Design Vs. Business

Being a designer is a curse sometimes. you get used to all this eye candy and eventually allot of lovely things in life don't impress you anymore, if they have even a small flaw you loose interest. Seldom I come across one of those designs where I'd go WOW and end up staring at it all day. Today was such a day when i came across one of Singapore's tourism sub-sites, made to attract tourists this spring. 


click here to view site


besides the leng lui in the lovely cheong sam, I still cant get over the beauty and attention to detail of this site, color matching and the natural feeling is very well excecuted. tho the only attraction factor is the main flash and the interactivity, but combined with the simple navigation this is one of those sites that reminds you not to get too comfortable thinking you're one of the best designers, there's a long way to go. being a designer is the next best thing to being god. creating something out of nothing is truly a wonderful feeling. 


There's an eternal debate between web developer-designers and graphic designer-web designers that either websites should be a work of art, marketing tool or a business tool. is it too much to ask for all 3. Lately website are taking the form of advertising posters and magazine cover style design with allot of high quality photography and less text as possible. I like this trend. this is what the web is suppose to be. rice, fast, interactive media. thats simple to use and you can sit back and enjoy. not some boring long para's of too small text which makes you lean over the monitor screen to read

Below is what used to be one of the most awed web designs by a company called FUBON, all their designs were works of art (but poor navigation) really inspired me to focus on the quality of design rather than letting yourself get pressured by clients and bosses.

Later the company was bought over and their new designs didn't meet the target as their predecessors. Makes you wonder if greedy businessmen out there don't feel the passion in such design and just focus on money. There's a big difference when you made something with love compared to when you make something for money.