One thing I wanted to do was start converting the site over to html5. Really there isn’t much of a point at this juncture other than it is more semantic and simple to make the change.

For example historically I would code something like this for the header.

In HTML5 it would be more semantic and may look like this…

Pretty easy eh?

That takes care of the compliant browsers but to get the new HTML5 elements to work in IE you need to use a little javascript called HTML5 Shiv. I am lazy and want to make sure I always have a current version so I just placed the following in the head.

Obviously this is just a piece of the conversion. I am still trying to iron out the final pieces but it should not impact the overall design.

“As a designer, your job doesn’t stop when you leave the studio at 5 p.m.  That’s why our environment is key – it provides constant input, a constant stream of ideas,” – Jae Min, Audi Chief Designer, Audi Magazine 02/08

This statment rings true for me.  While I may not be designing something as complex or complicated as an automobile, I certainly look for a constent stream of input and ideas.  This consent search allows me to find solutions to problems I have yet to encounter.  It also helps continuously refine ideas and views I have had about previously completed designs.

On the graphics side the biggest mistake in my opinion is the failure to define a base font size. This means that the size is dictated by the default browser configuration, something that most people never change. For Windows Firefox users the default size is 16pt which is typically a little large for Web text. This gives the entire site a cartoon look. I understand that this might have been done for accessibility reason but there are other alternatives that would have allowed for a better controlled experience.

From the interaction standpoint many of the common feature such as digging, commenting, and burying have remained mostly unchanged. Personally I think the big failure here is the integration of video into the front page. This forced a redesign of the navigation which until now was excellent. In fact I have pitched similar designs and people recognized the similarities and even referred to it as “Digg style navigation.” While the new design maintains many of the elements of the previous it has added a drop-down menu system accessed through multifunction buttons. This can be confusing to casual consumers. With each click you may end up with different results.

Overall I think the previous design is better than this current iteration. Sure there are some interesting additions but I think they are really just feature fluff. I look forward to seeing how the public sees the new changes.

[Update] I just found this post. It looks like there might be other problems with the new Digg.com redesign.

In a broad definition design could be viewed as an outward expression of a solution to any given problem.  The important part of this thought is that it is outward.  This is to say that the audience(customer) can see the design in action, be it an interaction or some graphics that build a “feel” or “attitude”.  This is in contrast to something like development where the user doesn’t see or consider the results of the hard work (unless it is broken).  As a designer when the application is a success it is easy to take it personal.

Think of if in terms of “buzz.”  Most of the time when people talk about how great a product is they say things like “It is so easy to use” or “I love the way it looks.”  Rarely do you hear someone discuss how well it was developed or how there isn’t any bugs in it.

Even when the reverse happens and a product is deemed a failure it is often blamed on the design, not the construction.

The interesting part is that none of it would be possible if someone didn’t have the amazing amounts of knowledge to build it (be it by code or content).  This alone should humble any designer.  But some how this concept continues to be lost on many in the design community.  Perhaps it is because many designers have never taken the time to learn how to develop the rest of the items needed to make a great application.