Simple Designs: The Real Meaning

Sandeep Prabhakaran — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 09:32:16 +0000

In the current trend, the web is constantly moving towards simplicity.
What exactly does this mean? Simply by design or simple to use?

The popular guidelines about keeping a design simple are to avoid using gradients, avoid heavy graphics, avoid images for navigation and so on. However, the actual purpose of simplification as we designers understand it, is to remove clutter from the design. There are ample number of designs that depend a lot on graphics but are still easy to use and navigate. Such designs enable the user to focus on the content, than the design itself. After all content is king.

Simple designs, put simply are the designs that drive the users’ focus to the content and is certainly not about the number of images used, weight(size) of the images used or the use of gradients as some may tell us. Though, limiting the number of images used and the weight of these images to a minimum for better user experience and shorter load times is a completely different story.

Below are some examples of ‘graphicy’ websites that are still easy to use and navigate:

As they always say, content is king and web design is no exception. The design, aesthetics and in fact the simplicity itself should aid in removing clutter and making the content stand out. Using black and white elements all over the place, confusing the user what the actual content is not really a stand-out simple design. The process of simplification should not be focused on the graphics used, though the graphics used does aid in reducing the clutter in the design.

Dawn of a new year!

Sandeep Prabhakaran — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 04:02:17 +0000

2009 has been a wonderful year for us, working with numerous clients, building brands internationally and bringing startups to life. We have broadened our cilent base and business reach. Guess what’s new for 2010? You have already seen it, Graphorce has a new face now. We finally had some time to work on our own designs and we are proud to present you the result! This would not have been possible without the comments and critics of our clients, friends and other good minds, so we would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to all those who have helped us to get here.

So what’s with the new design?

Well, we actually got bored of the old one, we thought it needed some serious uplifting. We have been sketching and re-sketching several solutions for the redesign and settled with what we have here now. The first decision was to keep the new design simple and easy to navigate. We have shifted almost the entire focus onto our work.

We are planning to post the process of the design in days to come. Keep looking.

We would appreciate your comments and critics on the new design. As they say, there is always room for improvement.

Graphorce » General

Simple Designs: The Real Meaning

Dawn of a new year!

So what’s with the new design?

Happy New Year!