Comments on: Style guides and UI implementation: Part 2 http://www.purecaffeine.com/2009/11/style-guides-and-ui-implementation-part-2/ Interaction experience design blog - web, social, gov 2.0 Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:53:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Nathanael Boehm http://www.purecaffeine.com/2009/11/style-guides-and-ui-implementation-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-3344 Nathanael Boehm Fri, 11 Dec 2009 22:35:36 +0000 http://www.purecaffeine.com/?p=501#comment-3344 I don't believe style guides are as important for small sites delivered by smaller agencies for smaller companies. Style guides are really for where there are a lot of people involved in various aspects of communications, design development and publishing over a period of time with a substantial product where if not implemented correctly can take years to roll out simple brand tweaks. Riding a miniature toy ATV with two controls - throttle and steering - is a bit different from piloting an F-16 fighter jet. That's when it's important to have those manuals around so people can get a picture of the style that might not be as easily determined as with a quick scan of a 5-page $5k website. Nonetheless, even in those cases it still would be nice to have a style guide because inevitably someone else will come along to maintain it within the 2-3 lifecycle of that site and introduce new design elements that don't align with the beautiful original brand. I don’t believe style guides are as important for small sites delivered by smaller agencies for smaller companies. Style guides are really for where there are a lot of people involved in various aspects of communications, design development and publishing over a period of time with a substantial product where if not implemented correctly can take years to roll out simple brand tweaks. Riding a miniature toy ATV with two controls – throttle and steering – is a bit different from piloting an F-16 fighter jet. That’s when it’s important to have those manuals around so people can get a picture of the style that might not be as easily determined as with a quick scan of a 5-page $5k website.

Nonetheless, even in those cases it still would be nice to have a style guide because inevitably someone else will come along to maintain it within the 2-3 lifecycle of that site and introduce new design elements that don’t align with the beautiful original brand.

]]> By: Cre8ive Commando http://www.purecaffeine.com/2009/11/style-guides-and-ui-implementation-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-3314 Cre8ive Commando Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:50:39 +0000 http://www.purecaffeine.com/?p=501#comment-3314 Great post Nathanael, it's packed with info :-) But what I have found working as a web designer in a small company on a tight budget with short deadlines is that we simply don't have the time to create a comprehensive style guide. As a web designer I am basically the HTML coder, CSS writer and UI designer all in one. Would be great to have the time to plan out things nicely. Great post Nathanael, it’s packed with info :-)

But what I have found working as a web designer in a small company on a tight budget with short deadlines is that we simply don’t have the time to create a comprehensive style guide. As a web designer I am basically the HTML coder, CSS writer and UI designer all in one.

Would be great to have the time to plan out things nicely.

]]> By: Nathanael Boehm http://www.purecaffeine.com/2009/11/style-guides-and-ui-implementation-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-2409 Nathanael Boehm Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:46:55 +0000 http://www.purecaffeine.com/?p=501#comment-2409 I should also have mentioned that style guides should be an extension of existing corporate, brand and product style guides - not something developed in isolation or from scratch. I should also have mentioned that style guides should be an extension of existing corporate, brand and product style guides – not something developed in isolation or from scratch.

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