Chapter 4. Differences over design

 

In this chapter

Why does the iPod dominate the MP3 player market? The technology is nothing special, and iPods have fewer features than many of their competitors. What makes them stand out is the user experience. The physical design of the hardware is sleek, simple, and attractive. The user interface on the device is intuitive and clean. Apple understands the power of design.

When it comes to the web, design is no less important. Nothing is more frustrating than a badly designed site.

Good design can be equally powerful. A well-designed interface guides you to the content you need, encourages a positive feeling towards a brand, and seduces you into completing calls to action.

Get the user experience wrong, and the project may fail, no matter how good the content or functionality. No wonder design is one of the most contentious and stressful parts of the development process.

Too many cooks: subjective design

The fight for home-page real estate

Corporate branding

The challenges of layout

Next actions