Focus on Functionality Over Profitability in Design Approach
In the world of web design, Photoshop is a powerful tool known for its versatility in graphic design. However, relying solely on Photoshop for website creation could potentially lead to some pitfalls.
One of the main issues is the loss of creativity and expertise. By focusing on building pretty pictures in Photoshop, designers might miss out on the opportunity to showcase their full potential when it comes to designing functional and interactive websites. This could waste valuable creative talent within the design team.
Another concern is the discrepancy between how browsers render websites and how they appear in Photoshop layouts. Browsers do not display images, fonts, text, and other elements in the same way as Photoshop designs. This difference can lead to a mismatch between the website's appearance in the Photoshop layout and how it looks in a browser.
Moreover, assessing the functionality of a website from a Photoshop image can be challenging. Building the mockup in a browser allows for the demonstration of functionality, not just the look. This is crucial for ensuring that the website not only looks good but also works well.
Responsive design is another area where designing a website in Photoshop falls short. With the increasing use of mobile devices, it's essential that websites adapt to smaller screens. However, this adaptability is not easily achievable when designing in Photoshop.
Photoshop can be beneficial for quick wireframing or sketching of ideas, compiling style guides, and extending ideas later in the design process. But when it comes to the actual design of the website, it's not as time-efficient as building the website directly.
In conclusion, while Photoshop is an excellent tool for creating graphics and supporting the design of a website, it's not the best choice for designing the website itself. The design of a website should be done directly on the website to ensure that it looks and functions as intended in a browser. This approach ensures that the creative talent within the design team is fully utilised, and the website is both aesthetically pleasing and functional.
