Monday, May 22, 2006

More from the other ALA...text IS interface

Every once in a while, I come across something so good, it becomes required reading for all members of the Web Content Team at my beloved place of work. I try not to over do this (I'm an English teacher at heart, and I so heart assigning reading...), so I keep it to the basics...Don't Make Me Think, for example.

But this article goes on the list (hi all!):

Calling All Designers: Learn to Write! (once again, from the other ALA). Now, of course all members of the team know how to write or they wouldn't be on the said Web Content Team, but it takes stamina, constant creativity, and a little courage to continually push yourself to write what is good rather than what is easy.

A few of my favorite quotes...

"It’s time we designers stop thinking of ourselves as merely pixel people, and start thinking of ourselves as the creators of experiences. And when it comes to experience on the web, there’s no better way to create it than to write, and write well."

"Design is about communication, and it takes more than pixels to communicate. Design is about communication, and it takes more than pixels to communicate."

And this is particularly important to libraries and those who develop library Web content. It's oh-so easy to fall into the quick sand of library/institutional speak. This is why it's important to read blogs, 'zines, and other fine specimens of whip-smart, don't-call-me-witty, and don't-take-yourself-too-seriously prose. Check out Daily Candy for a daily dose, and dust off those English degrees.

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