Though we at Design Delineations have been doing Web site design and even blog theme design long enough to feel quite expert in this area, I have been relatively ignorant regarding social bookmarking. Today I set out to find out exactly what goes on in the world of social bookmarking.
Here are some things I learned. First, there are several Web sites that allow users to subscribe to RSS feeds, store their bookmarks online and share them with friends. These are del.icio.us, Furl, Simpy and many more. I tested all of the ones mentioned above and liked each of them about equally.
What I found when I tested both Digg and Reddit though really surprised me. These are sophisticated content filtration systems that allow peers to critique and promote articles. What rises to the top is likely to be heavily reviewed and therefore, hopefully, worth reading.
On Reddit.com and Digg.com I posted similar content and received similar response. However, friendly fact checkers at Digg corrected some errors in my post while at Reddit, all I received were negative votes. Which community will serve me better?
Edit: Another social bookmarking Web site that I found extremely fun to use and not super combative was BlinkList.
Edit2: I submitted other content to Reddit - better researched and written - and have not received the strongly negative response.
Edit3: Steve Rubel says, “Yahoo won when they bought del.icio.us. Game over. Move along. Nothing to see here. The bookmarks have left the building.” I need to pick one service and stick to it to avoid hassles managing mulitple lists. It will likely be del.icio.us. Not because of Rubel, but because it is easy to use, the standard tool by which all others are measured, and well supported by plugin developers for many Web applications.
February 15th, 2006
I downloaded IE7 primarily to see what problems it would cause with my existing clients’ Web sites. I must say, I was surprised at how little trouble this upgrade will cause! Microsoft seems to be listening well and learning about what designers and end users want in a browser.
IE7 adds tabbed browsing, RSS subscription, and best of all - ClearType. After a couple of weeks of regularly using IE7, I have to say that this enhancement is by far the most significant change for the better in Web browsing history in the last few years.
IE7 is easy on my eyes! For someone who spends most of every day in front of a computer, that’s a compliment indeed. Edit 2/18/2005: Still easy on my eyes when reading sans-serif type, but I’m beginning to see the blurriness on serif type as a real problem with cleartype.
Of course, not everyone agrees!
There’s an interesting article about ClearType over at Designorati.
Edit: As pointed out over on Digg by Rob, ClearType is a Windows XP feature that has been integrated into IE7. It is not technically an IE feature. Until now, it had to be enabled for every application at a system level. IE7 allows you to apply it to the browser only.
February 15th, 2006
I want to dispel myths that some people may believe about Web designers. If you don’t recognize these myths, it could be because I’m the only one who ever believed them. I can only speak for myself!
- Web designers are super creative types who see visions, dream dreams, and make remarkable designs appear out of thin air.
Rebuttal: Web designers must have the ability to hear their client’s requests, goals, and personality through verbal and nonverbal communication and translate it into a tangible design. This is not magic, but a process based on careful thought, improvisation, and client feedback.
- Web designers are super smart.
Rebuttal: Again, I can only speak for myself! I’m certainly smart enough to add and subtract, but I am human and make mistakes from time to time.
There is no substitute for feedback from a client. Questions that challenge a designer’s assumptions can be extremely helpful to the process. Try asking, “Why did you make the logo that size?” or “What message do you think that color scheme sends?” etc. Non-designers need do little more than ask questions and offer direction to get an above average design from an attentive designer.
- Web designers can’t take criticism.
Rebuttal: Perhaps there’s some truth here. At my company, which is myself and any sub-contractors needed, we work hard to take a non-defensive posture. Depending how sleep deprived I am, my ability to respond with class may be diminished. However, constructive criticism is the lifeblood of good design. Good designers know this, and treat criticism with respect - even if it hurts.
I hope the lighthearted tone of this post comes through. I enjoy working on design projects and the give and take that it requires.
February 15th, 2006
