Good Failure

January 28, 2004 | View Comments (6) | Category: Our Thoughts

Summary: Why should we care so deeply about what people have to say about our websites?

You create a website with the best of your abilities or maybe you create a website that looks different just to be different. The point is you created it for your own well being. Maybe you missed some usability and accessibility issues or maybe your site doesn't validate this time. You are a designer, so you experiment. Should you mind when people drop by your site and offer their negative opinions or opinions in general? NO.

You are a designer with ability. You design because you can design. Why should you care what people see when you are doing something that will help you grow? If you do care what others think, then you would never be where you are right now. Why as designers should we care so dearly what other people think about our art? What does it matter if we create something that sucks every once in a while? Nobody is perfect. How much time have we wasted already worrying about what others think? Too much.

I am writing a critique tonight of someone's personal site because he requested it. Does he care one way or another what I have to say? Probably not, but maybe he thinks he might get something out of it. Will he stop designing because of it? Of course not. As designers, learn to take in only what you want. It's your choice.

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Comments

#1

I think a designer should care sometimes. One should stay open-minded, and maybe grow from it. However, what you describe is to take things personally. It is a waste of energy and time. That I agree.

Zelnox

#2

To me, exercising my creativity requires me to put a little bit of myself into my work. Because my creative expression (be it design, art, or whatever) is strongly tied to who I am, criticism of said expression can seem much stronger or more personal than the critic intended.

It takes time and experience to learn to absorb and learn from the constructive aspects of criticism and not take the rest personally. That said, it's still a very difficult thing to learn, and I'm not very good at it...

Paul G (http://www.relativelyabsolute.com)

#3

Design cannot be criticised through it's own design. Design is about opionins. People differ.

Usabiliy, accessibility and IA etc. can be critiqued. This is where feedback happens, and it should be heeded.

David House

#4

I think if you feel you have put together something you are proud of and people critique it when you did not request it, then that isn't right.

However, I wouldn't be where I am at in design skills if it wasn't from me asking for their opinions, especially from people who know what they are doing. Many people over at Sitepoint have helped mold me into what I am today, and I thank them for that. however, I have always requested the information and help.

If you are going to ask someone to critique your site, in my opinion, you should care because you are allowing someone to take time out of their day to offer their opinions of something you did.

Just my 2 cents

Bryan (http://www.gamecubecheats.info)

#5

Well we have had our discussions about the "etiquette" of critiques so that won't be a problem again around here.

I do think you should care what the person has to say in regards to their opinion, but I guess I mean to say it shouldn't be a deterring factor towards one's creativity.

Scrivs (http://www.9rules.com/whitespace/)

#6

As you become more and more skilled as a designer, people will to hold you to continually higher expectations. It's inevitable that there will be some negative comments made about the work you produce.

It's up to you to decide if you agree with the expectations and if you will try to better yourself in order to reach them.

Jack (http://boxofjack.com/)

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