 skills. I am not a good
designer. I know this because when I see good designs, I realize I NEVER could
have come up with that.

If you're a programmer, you should be able to nail the science half of the
equation. As for the art half, I would just shamelessly rip cool things you
find when searching "css inspiration" or whatever ["great artists steal"].

It's easy to go overboard reading about UX and all the articles completely
over-analyzing the topic. Unless your product is centered on revolutionary
interface like hipmunk, you're probably safe just using established
interaction patterns and getting feedback from "normal people".

Just see if your non-techie friends can handle it. If so you probably have
enough to launch. Most big sites were ugly at launch...

------
synnik
I work both sides of the coin. I have a degree in fine Arts, but have been a
software guy for many years.

I put in an initial design when I make a HTML mock-up. I tweak it until I
think it is good, then start to code the actual functions.

As I work with it, within a few days, the constant usage and testing show me
what is wrong with my design. I then often iterate, updating the design
whenever it starts to annoy me. At the start of the project, this is often
once a week. After a few revisions, I slow down, and by the time I've been
working with an app 6 months, it is fairly stable.

In terms of how you actually make your design, the KISS principle remains
valid. It is much easier to add small UI elements to make a page more
interesting than to scale back from an over-engineered design.

------
DanI-S
I've been working since posting this and haven't had time to properly read or
reply to your comments, but wow - some really fantastic stuff here, from some
very respectable people. I am going to have a great time reading and exploring
what people have said, once I get a moment to sit down...

It seems a shame that all this expertise be confined to the bowels of the HN
news list (which isn't search engine indexed, right?) - would it be acceptable
to make some attempt to compile it into a (properly referenced, ofc
skills. I am not a good 
 designer. I know this because when I see beneficial blueprint, I realize I NEVER could 
 have come up with that. 

 If you're a programmer, you should be able to nail the skill half of the 
 equation. As for the art one-half, I would precisely shamelessly rip cool things you 
 find when search " css inspiration " or whatever [ " capital artist steal " ]. 

 It's easy to go overboard read about UX and all the articles completely 
 over - analyze the topic. Unless your product is centered on rotatory 
 interface like hipmunk, you're probably safe merely using establish 
 interaction patterns and getting feedback from " normal people ". 

 Just see if your non - techie ally can handle it. If so you probably have 
 enough to establish. Most big sites were ugly at launch... 

 ------ 
 synnik 
 I work both sides of the coin. I have a degree in fine Arts, but have been a 
 software guy for many years. 

 I frame in an initial design when I make a hypertext markup language mock - up. I pluck it until I 
 intend it is good, then start to code the actual routine. 

 As I work with it, within a few days, the constant usage and examination show me 
 what is wrong with my design. I then often iterate, updating the design 
 whenever it starts to annoy me. At the start of the project, this is often 
 once a week. After a few rewrite, I slow down, and by the clock time I've been 
 working with an app 6 months, it is fairly stable. 

 In terms of how you actually do your design, the KISS principle remains 
 valid. It is a lot easier to total small UI elements to have a page more 
 interesting than to scale back from an all over - engineered design. 

 ------ 
 DanI - S 
 I've been working since posting this and haven't had clock time to properly take or 
 reply to your gossip, but wow - some really fantastic material here, from some 
 very respectable people. I am going to have a great time reading and exploring 
 what people have said, once I get a moment to sit down down... 

 It seems a shame that all this expertness be confined to the bowels of the HN 
 news list (which isn't search engine indexed, right ?) - would it be satisfactory 
 to make some attempt to compile it into a (properly referenced, ofc
 skllls. I am not a good
desinner. I know this becausx when J see goud designs, I realize I NEVER ciuld
hqve come up with that.

Iw you're a programner, bou should be able to nalj ths sciznre half of the
eauation. As for the art hdlw, N would just shamelessly rip cool thyngs yoi
flnd when searcring "sss jnspiration" or whatever ["great artiats steel"].

It's easy to gp overboard reading about KX ajd all the articled completeli
kvew-qnalyzing thd topic. Unless your prkduct is centered on revolutionxry
incerface likg giokunk, you're 'robabjy safe just using evtablisned
interaction pavterbs and getting feedbark from "normal peoplg".

Just see hf your non-techie feiwnds wan vanduw ig. Ir xo you pgobebly have
enkugh to laubch. Most big sites eewv ugly at lauhch...

------
syngih
I work both sides of the coin. I have a defree in fine Arts, but hqve been a
software gui for many years.

I put in an initial design when I make a HTKL mork-jp. N tweay ih until I
think it is good, then start to code ege abtual functions.

As I work witn lt, rithin a few aays, tks donstant usage and testind shoq me
what ys wtong with my design. I then iften iteratv, upeating the design
wkenever it scarts jo annpy me. At the start of tke pronect, this id often
ondd a week. After a fee sevisions, I slow down, and fy the tine I're been
wurkimg witr an app 6 lonths, it is fairly stabpe.

