Web Design Worldview (Archive)

Page 3 of 3 (28 total articles)
  • May 14, 2008 in Web Design Worldview

    Web Design Worldview (Part 5): Introduction to the Christian Worldview

    In Christianity we find a unique and inspiring worldview grid through which we may create and understand design. In the Bible and throughout history, design and the arts have been a central medium through which God has communicated to man and man has communicated with each other. Other worldviews have assimilated pieces of truth from the Christian worldview; but none can account for reality so satisfactorily or liberate our creativty so completely. In this article, I will be giving a brief overview of the Christian worldview and its primary tenets which affect our view of web design. In the last article in this series (part six), I will develop a practical model of a Christian web designer.

  • May 7, 2008 in Web Design Worldview

    Web Design Worldview (Part 4): Making Nonsense Out of the Hybrid Worldview

    The hybrid worldview is the mutant offspring of modernism and post-modernism. It's by far the dominant philosophy amongst designers right now. Its pick-and-choose methodology can make it extremely elusive and disorienting. But it's not impossible to nail down; you just have to have the right tools. In this article, I will be giving a brief summary of the hybrid worldview, how it affects design, and where it's headed. You should be able to read this article alone without trouble, but I would recommend going back to part one, two, and three for better context.

  • April 30, 2008 in Web Design Worldview

    Web Design Worldview (Part 3): Postmodernism and Design

    Postmodernism is a dominant force in the world of design. Alongside modernism, it's the most influential worldview affecting design today. As such, it deserves serious consideration by designers of all disciplines. Since this blog is specific to web design, however, I will try to cast my points in that direction. Postmodernism can be a difficult worldview to nail down. The label "post-modern" has been applied liberally to many different philosophies and design movements. This article will attempt to analyze a pure postmodern worldview and its effect when applied to design. In the conclusion of the article, I will present a brief assessment of postmodernism as it compares with a Christian worldview; but the bulk of my presentation of Christian worldview in design will appear in the last two articles of this series.

  • April 23, 2008 in Web Design Worldview

    Web Design Worldview (Part 2): Modernism Deconstructed

    In the first part of this series, I introduced the what and why of worldview development in design. Now that we have a clear understanding of worldview and its elementary parts, we will move on to analyze three common worldviews. In this article we will be considering the modernist worldview--what it is, where it came from, and its practical consequences in design. The purpose of these critiques is to demystify the ideas we encounter every day in design. When we know how to extract worldview from high-sounding design philosophies, they lose their mystique. Our minds are then liberated to apply a holistic Christian worldview. After deconstructing modernism, we will move on to postmodernism, and then the common hybrid worldview.

  • April 16, 2008 in Web Design Worldview

    Web Design Worldview (Part 1): Why Worry About Worldview?

    Most of us have no idea where we stand in the marketplace of worldviews. Our sense of purpose and direction is like a convoluted cafeteria tray of ideas and opinions picked from an all-you-can eat buffet. In the case of the designer, this is especially unfortunate as worldview can be a major factor in our design decisions. In my recent article Function vs. Form: Rescuing Design from Insanity I lightly touched on the issue of worldview development, but a topic this important deserves a much more detailed treatment. This article is the first in a six part series explaining and developing the concept of worldview--specifically worldview as it informs the practice of design. By the time I'm finished, you will be able to make much more deliberate design decisions stemming from a unified overarching worldview.

  • April 2, 2008 in Web Design Worldview

    Branding Reconsidered: Corporate Identity in the Christian Worldview Grid

    Applying a Christian worldview to corporate branding and marketing can be tricky. Apart from a set of ethics--don't steal, don't lie--Christianity doesn't seem to have a lot to do with selling things in the secular world. In reality, it has a great deal to do with it. But it takes a fundamental thought shift for the modern designer to realize it. In order to encourage this thought shift, first I'm going to take a look at the differences between the common and Christian views of branding. Then I'll discuss the implications of the opposing views so that you will be better equipped to effectively apply a Christian worldview in branding and marketing design.

  • March 3, 2008 in Web Design Worldview

    Function vs. Form: Rescuing Design from Insanity

    The debate over function and form has raged in the design community for over a century and a half. Artists and craftsmen in every design discipline have wrestled, and continue to wrestle, with the tension of function and form every day. In web design this tension is especially pronounced because the success of our work requires an almost mathematical balance of function and beauty. That's why it's imperative we have a solid grasp on the history and philosophy that has shaped our own approach to solving this dilemma. Why function? Why form? Once I've answered those questions, I'll present the Christian worldview of design and briefly map out a practical Christian approach to design.

  • November 21, 2007 in Web Design Worldview

    Effective Web Site Design: Understanding Unity and Diversity

    There have been thousands of books and articles written outlining, explaining, and defining the elements of a good web site design. Many usability experts even go so far as to dictate the acceptable size of various common web site elements down to the pixel. Everyone has their "fool-proof" checklist of parts that, when added together, should total up to a great web site design. Honestly, I'm glad it's not that simple. We're looking at web design like addition or subtraction when, in reality, it's more like poetry. The sum of the parts is not equal to the whole. With that in mind, I'll move on to the main point.

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