Comments on: Design vs. Content: Agency Professionals Weigh In

By: Rick Sloboda

Rick Sloboda — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 01:30:52 +0000

CS, I agree design and content require equal consideration. My point is that it’s helpful when the copywriter is brought in early in the process to help define the target audience(s), key messages and so on, so the right messages can be created in the right manner.

Our copywriters have been brought in late on numerous occasions, once the designs were approved and considered ‘done’, resulting in much rework or damaging compromises. For instance, what if the task calls for three call-outs and the design only has two, or the web copy needs to be around 200 word on a page to get a task completed when the writer only has room for 100.

As an experienced web copywriter, I highly value and respect the impact of design. It generates, or at least heavily influences, the visitor’s first impression. If the design isn’t appealing, effective and user-friendly, the copywriter has a major uphill battle. So, in my mind, a designer (and his or her designs) can be a copywriter’s best friend.

By: CS

CS — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 05:11:36 +0000

Seems Rick you’re taking a left-brained approach because you prefer content. Design here however is done using the right brain because it does not recognize time but sees all events at once, which is great for instantly comprehending a website’s information-either on a page or in its very architecture. Using the senses in balance is key to truthful experience; equal consideration should be given to the brain hemispheres when putting together a website, with design helping the audience navigate the arranged words. Writing is the viewers’ focus (like stopping time to analyze, and left brained) and design is the viewers’ background (like everything at onceness, and right brained). Design and content consideration should be equal because our brains require it.

By: Rick Sloboda

Rick Sloboda — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 21:45:45 +0000

Indeed, it’s difficult for content writers to add value to the user experience when you are brought in late and forced to fit “x words” in various boxes. Ideally, the right content is created, and then supported by design.

By: nm

nm — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 19:19:59 +0000

The problem is this: I have rarely worked with a web designer who understood the importance of the need for the content producer to research, investigate and be included in the entire website design or redesign process from day one.

Working in an agency is death to content managers as inevitably, we are only brought in after the fact, and then we are supposed to be able to write engaging, targeted, amazing copy to “enhance” the design. Folks, the content producer is usually the one more interested in making sure the content is accessible and easy to find…. We know of and have worked on many “pretty” sites that are horrors for the users to navigate. That’s why designers need to accept the help and collaborate with the content producers from day one. We aren’t just “copywriters” anymore. We are content managers, information architects, website content producers … and more. Our content will work with your design … if you will just give up some of the power and let us in!

By: Rich

Rich — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 15:59:20 +0000

Interesting opinions on the design versus content topic! I think everyone makes sound points.

By: William A. Beachy

William A. Beachy — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 14:30:44 +0000

It’s a war out there. Let’s face it – every website is in a battle to the death over the eyeballs and finger clicks of a few billion web browsers. If you were going into war and someone offered you either a gun or a bag of grenades, which would you pick? Obviously, you would slug the guy, call him an idiot and take both. When competing against other sites with ubiquitous content, the design is going to make the difference, and vice versa. So, I wouldn’t waste my time debating which is more important. Go to war with the very best arsenal of weapons you can get your hands on – design and content.