Comments on: Presidential Design p2 http://www.8164.org/presidential-design-part2/ Jin Yang's blog on web design, philosophy of Taoism and life in general. Wed, 08 Sep 2010 23:14:27 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Jin http://www.8164.org/presidential-design-part2/comment-page-1/#comment-226 Jin Sun, 12 Oct 2008 20:05:22 +0000 http://www.8164.org/?p=217#comment-226 Thanks for the comment Ian. It will be interesting to see what type of web arsenal candidates uses in 2012. Thanks for the comment Ian.

It will be interesting to see what type of web arsenal candidates uses in 2012.

]]> By: Ian http://www.8164.org/presidential-design-part2/comment-page-1/#comment-225 Ian Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:55:22 +0000 http://www.8164.org/?p=217#comment-225 Its nice to see something combining two interests of mine, politics and web design. I have to say, you're exactly right with all the points raised in here. Personally, I think in terms of web design, Obama is superior, and the same can be said with his politics. The McCain camp needs to catch up, and fast, election day is closing in, it won't give the best of impressions for voters. Its nice to see something combining two interests of mine, politics and web design.

I have to say, you’re exactly right with all the points raised in here. Personally, I think in terms of web design, Obama is superior, and the same can be said with his politics.

The McCain camp needs to catch up, and fast, election day is closing in, it won’t give the best of impressions for voters.

]]> By: Jin http://www.8164.org/presidential-design-part2/comment-page-1/#comment-109 Jin Mon, 15 Sep 2008 22:07:35 +0000 http://www.8164.org/?p=217#comment-109 I agree Dmitry. Design by committee often kills a good final product, because everyone involved wants to have a say. And typically person on top of the command chain wins. This is why a creative director, or lead designer is important as you said. Someone who not only knows the trade, but also knows how to sell the design direction and executes it to the fullest. Thank you for your thoughts. I agree Dmitry. Design by committee often kills a good final product, because everyone involved wants to have a say. And typically person on top of the command chain wins.

This is why a creative director, or lead designer is important as you said. Someone who not only knows the trade, but also knows how to sell the design direction and executes it to the fullest.

Thank you for your thoughts.

]]> By: Dmitry http://www.8164.org/presidential-design-part2/comment-page-1/#comment-108 Dmitry Mon, 15 Sep 2008 21:54:52 +0000 http://www.8164.org/?p=217#comment-108 Regarding the hunchbacked look of McCain and Pail: I think they were shot slightly from above than at eye level — probably with the direct intention of making them look approachable as you've said and more like people who will serve you, instead of the other way round. In contrast, Obama and Biden are shot from below, elevating them above you so you know who's boss. I think the shot from low angle is the right one in this context. You want to 'look up' to the president because he/she is a leader. They need to have an image of power so that they can give you confidence in their abilities. Overall I think McCains site looks very unpolished and incoherent — you have all sorts of typography, icons and colors jumping around the place. Obama's site is orderly, clean, has a better layout and also features more polished imagery. I think the quality of the site depends on the lead designer. You need someone with good taste and real skill in charge, who is committed to deliver a good product and doesn't let others destroy the vision that he/she sets out. You need to keep the basic style and feel on track and focused, otherwise your design will be killed by committee — too many cooks spoil the broth. Regarding the hunchbacked look of McCain and Pail: I think they were shot slightly from above than at eye level — probably with the direct intention of making them look approachable as you’ve said and more like people who will serve you, instead of the other way round. In contrast, Obama and Biden are shot from below, elevating them above you so you know who’s boss.

I think the shot from low angle is the right one in this context. You want to ‘look up’ to the president because he/she is a leader. They need to have an image of power so that they can give you confidence in their abilities.

Overall I think McCains site looks very unpolished and incoherent — you have all sorts of typography, icons and colors jumping around the place. Obama’s site is orderly, clean, has a better layout and also features more polished imagery.

I think the quality of the site depends on the lead designer. You need someone with good taste and real skill in charge, who is committed to deliver a good product and doesn’t let others destroy the vision that he/she sets out. You need to keep the basic style and feel on track and focused, otherwise your design will be killed by committee — too many cooks spoil the broth.

