Friday, December 14, 2007

Big Backrounds aren't that BIG

Many of the so called design gurus, I guess, have started a new trend in the web design. Here is a small list of sites which follow this "big background" trend.
These designs certainly "look good". But the main purpose of web design isn't making sites "look good". The main purpose of web design is to assist the user in meeting the his objective from the site. Many a times, attractive looking backgrounds may not be as handy as a simple plain background and many times it is.

Every site has an objective. The main purpose of web design is to help the user meet those objectives with relative ease. For example the main purpose of a portfolio site would be to show off the persons skills. But a blog or a news portal may not have the same objective. The purpose of these sites is the content.

My opinion on these abstract-big-backgrounds depends upon the kind of page they are used on. Sites in which content is the objective, the background should blend beautifully and not strike out. Because if it does so then the content wont be the priority instead the background would become more prominent. On a portfolio page, the content isn't the prime objective of the designer, its a means for him to show off his work and so a decorated background certainly makes the design look beautiful.

What do you think of this trend? Post your opinions. I would love to hear from you all.