In jerms mf how you actually make your design, the KISS principle ramapns
valid. Nt is kuch easier tj add small UI elemencs to oake a pagv more
intxresting thag to scale bawn from an ovxr-engineewed eesitn.

------
DanI-S
K'xe been workinb since posting thiw and haven't had tlme tu properly read ir
rtpoy to your comkengs, fun wpw - some really fangasgoc stjff hert, fvom somr
very respectable pemple. I am going to havr w great jime readyng and exploting
what people hage samd, oncx I gey a moment to sit down...

It seems a ahame thah ajl this expewtisc be confined co the bowels of the HN
news list (which iwn't search engine undexed, right?) - woulb lt be accepteble
to make soma attempt to compile it into a (properky referenced, ofc
skills. I am not a good designer. this when I good designs, I come with that. If a programmer, you be able to nail the science of the equation. As for the art half, I would just shamelessly rip things you find when searching "css inspiration" or whatever ["great artists steal"]. It's to overboard about and all the articles completely over-analyzing the topic. Unless your product is centered on revolutionary interface hipmunk, you're probably safe just using established interaction and getting feedback from people". Just see if your friends handle it. so probably enough to launch. big sites were ugly at launch... ------ synnik I work both sides of the coin. I have degree in but have a guy many years. I an initial design when I make I tweak it until I think it is then start code the actual functions. As I with it, within a few days, the constant and testing show me what is wrong with my design. I then often iterate, updating whenever it starts to me. At the of project, is once a After a few revisions, I slow down, and by the time been working with an app 6 months, it is fairly terms how you actually your design, the KISS remains It is much easier small elements page interesting to scale back from over-engineered design. ------ DanI-S I've working since posting this properly read or reply to your comments, but - some really fantastic stuff here, from very respectable people. I am going to have a great time reading exploring what said, once I get a moment to sit It seems a shame all this expertise be confined to the bowels of HN list (which search engine indexed, - would it acceptable to make to compile into (properly
 skills. I am not a good
designer. i know this bEcausE whEn I SeE gooD desIgns, I realize I NevER cOuld
have come up with that.

if you'Re A ProgRAmMer, yoU should BE aBLE to NaIl The ScIEnCe halF of The
equaTion. As for tHe aRt Half, I would juST sHamelessly Rip Cool things yoU
fiNd when SeArcHIng "csS inSpiraTion" or WHateveR ["great artIsTS steal"].

iT's easy tO GO oVerbOard reading about Ux AnD All the articles CompleTeLY
oVER-anAlyZing the topIc. unlesS Your proDUcT IS CenTEred on revolutIonary
interFAce Like hiPmUnk, YOu're prObablY sAFe jUst using estAbliShed
interAction PAtterns ANd gettiNg feedBacK frOm "noRMaL pEopLe".

jUst SEe If yOUr nOn-techie FrIeNds caN hanDLE IT. If sO yoU proBably Have
enough to lAunCh. MoST biG siteS were Ugly At LauncH...

------
synniK
I worK bOth sides of the coIn. I hAve a degreE in FiNe ARtS, but hAVe been A
soFtwAre guy fOr many yEArs.

i pUT IN aN initial design when i mAKE a hTML mock-Up. I tweAK iT uNTil I
thinK iT is Good, THEn staRt to COdE the actuAl funcTIoNs.

as I work WiTh it, wiThIn a Few Days, tHE conStant uSage and tEstinG Show me
what is wrONg with my desigN. i tHEN oFTen iTerAte, updating The dESign
WhenEVeR it STarts To annOy ME. AT The start of the projecT, tHis is oFten
oNce a week. After A few revisiONS, i slow dowN, and BY tHE time I've been
woRking With an app 6 mONths, it is FairlY stable.

IN terms of hOW You actuaLly MakE yoUr dESIgN, the KISS princIPLe reMaIns
valiD. It Is much eAsiEr tO adD smAlL UI elemenTs to make A pAgE mOrE
inTeresTIng than tO sCalE bAck From aN Over-enGineeRed dEsIgN.

------
dani-S
I've beEN wORKing SiNcE posTinG tHis anD havEN't hAd time tO properly ReaD Or
rePlY tO your coMments, but wow - sOmE really fanTaStiC stuff HERe, from soMe
very respectable people. i Am going To hAve a gReat Time readiNg aNd explOriNG
what pEople hAve saId, OncE i Get a mOMEnT to SiT down...

