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> really customize things to the point where it looks unique Why? I'd argue most UI/UX missteps stem from the ego (designer, engineer, executive) to want somet

> really customize things to the point where it looks unique Why? I'd argue most UI/UX missteps stem from the ego (designer, engineer, executive) to want something unique. If anything, there should be more of a convergence on best practices. Users won't have to relearn "the basics" in every app and everyone can focus on real problems.

nickjj 7y ago
I don't think it's 100% ego. A website IMO is more than just UI elements placed in a particular place. It's you or your company's identity. In a way, maybe it's related to clothing. Your site portrays your personality, or at least what you want others to think about you or your company. Following the clothes analogy, there is room for best practices and standard things to take place while having many different unique styles. For example, you're probably not going to walk around wearing a desk that has cut outs for your limbs and is suspended by ropes. No, we have best practices like shirts, pants, shoes and other things. But when you combine those things with varying materials and colors you end up with a completely different look while adhering to standards. Maybe you could say a unique identity is a byproduct of ego and maybe it is but that's how people are. Otherwise we would all be wearing the same global uniform and eating the same food every day. Long story short, there's plenty of room to stick with UI best practices while having a unique look, but you need to find tools that support customizing that look or find a designer who knows how to do it.
- karatestomp 7y ago
  It is definitely true that many product owners and designers are very sure (or, at least, say they are very sure) that having the color, shape/form(!) & behavior(!?) of the form elements in their applications be on-brand is super important.
- masonhensley 7y ago
  I'd argue that best practices often get overlooked in the search for putting one's mark on things & designers and engineers can often be bullied into capitulating. I'm not advocating a sterile one size fits all grey dystopian outfit equivalent for everyone. But when you look at the landscape of software, I'd argue that teams forget what the equivalent concepts of what pockets or zippers are. Similar to how many orgs will spend $100k's to have a half baked mobile app when a web app or off the shelf CMS would not only suffice but be a better solution for the end users's needs. Point being - get the basics right, leverage the immense value that's been provided by the open source community and then & only then do you start redecorating.

nickjj 7y ago

I don't think it's 100% ego. A website IMO is more than just UI elements placed in a particular place. It's you or your company's identity. In a way, maybe it's related to clothing. Your site portrays your personality, or at least what you want others to think about you or your company. Following the clothes analogy, there is room for best practices and standard things to take place while having many different unique styles. For example, you're probably not going to walk around wearing a desk that has cut outs for your limbs and is suspended by ropes. No, we have best practices like shirts, pants, shoes and other things. But when you combine those things with varying materials and colors you end up with a completely different look while adhering to standards. Maybe you could say a unique identity is a byproduct of ego and maybe it is but that's how people are. Otherwise we would all be wearing the same global uniform and eating the same food every day. Long story short, there's plenty of room to stick with UI best practices while having a unique look, but you need to find tools that support customizing that look or find a designer who knows how to do it.

karatestomp 7y ago
It is definitely true that many product owners and designers are very sure (or, at least, say they are very sure) that having the color, shape/form(!) & behavior(!?) of the form elements in their applications be on-brand is super important.
masonhensley 7y ago
I'd argue that best practices often get overlooked in the search for putting one's mark on things & designers and engineers can often be bullied into capitulating. I'm not advocating a sterile one size fits all grey dystopian outfit equivalent for everyone. But when you look at the landscape of software, I'd argue that teams forget what the equivalent concepts of what pockets or zippers are. Similar to how many orgs will spend $100k's to have a half baked mobile app when a web app or off the shelf CMS would not only suffice but be a better solution for the end users's needs. Point being - get the basics right, leverage the immense value that's been provided by the open source community and then & only then do you start redecorating.