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GDUSA SPECIAL WEB DESIGN REPORT: PART 2

SPONSORED BY PHOTOS.COM

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

For the second year in a row, we have released our national web design survey online. Last month, we reported the stats: graphic designers are embracing internet and interactive projects — out of preference or pragmatism or both — in record numbers. A few of the key charts are repeated below.Today, in Part 2, we let designers speak out about their web design work and how it fits into our fast-changing profession. A special thanks, once again, to Photos.com, a leading stock photography subscription solution, for sponsoring this special report and for its continued commitment to the creative professional community.

— Gordon Kaye

TWO BIG QUESTIONS

GDUSA readers are generous, thoughtful and provocative in their comments. In regard to this survey, they sort out into two main issues: Has the advent of internet design been a positive opportunity for your career and business? Do you enjoy web design work and how does it compare with print, packaging, p-o-p, broadcast and other media for which you design? Fun and profit... two critical elements to the future of the profession.

IS WEB DESIGN PROVING TO BE A POSITIVE CAREER OR BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY?

The short answer is: Yes, Yes, Yes! A thousand times, Yes! The longer answer is a bit more nuanced, with the vast majority of creatives acknowledging that web design is important to their present and future, but with many also expressing fears about the competitiveness of the area, the threat to their current print and broadcast work, the technical obstacles and more.

“Web design is here to stay. All clients need a website for their companies and many creative agencies have created interactive departments to fill that need. Today’s culture is a 24/7 one and the need for immediate response fits the interactive world perfectly.”
Claudia Barac Roth, Marriner Marketing Communications, Columbia MD

“The issue is not whether web presence is growing: it is here. It is now part of a normal marketing package.”
Louis Philippe Careretta, KAA Design Group, Los Angeles CA

“Web design is one of the major driving focus in our industry for quite some time into the future. That said, print and tv are the bulwark of our business and will continue to be.”
John Alexander, Frontline, Marina Del Rey CA

“Yes, it has been positive! We’re traditionally a print shop in the past, and now web design gets us in the door upfront and print collateral arises out of discussing web needs — all new marketing and web initiatives still need to be advertised or they will not be successful.”
Elizabeth Crawford, Crawford Mikus Design, Atlanta GA

“The internet is the future of all business. It is how the world communicates. It is only going to get better as the technology improves. There is no reason for anyone in the business of communication arts not to be involved with web design.”
Daniel Mascaro, NBC Television, Burbank CA

“80 percent of our marketing efforts focus on driving customers and prospective customers to our web content to generate new or support existing business. Online marketing has become the core of our business.”
Steve Benfield, SAS, Cary NC

“After several years of clients refusing to acknowledge that the internet is a variable means of growing business, they have finally seen the light. Today, we are seeing a surge in clients who want a total site redesign with greater functionality, better content and some form of lead generation. Many are even moving to dynamic database driven systems where content is easily maintained and updated on a monthly or daily basis. Our problem has been keeping enough staff on hand to service all the requests for help and maintenance. It is shaping up to be a busy 2008.”
Shane Poteete, Built Creative, Holly Springs NC

“Web design and development is definitely a future opportunity. New skills, capabilities and exciting challenges in crafting consumer-centric, business-supporting and creative dynamic solutions to increasing communications needs. For me this is an exciting time to experiment with tools and technology to determine my best productivity and creative results in my mobile world.”
L.J. Bothell, Bast Media, Seattle WA

“It has been absolutely positive. More than that, it is absolutely necessary. I do not think you can ignore it. Web design will always be part of our business and will continue to grow.”
Penny Mote, Penny Designs, Cumming GA

“More and more marketing campaigns are integrated with a web component. Both media are important to an overall communication strategy.”
Kirk Stanford, Gravity Design, Bellevue WA

“Web design has been an exciting new platform and art for for presenting both business critical information and creative design. Online communications have now become the crux of many business-to-business and business-to-consumer relationships. The need to communicate online will only increase and change as time goes on. Out of this need are born individuals and companies who master the fine arts of creative design and effective communication in this new emerging mediums.”
Jason Fowler, Wisely Woven Creative Media, Forest VA

