There’s a joke that goes: “I want to learn web design. How long will it take?” “A year or two.” “Great! That’s much less time than it took me to learn print!” “Oh, you used to be a print designer? In that case, it’ll take five to seven years.”

We’re crazy about this post about introducing print designers to web design. It is quite helpful, and isn’t nearly as sarcastic as we’re going to be. So when you’re done with that, come back for our footnotes on five things we wish print designers would learn faster:

1. Really, really adjust to the medium. Your former world of layouts that don’t move is about to vanish. Think of your old page designs printed on sheets of rubber so they stretch out of shape, and half of the elements come alive and do magic things.
2. Layouts must flow. They cannot be set with pixels. Users resize their browsers, and view your work on everything from a Nintndo DS to a 25-inch flat-screen Mac. Maybe even in portrait or landscape mode on a phone. Flow, like water. Yes, it is hard to design water, but try.
3. Aesthetics are important, but not that important! Functionality and usability have to come before aesthetics. This is why cars aren’t designed with the steering wheel in the middle, and why books are published as flat blocks of chopped paper rather than one long, rolled-up scroll of papyrus.
4. We are sticking to conventions, not because we are old fuddy-duddies in powdered wigs, but because our conventions make the world make sense. Putting light switches next to the doorway is a convention. Yes, it would be innovative to put the light switch in the middle of the floor of the room, but then, it is inconvenient for the user, too.
5. Users do not want to explore the interface. You actually have to label it and make it clear. “An interface that beckons exploration” is probably something you got from a manager who’s had too many PowerPoint meetings. If you don’t believe us, try removing all of the labels from all of your canned foods this week, then eat that way the rest of the week. After trying to make a souffle out of peaches, chili, and cat food, you’ll learn to appreciate how useful labels are.Peter BrittainPS: For professional website hosting, we recommend our partners over at Northern Lights – Perth Website Hosting

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