(2009-01-14) Bicking Contra Modern Web Design

Ian Bicking objects to modern Web Design (small fonts, lots of white space), likening the results to Modernist Architecture. Similarly, I think the design pattern of small fonts is something meant to appeal to shallow observation. By deemphasizing the text itself, the design is accentuated. Low-contrast text is even more obviously the domination of design over content. And it may very well look more professional and visually pleasing. But web design isn't for making sites visually pleasing, it is for making the experience of the content more pleasing. Sites exist for their content, not their design. I Commented relating this to Mobile reading.

This seems related to John Gruber's recommendations for UI design for the IPhone. Figure out the absolute least you need to do to implement the idea, do just that, and then polish the hell out of the experience.