“Web design represents a difficult to describe future in which unexpected capabilities will lead to success. Programming will be less important, conceptual thinking will predominate. Media will explode; we are just touching the surface now.”
Robert Lewis, Robert Lewis Design, Akron NY

“The market area of web design is growing, but not faster than the artists that are capable of doing the work. It is important to find a niche that fits your stye and hope for “word of mouth” resources to be favorable. This is a tough market with many talented people... Being talented in more than one area has been the secret to my success.”
Mark Elias, Elias Graphics, Clayton NC

“With the changing landscape of how people get their information, web design is more important than ever.”
Nicke Mesaric, Delaware Investments, Philadelphia PA

“Surprising to say, I was never interested in designing for the web. I was classically trained in graphic design and very print oriented. The web actually came looking for me. It has definitely been a positive growth opportunity. (Even though the type limitations on the web are maddening.)”
Pamela Cowart Rickman, Cowart Rickman Design, Rock Hall MD

“There is positive growth for now. But the future looks a bit scary because of cheap, easily-accessible overseas competition.”
Dan O’Donnell, Direct Axis, Pittsburgh PA

“Yes, it has been good for my career and business. It will certainly continue to be a growth opportunity as the internet plays an important role in business and is where everyone spends their time doing everything. The world is flat.”
Kristen Dorn, Brave New Markets, Owings Mills MD

“More and more people are becoming web literate and those people are our target audiences. Knowing web design is definitely an asset to my career and should be for any kind of business.”
Nameeta Sahni, Oakcrest Companies, Winchester VA

“Web design has been a positive opportunity for my business and allows for another avenue of service. However, my specialty is in printed media and that is where I intend to keep my focus for now.”
Alice Sanders, Info Graph Creative, Winston-Salem NC

“More clients are becoming aware that a web presence is an effective way to grow their business, and that planning, designing and maintain their site requires skills, tools and experience they don’t possess.”
Elliott Strunk, Fifth Letter, Winston-Salem NC

“The key word is positive. I don’t think of it as positive unless it generates more profits — that this has yet to be proven.”
D. Murata, Murata Corporate Consultants, Rancho Palo Verdes CA

“All too often I get web clients who have put the cart before the horse. They want a website before they’ve developed a suitable brand.”
Lisa Wilson, Dogtrick Creative, San Diego CA

“Environmentally it is positive — paperless, inkless, emission free, fast and less out of pocket cost to reach thousands, even millions of people all at once versus conventional direct mail tactics.”
Amanda Kelim, KC Design Studios, Havre de Grace MD

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DO YOU ENJOY DESIGNING FOR THE INTERNET?

As you will see, most designers find web design more imaginative, faster and less unforgiving that print. That said, there is a strong contingent of creatives who remain printophiles because of its tangibility and permanence. Just about ever yone recognizes that we are in a world of diverse and multiple media, where integrated projects and campaigns are both the nor m and the most effective.

“Web design is easier because you can correct mistakes. There is less pressure when you know that things are not final in a way that a printed piece is. Yes, I enjoy web design, but I like to get my hands on some print design, too.”
Betty Varga, BVarga Design, Schaumburg IL

“As part of a multichannel marketing program, every element must convey consistent thought to a prospect.”
Harvey Hirsch, Media Consultants, Lyndhurst NJ

“I enjoy print so much more. I respect the work of web designers because I have done a little of it. But print is where my heart is.”
Danielle Strader, Bennett Schneider, Kansas City MO

“I like print and web design equally as much, just in different ways. Print gives you ore choices such as ink, paper and special dies and embossing. With web you get to use animation and video.”
Stacy Smith, Ethos Marketing Design, North Waterboro ME

“The pace of web design is quick and the design is fun and open-ended.”
Matthew Talese, Resource Interactive, Columbus OH