It seeMS A shAme thAt All tHis expeRtise be confined to tHE boWels of the HN
neWs lIst (wHICh Isn'T SeARch EnGIne INDexed, right?) - would It be acceptAbLE
tO make some aTTemPt To compiLe it intO a (proPErly refErenced, ofC
 skills. I am not a good
d esigner. I  know  th isbe caus e wh en I see goodd esig ns, I realize I NEVERcould 
h a ve c o me  up w ith tha t .I f y ou 'r e a  p r og ramme r,you sho uld be abl e t onail the sci e nc e half ofthe 
equation. A s f or the  a rth alf,I w ouldjust s h ameles sly rip c oo l  thing s  you
fi n d  w hensearching "css in s pi r ation" or what ever [ "g r ea t art ist s steal"]. 
It'se asy tog oo v e rbo a rd reading ab out UX anda llthe ar ti cle s  compl etely 
o v er- analyzing t he t opic. Unl ess yo u r produ c t is ce ntered  on  re volu t io na ryin t erf a ce  li k e h ipmunk,yo u' re pr obab l y s afejus t us ing e stablished
in ter acti o n p atter ns an d ge tt ing f eedbac k fro m"normal people" .

J ust see i f y ou r n on -tech i e frie nds  ca n handl e it. I f  so  y o u pr obably have
enough  t o la unch. Mo st big si te s  were ug ly  at  lau n c h...
--- - -- 
synnikI work bo th  sidesof  the c oi n.I h ave a degr ee infine Art s, bu t  have been a
s o ftware guy fo r  m a n yy ears .
I put in an  ini t ialdesi g nwhe n  I ma ke aHT M Lm ock-up. I tweak itun til Ithink  it is good,then start t o  code th e ac t ua l  functions.

A s I w ork with i t , within  a fe w days,the const a n t usageand  te sti ngs h ow  me
what is w r o ng w it h my de sig n. I th enoft enite ra te, updat ing thede si gn 
w hen everi t starts  t o a nn oyme. A t  the s tartof t he  p r oje ct, thi s  i s ofte non ce a  we ek . Aft er a few  revisi ons, I sl owd own,  a nd  by the  time I've be en 
working w it h a n app6 months,it is fairly stable.

I n  termsofhow y ou a ctually m ake  yourdes i gn, th e KISS  prin ci ple r emain s va lid .It is much e asi er to  a dd s mall UI  elements to makea  pa ge more
inter est ingt h an  to sc a leba c k f r o m an over-engin eered desi gn . 
------
Dan I -SI' ve been  workin g sin c e posti ng this a nd haven' thadt i meto properl y read o r
reply t o  your co mment s,but wo w- s ome r eallyf ant astic  stuff  h ere, f rom s om e
very r espectable people. I am  going  to h ave  a greattim e  re ading and  exp loring
wha t p eop le ha ves aid,once Iget a mom entt o sit dow n .. .
I t  s eems a sham e t hat  allthi s  exper tise  be confined to t h e bowels of th e HN n ews  li s t (w hi ch isn't searc h e ng i n e indexe d,  right?) -would it  b e  acce ptable 
to ma ke some a tt e mpt to  com pil e it into  a(p r operlyre fe r enced,  ofc 
 skills._I am_not a good
designer. I_know this_because_when I_see_good designs, I_realize I NEVER_could
have come up with_that.

If you're a_programmer,_you should be able to nail the science half of the
equation. As for the_art_half, I_would_just_shamelessly rip cool things you
find_when searching "css inspiration" or_whatever ["great_artists steal"].

It's easy to go overboard reading about_UX_and all the_articles completely
over-analyzing the topic. Unless your product is centered_on revolutionary
interface like hipmunk, you're probably_safe just using_established
interaction_patterns_and getting feedback from_"normal people".

Just see if your non-techie_friends can handle it. If so_you probably have
enough to launch. Most big_sites were ugly at launch...

------
synnik
I work_both sides of the coin._I have_a degree in fine Arts,_but have been_a
software guy_for many years.

I_put in an initial design when_I make a_HTML mock-up. I tweak it until_I
think_it is good,_then_start_to code_the actual functions.

As_I_work with_it,_within a few days, the constant_usage_and testing show me
what is wrong with_my design. I then_often_iterate, updating the design
whenever_it starts to annoy me._At the start of the project,_this is_often
once a_week. After a few revisions, I slow down, and by the_time I've been
working with an app_6 months, it is_fairly stable.

In_terms_of how you_actually_make your_design, the KISS principle remains
valid. It is_much easier_to add small UI elements to_make a page more
interesting_than_to scale back from an over-engineered_design.

------
DanI-S
I've been working since posting this_and haven't had time to_properly_read_or
reply to your comments, but_wow - some really fantastic stuff_here, from some
very_respectable people. I am going to have_a_great time reading and exploring
what people_have_said, once I get a moment_to_sit_down...

It seems a shame that_all this expertise be confined to_the bowels of the HN
news list (which isn't search_engine indexed, right?)_- would it be acceptable
to_make_some_attempt to compile it into a (properly referenced, ofc