[Sigia-l] Visual Balance vs. Left Leaning Layouts

[Hankinson, Jody]

I'm a little late to the thread, but I'm surprised by what wasn't posted...

Have you shared your motivations for wanting the navigation a certain way? I
have learned through trial and error that tension arises between the
Designers and the IAs, because there isn't enough sharing of the project
goals, interface goals and the *usability* goals, i.e. "I'd like the
navigation on the left because proximity better illustrates relationships
between the categories, but it also gives us room to grow the navigation in
the future without subjecting everyone to a new design."

If that approach isn't successful, ask for one of the design treatments to
be a reflection of your goals. Three treatments seems to be the norm and
I've yet to have anyone balk at trying to prove me wrong by poorly designing
the approach they don't like. The process can be illuminating for the
designer, but it also gives me something I can use for a friends & family
test. Amazing what a quick test around the office can prove even if the
color pallet looks like vomit.

Lastly, designers breathe life into our work the same way a developer does.
Sometimes you just have to let go and wait for round two.

- Jody

Jody Hankinson | Information Architect
212.852.5051 | jhankinson at girlscouts.org
GSUSA | Where Girls Grow Strong | 420 Fifth Avenue, NY, NY 10018