Categories
Adobe Design The Profession Web Design Web Design History

Style versus design, revisited

STYLE VERSUS DESIGN READS like it was written this morning. In fact, I wrote the original version in 1999, when I had a monthly web design column going at Adobe.com. In 2005, Adobe asked if I’d mind updating the piece. I changed a couple of words and they agreed that the revision worked. For although the web had changed tremendously between 1999 and 2005, the issue I addressed in my article had not. This afternoon, while importing some old Ma.gnolia bookmarks into Pinboard, I came upon Adobe’s HTML version of the 2005 revision to “Style vs. Design.” I read it again, and tweeted the link. Within minutes, designers were responding. Many thought the piece was new. For what I said in that article over eleven years ago still rings true, although there are now more designers who see things as I do. It’s nice that a piece of writing about web design could remain relevant for over a decade. But it’s also a bit sad. See what you think.

L. Jeffrey Zeldman's avatar

By L. Jeffrey Zeldman

“King of Web Standards”—Businessweek. Ava’s dad. Automattician. OG blogger/web designer. Publisher, A List Apart & A Book Apart. Author, Designing with Web Standards & Taking Your Talent to the Web. Emeritus: An Event Apart, SVA MFA IXD, Happy Cog.

Discover more from Jeffrey Zeldman Presents

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading