[sigia-l] Liquid vs Fixed Design

[Boniface Lau]

"Forging a partnership between designer and user"

http://digital-web.com/articles/designer_user_partnership

PDU> When Web designers apply visual design conventions and then nail
PDU> them down to ensure their integrity, usability suffers because
PDU> users cannot modify elements of a fixed design.
...
PDU> Designers must work within the medium and deliver content in a
PDU> format that can be transformed as needed by the user. Second,
PDU> designers need to respect the boundaries of the user-controlled
PDU> environment. When these boundaries are crossed, even with the
PDU> best intentions, usability suffers. And finally, users need to
PDU> become better acquainted with their Web environment. They need to
PDU> learn the functions and features that are under their control,
PDU> and use the available tools to customize their environment. 
...
PDU> Unless we establish this type of partnership, user-centered Web
PDU> design will remain a benign dictatorship, with the designer
PDU> making somewhat informed assumptions about what is best for the
PDU> user. For a truly user-centered Web we need to share control and
PDU> responsibility with the person who actually knows what is best
PDU> when it comes to personal usability issues: the user. 


Boniface