Do We Ever Learn?

Sure, this may sound like a question your Mom would ask after you screwed something up, but th question is valid. When we watch designers make grave mistakes do we ever learn from their mistakes or do we try to mimic some of their less than successful pieces of work?

There is a fine line between good and great design. Yet, there is also a fine line between good and bad design. In most cases, the adjective is dependent on the individual describing what they see. Some consumers react to ugly websites and find spending time on them more interesting than their "prettier" counterparts. Then again, an ugly site that is not user-friendly may deter sales or even lead people running as far away as possible.

So, do we ever learn? If we see a somewhat successful site that is absolutely horrible do we ask ourselves why this site is successful or do we run and change the graphics on every site we work with? No matter how old you are, it can be hard to stray from popular opinion. Before you jump on the ugly design bandwagon you should ask yourself a few important questions. The most crucial would be... what is the purpose of your site?