“Designing for the web opens the door to communicate thoughts, ideas, information, in ways never before imaginable. Now that design professionals have a meaningful seat at the table, I think the future only looks brighter.”
Jeff Johnson, BigBad, Boston MA

“I enjoy designing for print and collateral more than I do for web design. There’s just something about being able to hold the finished product in your hand, where web only exists in cyberspace.”
Kris Sheppard, Kris Sheppard Design, Camarillo CA

“It’s a lot of fun and very rewarding to see “fruits of one’s labor” immediately, rather than waiting for a print piece to be printed.”
KC Jones, Pacific Media Exchange, El Cerrito CA

“I enjoy working in print. I feel the capabilities of web design have become so extensive that web and print no longer share the same skills. It is necessary to understand web design or print design but I feel it is no longer necessary for designers to be efficient in both.”
Noelle Scott, Endash Design Studio, Akron OH

“I do enjoy web design. It is a much more relaxed kind of design. With a print project, I design something, get it as perfect as possible, send it to print, and it’s over. I cannot afford mistakes because once the piece is printed, there is no changing it. On the web, I create a page and publish it. I can change it tomorrow and publish it again if I need to. Of course, it should be as perfect as print materials. But if not, you can change it and publish again.”
Rachel Atkinson, The Seed Company, Arlington TX

“I enjoy the gratification of seeing my work in print. Many people have said it would die. It still hasn’t happened. Many small firms like mine have been successful because we love doing print work. You do not need a computer to see the finished product... You can hold it in your hand.”
John N. Occhiuto, Jon Marg Advertising, East Meadow NY

“I do enjoy web design as much as print, mainly because you are given a blank canvas to work with and it is a great challenge.”
Dale Sprague, Canyon Creative, Las Vegas NV

“I enjoy print over web design. Viewing something only on-screen does not compare to holding a beautifully printed piece.”
Ann O’Neil, Studio 93, Framingham MA

“I love designing for the web. It is so flexible and non-committal. If you make a spelling error or another small error, it is easy to fix since it’s never final.”
Krista Van Guilder, KVG Creative, Worcester MA

“Designing for the web eliminates the headache of preparing files for the printer since it’s a low res, RGB deal. Bust aside from that, I enjoy desiging for both print and web. I work for a state agency and my primary responsibility is print design and all aspects of it. All I do for web is create the graphics and provide them to the webmaster. This is the closest thing to illustration I get to do here, and for that reason, I love the web stuff!”
Andrea Wadowski, Connecticut State Department of Education, Hartford CT

“Web-based advertising has a wider space for imaginative ideas.”
Al Cuneo, Cuneo Creative Consultants, Tallahassee FL

“My passion is taking a blank paper and transforming it into something that, though it is not moving or changing, tells a huge message. I think it is a challenge to convey the proper message in an unmoving medium, which makes print more fun for me.”
Laureen Biruk, Zimmerman Advertising, Fort Lauderdale FL

“I enjoy the information architecture aspect of web design especially. Since I only have to worry about the front end, I enjoy the graphic development process. However, my strong suit as a designer is typography, which tends to be the low man on the totem pole when it comes to search engine indexing and optimization. A well indexed site and a graphically sound site seem to end up on opposite ends of the spectrum all too often, but its something we’re still working on.”
Jill Levenson, Kleber & Associates, Atlanta GA

“I enjoy web design as much as many other print projects, though high-budget print will always be my favorite.”
Christine Emming, Christine Emming Studio, Lakewood CO

“I enjoy web design as much as print because the results are awesome! Everything looks good! The work is challenging and intimidating! I’m still learning!”
Camille Fisher, Cameo Art Studio, New Paltz NY

“I enjoy the richness and relative permanence of print. There just seems to be more value associated with print, whether I am working on creating the project or functioning as a consumer of print. New electronic media has its place, but it will likely never be more than a supplemental communications tool for me.”
Larry Bauer, Bauer Associates, Batavia IL

“I prefer print design over web design. I enjoy paper and ink. The web seems very one dimensional to me.”
Jason Clary, Cellar Door Creative, Oak Park IL

“Web design is more enjoyable, less stressful.
Reprinting a catalog = $100,000.
Republishing a website = $0.
Stress level = $0. Priceless.”
Steve Matthews, Pedigo Passen Associates, Canal Winchester OH

WHAT ARE THE MAIN TECHNICAL OBSTACLES YOU FACE?

