I have had many discussions with fellow professional writers about how well-crafted content is essential for good web design, so I was thrilled to see an article from Smashing Magazine about the necessity of good communication for websites.
In “Clear And Effective Communication In Web Design“, web designer and blogger Steven Snell does a fantastic job of breaking down methods of communication, challenges for designers, and communication basics. To help make all of that much easier to do, he also gives tips and goals for creating good communication, along with its results.
But for me the most interesting aspect is that this article reinforces the importance and value of hiring professional writers who have the ability to effectively communicate through writing and design.
Snell talks about how a website needs to quickly and clearly communicate while also showing personality, improving branding, and taking into account the medium and the audience. This should sound familiar. Just look at how some of our “In the Workplace” web designers and developers have defined professional writing:
“Being able to strongly communicate an idea in as few words as possible with enough honesty and candor to grab someone’s attention.” – Joe Sak, XHTML/CSS/JS Web Developer
“Knowing who your target audience is, what your audience is looking for, and tailoring your document to meet those needs. We analyze, synthesize, and deliver.” – Andrew Saulter, Web Designer/Developer
“Communicating clearly and effectively to a specific audience through a specific medium.” – Kristen Byers, New Media Development Specialist
“Being clear and concise when communicating a message.” - John Phillips, User Interface Designer/Developer
Web designers not only need to know how to communicate effectively through their design work, they also need to know how to talk to employers about the need for an effective communicator and web designer. With the current state of the economy, it is more important than ever to be able to communicate your value as a professional writer when writing a resume, designing a portfolio, or interviewing for jobs. Snell’s article provides some great language to do that, so be sure to check it out.
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