What is unique ?

loki · 03-31-06, 09:34 AM

Hi everyone,

Well heres my thought.
What do you think that makes a website design unique ?

We know almost all sites use the same box shaped headers.
And also the footers.
Even if its round its not unique there are more out there with those same roundings.
And we all use different images, brushes and shapes.
But something really unique ?....

What if someone made a site where the footer started on top and the header on the bottom,
There is something that all users would notice and remember.

What is your oppinion in this ?

**Avix** · 03-31-06, 10:54 AM

Usually when people talk about a unique design they are talking about it not being used anywhere else - exclusive.

kris · 03-31-06, 01:35 PM

Unique design to me is one in which it is not a layout or template that is like so many others. It is an original combination of colors, features, graphics, layout, etc.

**Chris Gwynne** · 03-31-06, 02:49 PM

It's unlikely to see a pure "original" design these days. Everything has been done before, many times. You're still likely to see the same old structure.

Sure you can mix it up a little, design something a little different. But as kris said originality would be the combination of colors, features, graphics, overall structure.

Mike C · 03-31-06, 07:55 PM

I've tried to think out of the box before. I ended up with chain borders around the site, a paint palette for the navigation, brushes for the table shapes, and strange and abnormal shapes for the tables.

iTechSmart · 04-01-06, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loki

What if someone made a site where the footer started on top and the header on the bottom,
There is something that all users would notice and remember.

What is your oppinion in this ?

You also have to remember when making a site orginal that the user navigation still has to be easy to use. I used to program a bit, mainly as a hobby and one thing that taught me is always have the menu same as every other program, such as have a file, edit etc.

For example if you have the menu inside the content or on bottom or somewhere else to make your site orginal, then it will be more difficult for user navigation. Also orginality isn't really needed to make a successful site. It's the usability/readability that makes a sucessful site.

To your question, I'm not really sure you can make a very different site without compromising on quality and usability.

Anyway thats my opinion,
Shane

anne · 04-11-06, 06:09 PM

I don't think unique is always a great thing to aim for. I prefer something that is instantly familar, but looks polished. If you can get something that looks good, not a complete clone of something else, and is easy to navigate, then you have done well in my opinion.

As an example, it would be different (probably not unique, but different) to have all your content reachable by links that are arranged in a circle around buttons, and expand when your mouse is hovered over them (a bit like accessing skills in Oblivion on the Xbox 360) - but what would be the point? Most users like content easily visible in a nice neat list. They're not going to think 'Wow, what a cool navigation system' - they're going to think 'I can't see what I'm after, I'm out of here'.

In most cases, anyways.

JustinG · 04-11-06, 09:35 PM

I think its good to keep uniqueness in mind. But its not easy as it sounds. I mean everyone has probally done it 2-3 times before you, so thats basically elimates the possiblity of that.

Your designs dont have to be unique, just intresting to catch the 'web-surfers' attention. Some times its too hard to reach that unique peak, but something intresting and inovative is just as good.

anne · 04-12-06, 06:28 AM

I'm still not convinced unique is always good. I prefer web sites that I instantly feel comfortable with when I'm browsing. I don't really notice the layout or graphics - my eye just jumps straight to the text that I'm looking for.

e2thehu · 06-01-06, 10:13 PM

Unique can be wrongly interpreted. That's when it's not good. But anything can be unique in different eyes. Something that I think is unique may be ugly for someone else. In web design, depending on what kind of design it is for, uniqueness is sometimes the last thing you're worried about. Sometimes is about having a clean and cut, professional looking website. Other times it's about being creative to show art quality. It really depends.
Also, as anne said, the text can be unique, too. Not the always the font, but the way they're structured can make a world of difference.