For many, there remains a gap between their design concepts and their ability to translate those concepts faithfully to the inter net. As you will see, problems revolve around software, standards, platforms, typography, training and staffing issues.

The design is easy. It’s working with outside programmers in general, and then dealing with platform issues and software updates that is most frustrating. There is not enough of a standard yet.
Abigail Russell, Pearson Indianapolis IN

Web design still has limitations. Many ideas and so many thoughts that vanish because they could not be translated into the medium. Software should not restrict creativity, but in the case of web, it still does.
Victor Reiss, Cerebro Inc., Sunrise FL

The programs we use to design the sites need to be more user-friendly and more open-minded so they can intertwine with other programs... Let’s just make web design easier.
Christopher Buder, FAB Starpoint, Ridgewood NY

The difficulty is trying to keep up-to-date with everchanging tehnologies available, as well as the everchanging web standards and best practices.
Adam Taylor, Splendor Design Group, Point Pleasant NJ

The most difficult thing is working with programmers, at the clients preference, who can’t think past legacy code or consider creative approaches to technical solutions.
Steve Goberman, Fifth Room Creative, Denville NJ

The challenge is finding qualified people who have passion, business sense, artistic ability and technical knowledge.
Humayun Malik, Ibenex, North Branford CT

Software programs are overkill; 70 percent of options are not used, and are way too complicated to learn and use. The industry will eventually drown in [its] own technology.
Steve Cobb, SCG Design, New Port Richey FL

The steep learning curve of web design applications is a big problem.
Miguel Dominguez, MD Studio, New York NY

Companies lack a consistent set up in terms of staffing for the web. Sometimes the graphic designer is also the web developer, sometimes not. There seems to be a hazy definition of the graphic designer ’s responsibilities.
Keli Strickland, Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD

Not every computer user has the latest software or hardware on their end. We design state-of-the-art web projects with animations and sometimes it loses its full capabilities in audio and video. Also, typography changes on the user ’s end, if they don’t have the same typefaces.
Alexander Lezhen, Alexander Lezhen Design, New York NY

We find that we are limited, sometimes, by the client’s current hosting and budgets. Also, we find that system fonts that are cross-platform for Mac and PC — and work with different browsers — are very limiting if you want crawlable text on the website.
Adam Perlman, Perlman Creative Group, Wyckoff NJ

The main obstacle is the convergence between the programming point of view and the designer point of view. The more we work on the technical matters, the less time is spent on design.
Anne Forrest, Videocom Media, Rego Park NJ

Finding the time to learning new technologies is a problem, Don’t get me wrong. I think new technologies are great and are essential. But with a busy schedule and tight deadlines, spending time to experiment has become a luxury. Nonetheless, I will eventually adapt.
Will Cruz, CruzDesign, Portland CT

It is difficult to incorporate rich media into sites in order to enhance the visual presence of the site, while still offering search optimization and enhanced functionality.
Jacob Rohde, Lanex LLC, Brookfield WI

Consumers do not understand how complex designing a website can be. They price and value a web page at the same rate as a static book page.
Marc Levitt, MSLK Design, Long Island City NY

The main technical obstacle I face is the client wanting to update the website themselves... I feel that, because of the D-I-Y mentality, there are limits on what I can do as a designer to make their website unique and appealing.
Kate Corman, REL Productions, West Des Moines IA

PHOTOS.COM SPECIAL PROMOTION

For more information about a very special stock visual subscription offer from Photos.com.  Click here