The Functional Path of Website Design
I can’t say that I often get asked what is the methodology that I use to make a website, however I do get asked “what is the best way to make a website?”. The answer I give is that each website is unique and what works on one won’t necessarily work on another. However I do have certain “website values” that I try to adhere to across all the websites that I work on.
The best methodology I can find is not from management science or project management or even from art. My principles of Web Design are derived from coaching. In particular I’m a fan of Vern Gambetta. Vern is a very experienced coach with rare expertise across a lot of sports, from athletics to baseball to volleyball. Vern has coached for over 35 years and publicly states that he is continually learning how to coach as well as possible. Vern’s way of coaching is called “the Functional Path”.
The “functional path” is described as follows:
“The Functional Path is a path that had been traveled many times before but had fallen out of use in favor of smoother paved roads that promised faster and easier results. Seeking to follow and better define the functional path is a continuing journey, fortunately it is a journey that many have traveled before. Functional Path training is getting back to the basics of movement”
What this means is that Vern focuses on training programs which add value to the individual or team that he is coaching. Often this translates to hard work using the bare minimum of gadgets. A practical example of this is that Vern favours free weights over the newest bit of constricting gym equipment. What is most functional and adds most value is best.
With web design this can translate to the less sexy product and hard work. It is quite easy to get a website that looks well by using a load of Flash. The client might be happy with the way it looks but if the website adds no value to client’s business than its just a waste of time and money. If Vern gets a basketball team pumped up doing bodybuiliding, they might be happy with the way they look but if they are slower and not shooting well then there is no point.
Having worked on websites for 7 years my interest is in adding value to the client. Each website is different in the same way as each individual is different but the basics are nearly always the same.
Atrier is dedicated to pursuing the functional path of website design.
Posted 05.12.07