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A Time To Shine

Posted by Matt Davies on May 4th, 2007.

Creative designer and founder of Attitude Design. View our Graphic Design Portfolio.

http://attitudedesign.co.uk

Matt Davies has posted 26 articles.

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The “wet floor” look has been around for ages. A trend, which died, then came back, then died and is now back. It seems to me that it will always be around either lurking in the shadows or being paraded in the limelight. It gives depth, class, and interest to any design if produced effectively. It gives a design that “apple”, glossy look which has been developed into the style we currently call “web 2.0”. It is also an extension of the “3d” styles, which we are starting to see a lot of.

However we pose the question. As a graphic element what does it bring to the page apart from aesthetic qualities? Does it enforce any key messages? Does it fit in with the theme of the site? Why use something if you are just using it for the “sake of it”?

I personally feel that this style does occasionally help to enforce key messages. For example if you were selling floor polishers it helps to enforce the message of the product you are selling. If you are an artist the effect may help to give the feel of a high-class gallery. If you were a hotel it may help you to depict the shininess of the floor at your vicinity. Etc, etc, etc.

However if you are a reclaimed stone reseller then I doubt a shiny floor will help you sell more stone. If you are a forestry commission I doubt that it will help you with your messaging. If you are a charity helping homeless children again if you use the effect then why would it help you?

The point I’m attempting to make is there is a time to shine and a time not to shine.

I’m not a fan of using styles “for the sake of it” as a graphic designer I believe we must use styles, elements and layouts for reasons. Purpose is what distinguishes a professional form an amateur.

So, over to you – when is it the right time to shine?

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15 Responses to A Time To Shine

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As for most of the iconic trends, I don’t think that the use of the ‘wet floor’ makes a good design. Designers (in the loosest sense of the word) shouldn’t be thinking “This average design could be lifted by a wet floor effect.” If the design is only average, there’s probably a deeper reason for it. (Maybe bad grid ratios or placement of page elements.)

But don’t get me wrong, the wet floor effect can enhance a good design if used for a reason, as you say.

Andrew Faulkner
May 4th, 2007
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Personally, I’m pretty sick of these superfluous trendy effects. I have a huge respect for the designers who know when to stick to simplicity. The problem is, it seems many members of the community value stupid trends over solid design structure. Take a look at the top blogs (Wisdump, Avalonstar, Subtraction, Jeff Croft), these are designers who know when it’s right to utilize functional and understated design features, and focus on the real important information (the content). These are the hallmarks of an experienced, professional web designer.

Matt
May 4th, 2007
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Take your point Matt but I find the example sites metioned a little missleading. These top blogs are information giving sites. There purpose is to put information in front of you as quickly and as simply as possible. Pretend you were selling razor blades - everybody knows what they do but you need to give them reasons for buying yours - those reasons or messages are what can be inforced by these ’superfluous trendy effects’. You try and sell somehting on a site designed like th blogs you mention - you’ll have a job mate. What makes a “experienced, professional web designer” in my view, is one how has a balanced view on technology, layouts, marketing strategy, content and graphic design. Its easy to be an extreamist - its hard to get a balance.

Matt Davies
May 4th, 2007
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I’m not sure that Matt (not Matt Davies) was advocating the use of a blog-style site to sell anything. He was simply making the point that the designers that blog at these sites (which are in turn examples of their work) know that great design is not about big, brash, obvious ‘effects’ but attention to details and more often then not understatement rather than overstatement.

Guaranteed we won’t see Khoi Vinh or Jeff Croft chucking in a ‘wet floor effect’ or ‘beta badge’ into any of their designs anytime soon.

Mark Perkins
May 4th, 2007
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Agreed, there is a time and a place to use the wet floor effect. I think it works nice when there is a single image the eye should be drawn to on a page (like the iTunes store). It also works well with some of the sleeker sites with shiny buttons and such, so long as it’s not over used.

I’d be interested to see some URL’s where this technique’s presence is out of place.

Ted Goas
May 4th, 2007
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I have to confess I tried to make my personal playground to shine, one or twice, but always get terribly annoyed by it and tempestively removed. I mean, it is good if you are a Venice Hotel floating on the lovely laguna, but if it’s just to follow some useless web2.0 tutorials and be trendy……then no, thanks.

dandyna
May 5th, 2007
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@Ted (requesting to see URLs of incorrect using of the “shine” technique).

Check out Glenn Wolsey’s blog. He’s a great guy and an excellent blogger, but I just don’t like the overuse of “shine” in his blog post images. This is what I was referring to as “incorrect usage”. Sure, shine can look great when done with restraint, but one must know when “enough is enough”.

Matt
May 5th, 2007
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Yes, i love the apple glossy button look.

Andy
May 8th, 2007
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I’ve never heard the term ‘wet floor’ before but I think I understand what you mean by it. I think it can really be used as long as the designer has produced it effectively. I’d have to say I have seen designers go over the top with glossy effects which make it look a but unprofessional.

I think a designer should show flexibility when creating designs so that they can show they aren’t a one trip pony.

Stewart
May 9th, 2007
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Oh my God, I just laughed so hard I gave myself a wet floor. Other key messages you could have enforced:

Incontinence pants
Dodgy washing machines.
Dribbling.

OR if we are talking about the ‘frozen floor’ look (which is much cooler) then we could enforce the key message of ‘polar bear’ and link it to global warming. Anyone?

Tim
May 9th, 2007
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There’s always one. ;)

I think you’ve now killed off the trend for good, Tim.

Andrew Faulkner
May 9th, 2007
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Andy I hope not, the floor polishing industry must be protected (,”)

Tim
May 9th, 2007
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Tim your a nutter!!! Hahahah!

Seriously what are you saying? I appreciate my comments could be taken as a load of rubbish but justification is very important to me. How do you justify the way you used design elements?

Matt Davies
May 21st, 2007
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Hi Matt! Sorry for taking the rise. Justification isn’t important to me. IMHO you can’t please all of the people all of the time, and as an artist, if you are doing what you enjoy and think looks (or sounds) right, then that’s the important thing. Let other people make up their own minds I say.

BTW hope all is well with you mate…

tim
May 24th, 2007
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My favourite part fo this article is: <blockquote>Purpose is what distinguishes a professional form an amateur.</blockquote> However, I must also add that spelling and grammar also help! I like the wet floor work, when like you say, it as a purpose. Although I am guilty at times for using it just because I could. I think it gives an impression of sophistication, and class, but also helps in lifting elements from a page and giving it more depth. Oliver Coningham<a href="http://www.spongenewmedia.co.uk/" title="Visit the Sponge New Media website">Website design in Yeovil, Somerset by Oliver Coningham</a>

Oliver Coningham
October 2nd, 2007
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