]]> By: Jin http://www.8164.org/presidential-design-part2/comment-page-1/#comment-90 Jin Sat, 06 Sep 2008 18:51:21 +0000 http://www.8164.org/?p=217#comment-90 Lina said "It’s not to say that those who do back up McCain are hermits stuck in the 70s but they are more conservative and to embrace a new medium does take time. Why waste money on a medium that seems unlikely to help push a campaign?" Thanks for your comments Lina. The way I see it, McCain's supporters will vote for him no matter what, even if he didn't have a web site. The same is true for Obama's too. The ad campaign has the most impact on swing voters, or people who are typically apolitical. Stereotypically speaking, they tend to be younger. Obama's site is more effective selling to this demographic. Senator McCain is often attacked by his opponents as old and out of touch, that's why I think it's even more crucial for his site to reflect him as a candidate who's with the current trend, and adaptive to change. And lastly, the outcome of his site may not be a budget issue. IMHO, It takes the same amount of money to create a bad site as a good one. It comes down to the creative direction and focus. Lina said “It’s not to say that those who do back up McCain are hermits stuck in the 70s but they are more conservative and to embrace a new medium does take time. Why waste money on a medium that seems unlikely to help push a campaign?”

Thanks for your comments Lina. The way I see it, McCain’s supporters will vote for him no matter what, even if he didn’t have a web site. The same is true for Obama’s too.

The ad campaign has the most impact on swing voters, or people who are typically apolitical. Stereotypically speaking, they tend to be younger. Obama’s site is more effective selling to this demographic.

Senator McCain is often attacked by his opponents as old and out of touch, that’s why I think it’s even more crucial for his site to reflect him as a candidate who’s with the current trend, and adaptive to change.

And lastly, the outcome of his site may not be a budget issue. IMHO, It takes the same amount of money to create a bad site as a good one. It comes down to the creative direction and focus.

]]> By: Bryan Chain http://www.8164.org/presidential-design-part2/comment-page-1/#comment-89 Bryan Chain Sat, 06 Sep 2008 18:00:12 +0000 http://www.8164.org/?p=217#comment-89 i think McCains site reflects him as a candidate, old and out of date, dying quickly, unattractive. i think McCains site reflects him as a candidate, old and out of date, dying quickly, unattractive.

]]> By: Lina http://www.8164.org/presidential-design-part2/comment-page-1/#comment-88 Lina Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:31:39 +0000 http://www.8164.org/?p=217#comment-88 Great review. I think you were pretty fair and well voiced in your opinion. I agree that as a whole McCain's website is not up to par with Obama but it's understandable that McCain's campaign caters more to TV, radio, and print as that is what the whole of America seems more comfortable with engaging in. Having worked in digital media, the web is a powerful mean of communication but it's also the hardest to control, manage, and break through for Americans ingrained in the usage of medium that they have grown up with. It's not to say that those who do back up McCain are hermits stuck in the 70s but they are more conservative and to embrace a new medium does take time. Why waste money on a medium that seems unlikely to help push a campaign? I'm sure it'll change but overall, I think McCain does have many great campaigns...it's just a bit unfinished....or not as well thought out...or it feels very scattered and disjointed...just enough to cover up what needs patches without finding the root of the problem. Great review. I think you were pretty fair and well voiced in your opinion. I agree that as a whole McCain’s website is not up to par with Obama but it’s understandable that McCain’s campaign caters more to TV, radio, and print as that is what the whole of America seems more comfortable with engaging in. Having worked in digital media, the web is a powerful mean of communication but it’s also the hardest to control, manage, and break through for Americans ingrained in the usage of medium that they have grown up with. It’s not to say that those who do back up McCain are hermits stuck in the 70s but they are more conservative and to embrace a new medium does take time. Why waste money on a medium that seems unlikely to help push a campaign? I’m sure it’ll change but overall, I think McCain does have many great campaigns…it’s just a bit unfinished….or not as well thought out…or it feels very scattered and disjointed…just enough to cover up what needs patches without finding the root of the problem.

]]> By: Jin http://www.8164.org/presidential-design-part2/comment-page-1/#comment-85 Jin Sat, 06 Sep 2008 06:13:33 +0000 http://www.8164.org/?p=217#comment-85 Thank you Chris. Thank you Chris.

]]> By: Chris Moran http://www.8164.org/presidential-design-part2/comment-page-1/#comment-84 Chris Moran Sat, 06 Sep 2008 05:49:44 +0000 http://www.8164.org/?p=217#comment-84 Nice writing style. Looking forward to reading more from you. Chris Moran Nice writing style. Looking forward to reading more from you.

Chris Moran

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