What web designers could learn
from print designers
Photo by http://flickr.com/photos/jepoirrier

WHO AM I
Erlend Debast
blog.artueel.be
erlend@artueel.be
Designer, “slicer” @ Boulevart.be

3 facts about print
‣ It’s something physical,
you can touch it
‣ It’s more mature
‣ “More” freedom as a designer

When looking for inspiration,
print should be inspiring you

Print ≠ Internet - we all know that
We should “borrow” certain design principles

It’s time to forget about the web 2.0 look
Photo by http://flickr.com/photos/tomstardust

What web designers could learn
from print designers
Typography
Photo by ilovetypography.com

‣ Drop the tiny font-size

‣ Drop the tiny font-size
‣ Use different font-faces

‣ Drop the tiny font-size
‣ Use different font-faces
‣ People love color

‣ Drop the tiny font-size
‣ Use different font-faces
‣ People love color
‣ What should be
emphasized?

alistapart.com

happycog.com

What web designers could learn
from print designers
Whitespace
Photo by http://flickr.com/photos/anjin

‣ Use whitespace to
create structure

‣ Use whitespace to
create structure
‣ Let your content breath

‣ Use whitespace to
create structure
‣ Let your content breath
‣ Give the visitor some rest

‣ Use whitespace to
create structure
‣ Let your content breath
‣ Give the visitor some rest
‣ Whitespace is sexy

viget.com

shauninman.com

What web designers could learn
from print designers
Work the canvas
Think big
Photo by http://flickr.com/photos/ccsharry

‣ Don’t get stuck in that
tiny browser canvas

‣ Don’t get stuck in that
tiny browser canvas
‣ Your design should be
part of something bigger

‣ Don’t get stuck in that
tiny browser canvas
‣ Your design should be
part of something bigger
‣ Don’t create a limiting
environment

‣ Don’t get stuck in that
tiny browser canvas
‣ Your design should be
part of something bigger
‣ Don’t create a limiting
environment
‣ Don’t stair through a
window, just look at the
sky directly!

pojeta.cz

click-conference.com

What web designers could learn
from print designers
Composition
Photo by *Unknown*

‣ Divide your texts
into columns

‣ Experiment with columns,
text in multiple columns?
‣ Your copy should be
part of the lay-out

‣ Experiment with columns,
text in multiple columns?
‣ Your copy should be
part of the lay-out
‣ Stop designing boring
websites

‣ Experiment with columns,
text in multiple columns?
‣ Your copy should be
part of the lay-out
‣ Stop designing boring
websites
‣ Create contrast using
composition

informationarchitects.jp

typeneu.com

What web designers could learn
from print designers
Visual Language
Photo by flickr.com/photos/41894180030@N01

‣ Your design should
communicate something

‣ Your design should
communicate something
‣ Design & content need
to become “one”

‣ Your design should
communicate something
‣ Design & content need
to become “one”
‣ There’s no such thing as;
“One template to rule
them all”

‣ Your design should
communicate something
‣ Design & content need
to become “one”
‣ There’s no such thing as;
“One template to rule
them all”
‣ Design your content, not
only the surrounding
elements

‣ Your design should
communicate something
‣ Design & content need
to become “one”
‣ There’s no such thing as;
“One template to rule
them all”
‣ Design your content, not
only the surrounding
elements
‣ Your header & footer
shouldn’t be the only
Climax

jasonsantamaria.com

duoh.com

Your design & content
Should tell a story
Photo by http://flickr.com/photos/14908325@N07

How do we create those designs?

Xhtml & css, my friend

“My complaint, right now, is that the majority of
storytelling that happens on the Web is based in
the interactively rich environment made possible
by Flash”
...not enough Web standards-minded
designers are thinking narratively in the
way that our Flash-fluent colleagues are...
Khoi Vinh

We need to stop hiding
behind technologies...

End of story...
Erlend Debast
blog.artueel.be
erlend@artueel.be
Designer, “slicer” @ Boulevart.be