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Should I be trendy?

over 8 years ago from Tevi Hirschhorn, UX Designer

  • Ian GoodeIan Goode, over 8 years ago (edited over 8 years ago )

    This.

    Being aware of trends is good but you can't go into every (any) project having already decided you have to follow current trends. That's working with two hands behind your back.

    Trends are not necessarily an indicator of what's good or what works. They're self-feeding cycles where something gets distilled and drained until it's so shallow that people get bored and look for something new. If that's your starting point then you're already behind.

    2 points
    • Tevi HirschhornTevi Hirschhorn, over 8 years ago

      Totally agree - some good comments here.

      It's not that I want to necessarily throw all the current trends in. This project needs to show that it's modern and new to be taken seriously. If it looks 5 years old, it will fail. Miserably. Photoshop grain, drop shadows and chrome are so dead.

      I tried explaining that to the client, but he insisted...

      I guess I'm just going to have to make the best of it.

      0 points
      • Caleb SylvestCaleb Sylvest, over 8 years ago

        It's also worth noting that most digital designs only live 1-2 years before being redesigned. So, even though this goes against what I said earlier, sometimes current trends are good, as long as you are also attempting to forecast the next two years.

        Unfortunately sometimes a project is a project and you simply do it to get paid :( but I still suggest doing whatever you can to help educate the client and properly provide a solid solution for the problem at hand. Even showing other, current designs as a comparison to what the client is referencing (hint: you don't have to show other sites/apps in the same field, for example banks and universities always have sucky design, so if designing for a bank why would you inspect what other banks are doing? Check out and reference similar industries that are doing it well!)

        Good luck!

        1 point