Quick! Open a tab, go to Yahoo, and count the number of links on the homepage. Now, repeat with Google and Bing.

In case you skipped this, or just gave up (quitters never win), here are the results:

Google (before fade):  2
Google (after fade):  ~30
Bing: ~64
Yahoo: ~157

See where I’m going? The key to Google’s success is the lack of complexity.  Now I don’t necessarily mean that Google does not provide features to it’s users, but rather that those features are provided in the most unobtrusive way possible.

Imagine you are completely new to the internet. You know how to click on a link and that’s about it. Which search engine is going to provide you with the easiest experience? Furthermore, imagine you are a savy internet user who makes use of RSS, POP (or IMAP), and frequently wants fast, simple searches. Guess which one you are going to use?

Let’s apply this to you. Your website should not be a Rube Goldberg machine filled with mystery links and unrelated content. Instead your website should be what your visitors need, and nothing more.  When you are unsure if you should add a feature (or even a simple link) to your website ask the following series of questions.

• Is this feature mission-critical? (i.e. Can you live without it?)
• Does this feature add to my visitor’s experience without hindering them in any way?
• Can a different, simpler feature be implemented instead?

If you answered “No” to one or both of the first two or “Yes” to the third then I think you already know what I’m going to say. However if your new feature meets all these criterion, go for it! Just be careful. Remember, in a visitor’s eyes a little less may be a lot more.

With the rise of cyberspace as a world of it’s own (see A Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace) we humans now have nearly instant access to seemingly limitless resources.  As a result of this vast cauldron of data there is a fantastic number of freelance design firms operating solely on the web. These firms promise you everything that you could ever want for 6 low payments of $19.99. And while there are firms out there that do deliver, the vast majority are duds. I have worked with enough “second-hand” designs to know that you get what you pay for especially when it comes to web design and development. Now it’s not that these companies don’t have good designers or are intentionally ripping you off, it’s just that they lack on critical aspect of the client firm relationship.

Personality!

The one thing which these firms cannot offer: the people factor. Now unless you enjoy working with cybermen (Delete! Delete! Delete!), aka impersonal robot designers, web based firms are not for you.  As I’m sure you know, design is a very creative personal process and the only way to truly understand a client is to meet with them in person. A designer must understand the client, their customer base, and their business. When your Midwest based business is working with someone from Albuquerque or Honolulu an in-person meeting is not an option.

Summary

To summarize, here are the benefits of “the people factor”

1. Personal relationships create personal designs
2. Personal designs means a unified brand.
3. Personal designs reduce the amount of changes
4. Reduced changes means lower costs.

So, find a good, local, design firm and stick with them. In the long run you will be rewarded.  And if you’re in need a good design firm, give us a try!

“I have been working at creative agencies for over 3 years. I enjoy the work, the designs, and working with the clients. However in the late fall of 2008 I realized something. The prices for websites were getting out of hand. Most companies cannot afford a five thousand dollar site. So my cognitive gears started turning. I came up with the idea for offering sites to companies at incredibly low prices; however, to accomplish this, I would have to cut overhead.  So, in early 2009 I left the creative firm where I was currently working to found Escape Plan Design.”

Simply put the reason for EPD is to save the client money. While this is the primary goal, it never comes at the cost of sacrificing quality. We still maintain the top-notch code and design while providing you with the lowest possible price. It is almost never necessary to pay what bloated design firms charge.  Escape Plan Design is streamlined, and that’s why we keep costs low.

Ditch the Icons

The number one thing that you can do to clean up your desktop is to get rid of the icons. All you have to do is right click on the desktop and uncheck “Show desktop icons”. It’s a simple step that will quickly clear off your desktop.

If you are hesitant about getting rid of icons, consider cutting the number back and using the free tool Fences to organize them.

Hide the Notifications

Now that your desktop is cleaned off its time to address the system tray.  If there are more than 3 icons in the system tray, then there are too many. Use the Action Center to remove any unnecessary notifications.

Launch!

Use a free launch program such as Launchy to quickly access files and programs. Launchy runs only when you press Alt-Space, then simply type the name of your program and hit enter. These programs get smarter and smarter as you use them so you should be able to type less as time goes on.

Make it Pretty

Once you clear off your desktop that pixelated picture of a cat laying down with a dog just isn’t going to cut it. Try using online resources such as Smashing Magazine or Sxc.hu to find cool looking, productivity boosting wallpapers. For best effect, switch out every couple days (or weeks).

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Escape Plan Design is excited to announce a new way in which we are giving back.  Through Kiva, the well known online micro-loan organization, EPD has begun lending to small businesses in Africa. These loans are motivated by the need to build up Africa’s economy. We hope that in the years to come we will be able to make a substantial impact in some of the poorest places in the world. The beauty of lending through Kiva is that it is in fact a loan and it will be paid back, this means we can continue to support entrepreneurs over and over.

How can I lend?

There are many ways that you can lend. The first is to visit Kiva itself by click the link below.

The second is to do business with Escape Plan Design.  While we are a for-profit business we are committed to giving back to the world.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to drop us a line or give us a call (or comment below).

Business Cards

Often the first piece of design work that a potential client/customer will see is your business card.  You hand them out in meetings, on the street, at the coffee shop. Just about anywhere you get the chance.  So, does that business card reflect your business accurately? Are you proud to hand it out, or do you feel a bit ashamed?

Logos

Ah the logo. The quintessential design for every company.   The logo is with out a doubt the most important design that you will ever have for your company as it is what your company is recognized by (think Apple, IBM, Nike).  Whatever the rest of your designs look like does not matter nearly as much as the quality of your logo.

Wallpapers

While not an obvious means of company promotion, it does not hurt a retail stores and offices alike to have a uniform company wallpaper. Besides it saves that awful talk with employee Bob about removing his inappropriate wallpaper.

If you have any question, don’t hesitate to let us know.

Now I don’t mean that they should blend in in the quality of the design, the images, and the code… but they should blend in in places like, the location of the menu, the fonts, etc. No one wants to visit a website where the clicking is forbidden (http://www.dontclick.it/) and people really don’t want to visit a website with 50 bottles strewn all over the place and a man talking out of the side of your screen (http://www.mrbottles.com/).

The majority of website visitors want a degree a familiarity.  They want the menu in the same location, the links to stand out, and they want to know right where to find the information they are looking for. The next time you redesign a website, make sure that a complete stranger would be able to find information on your website quickly, and easily.  Remember that the easier information is to find, the more likely a visitor is to stay on your site.

Email is a wonderful tool. It allows us to correspond quickly and (for many phone users) on the go.  For most people the service is free and offers a reliable way to keep in touch.

The Bad

Email is sapping the life-blood out of us. We spend hours each day sifting through junk mail looking for those 5 legitimate messages we get a day.  Our inboxes are bloated with message that we felt were important 10 years ago, but somehow never got around to archiving. Email must be fixed.

The Not So Ugly

Personally, I hate email. However as a creative professional I realize that I must use email to connect with my clients. At the current time I use Thunderbird 2.*.*, but this afternoon I will be upgrading to Thunderbird 3.0. The new Thunderbird introduces some revolutionary ideas in the managing of emails. You can check them out over here:

http://www.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/thunderbird/features/

If Thunderbird 3 delivers, I might change my mind about email. However until then it is definitely a necessary email.