. It allows you to get a feel for the the flow of copy through and between elements from the off. I sketch and I wireframe because it allows me to concentrate on layout, proximity of elements, grid structures and the distribution of whitespace without the distractions of colour and typography etc. Getting that nailed and out of the way allows me to move onto the more ‘colourful stage’ of design, knowing I’m already confident with the spacial composition.
“So you don’t need the distractions of typography?” I hear you cry! No, not the micro elements. At the initial stage I don’t want to get bogged down in my serifs and stroke weights. However it’s important for me to gauge the overall feel of running type, to get an idea of how words stand out and apart from, and conversely in and between their neighbouring design elements.
BLOKK doesn’t do that. BLOKK gives you blocks. Big fat black blotches slammed all over your pretty layout. That’s not how your type will look, it sets an uneven balance against the contrasting negative space and completely misleads the designers eye.
In fact, the makers may claim it’s for “quick mock-ups and wireframing”; but as far as I’m concerned it contradicts entirely the point of wireframing.
Am I Being Too Precious?
Perhaps I’m blowing this out of proportion. In fact I’m aware I most certainly am. But what bugs me is that people will jump on this, because it’s new and cool and different and shit, yeah ‘fuck clients who don’t understand Lorem Ipsum’. I have all the time and respect for people who try to create solutions that better and aid progress within our industry (and I know I should contribute more myself), but this does not. If anything—it is a step backwards.
A faux solution to the wrong problem and not addressing the real issue at hand—working with clients from the start to establish content before jumping into design—is no solution at all. It’s ignorant, and I mean that with no disrespect or aggression, but I worry that less experienced designers especially will accept ideas like this as new paradigms, as progress. Whereas I consider them regressive and even detrimental.
Alright then Mr. Big Swish, What do you Propose?
There is no perfect solution. Every client is different. Every project demands different input. But I think one thing we need to address as an industry is how undervalued content is. Copywriters, art directors and graphic artists are second-rate to web designers and developers. We leap into the design process before really nailing down the information architecture, and the information itself, that we’re designing.
We need to communicate with clients from the off, from the very bloody start, about content. If you’re a digital agency over 7-8 people making websites and the like on a day to day basis, I would really recommend bringing in a content creator, a copywriter, even if it’s part time.
Try and get rough outlines of the copy you’ll be working with before putting it to Photoshop. And if you’re an agile-as-fuck designer and you’re into all that designing in the browser malarkey—I’d propose that it’s even more important! Design, and interactive design especially, should not be dictating your content. If you need to shorten a paragraph by 20 words because it doesn’t line up properly, or you require all headings to be at least 30 characters long—something is wrong.
And I know that’s idealistic. So for now, it seems we’re still stuck with Mrs. Ipsum. And as for BLOKK? Well, for starters, have you ever really found implementing Lipsum a chore? Has a client ever really pulled you up on it and you’ve been at a loss for an explanation?
I can imagine there’s more chance of a client asking “what the fuck are all those black blocks everywhere?” than “what’s all that Italian shit everywhere?”. So I suppose for now, as John Owens put it—”If it ain’t broke…”
Rant over.
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