life with booyaa

Huh?

If you work in web publishing, even a little bit, then you'll know what I'm talking about.

I've come across this so often in my *counts on fingers* 6 year career in web user experience, where a designer who's classically trained in the print medium utterly fails to grasp the basics of web design. Which would be ok if it stopped there. It's when they shrug that off and insist on doing it anyway that the problems happen. But it's not about transferring your print design into html and css, or Flash, or whatever. It's about understanding the medium. Web design, with scant exception, must be driven by user needs. That's it.

I've learned that the best way to create a website that works is to follow the basic recipe of a healthy dollop of IA, a splash of usability and mix well. Add a pinch of design and season to taste. Test regularly and adjust recipe as needed during final cooking. OK so that's flippant, but here are some reasons why print does not transfer to the web and what's needed to make a website work.

First of all, if you have a choice, I’d say: stay at home. But if like us you booked your holiday months before you broke your leg then there’s nothing for it but to make the most of it.

My trauma consultant told me to wear my cast (it’s an Aircast, which means it’s removable) when travelling to protect my leg but, more importantly, to get to the front of the queue at the airport.

I felt bad about being pushed around Gatwick in a wheelchair when left to my own devices at home I can hobble from kitchen to bedroom, living room to garden quite happily. But I couldn’t stand in an hour-long queue at check-in, or walk with the cast and a crutch along the interminable corridors that lead to the gates. If you find yourself in the same situation then it’s time to a) swallow your pride and b) be grateful for the easy ride.