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Ask HN: All startup websites look the same

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71–80 of 88 posts

Re: Ask HN: All startup websites look the same

#72
post #71

We must be smoking crack then: http://carbonmade.com/ Pink unicorns. Really?!

Actually, even your site uses the same rounded edges and pastel colors. That said, it is pretty awesome. !.

We were doing that back in 2006:

http://web.archive.org/web/20060409104104/http://www.carbonm...

Back when Carbonmade was a side project.

Re: Ask HN: All startup websites look the same

#73
post #17

There's fashion in everything from fashion, through web design to science. I think the clean, sans-serify, widely spaced design grew to prominence in part as a reaction to busy, link-heavy corporate/portal sites and for a time it looked friendly, clean and simple. Now it's so common it manages to also look generic and corporate. The visual design has also become a bit a bit of a habit, at the expense of usability. It…

I agree. I went to loopt and I had no idea what the product is. I don't have an iphone so I was about to just leave but I hit browse and found that it seems to be a yellow pages thing with a map, but there are only like 10 entries total for my area. I now have ZERO desire ever to return to this site even if I do get an iphone. Flight caster on the other hand explains what it is, if I ever need to use it.

Re: Ask HN: All startup websites look the same

#74
post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm willing to bet that the average person can't even tell the difference between Serif and Sans Serif typefaces. Not that this will have an effect on their self-conscious, but it's definitely worth something.

I think you mean subconscious.

Don't make him self-conscious.

Re: Ask HN: All startup websites look the same

#75
post #39
post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On paper, serifs can be printed with enough resolution to aid in readability. On screens however, serifs are rendered too coarse and distract. That's why with current screen resolutions, sans serif works better for screen type.

I find serif's easier to read if they're large enough (Readability does it right I think, fairly large serif text).

Indeed, and this trend also seems to prefer large-ish font sizes.

Re: Ask HN: All startup websites look the same

#76
Hey I am the CEO of PeerIndex -- the rationale is design patterns and frameworks.

For our business, UX is important but not absolutely critical (at least at the working proof of concept stage). Excellent design is expensive and time consuming and vital for some businesses. I felt for ours, good and clear would get us very far along--and could be done with a lower investment by using a framework (e.g. blueprint) and some commonly used design patterns.

When we know more about our users (A/B test, A/B test, etc) we'll invest increasingly more in the UI and perhaps we'll look and feel different. Although I still see us leaning heavily on frameworks, for the attendant benefits.

If you are an awesome UI designer or visualisation person in the mood to challenge us with your thinking, let me know ;)

Re: Ask HN: All startup websites look the same

#77
post #43
post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's what I was looking for. I was hoping the conversation would bring up some new approach or tech. This is the first I hear of CSS grid frameworks - I must look into them further. Edit: By the way, your site looks great to me. I was trying to get at the thinking behind these designs, not to criticize.

Here's that link for 960 grid: http://960.gs/ They have lots of layouts on that page.

960gs is awesome. You might also want to check this one out: http://www.tinyfluidgrid.com/

Re: Ask HN: All startup websites look the same

#78
post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm willing to bet that the average person can't even tell the difference between Serif and Sans Serif typefaces. Not that this will have an effect on their self-conscious, but it's definitely worth something.

I think you mean subconscious.

Part of me wants to vote myself down. Kudos to that.

Re: Ask HN: All startup websites look the same

#79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a minor footnote, sans serif DOES NOT improve readability. That's a myth. A nice serif typeface such as Baskerville is just as readable as Helvetica & friends.

The Baskerville font you are talking about (Monotype’s) is based on large-ish sizes of a typeface designed in the 18th century for print. The stroke weight, x-height, and letter shapes are not well suited to setting blocks of digital text at normal screen sizes. It might work okay for titles and headings, but you should stick with Georgia or similar for body copy. Helvetica is not an especially readable typeface for…

I'm interested in more detail regarding your comparison of Helvetica and Verdana, if you're feeling generous.

Re: Ask HN: All startup websites look the same

#80
post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On paper, serifs can be printed with enough resolution to aid in readability. On screens however, serifs are rendered too coarse and distract. That's why with current screen resolutions, sans serif works better for screen type.

I stand by my assertion that this is a myth. Maybe for small font sizes it matters, but on modern displays, on medium font sizes, in the age of sub-pixel rendering, it shouldn't.

Wasn't this just on HN a few days back? Why you dont use Garamond on the web - http://www.kadavy.net/blog/posts/design-for-hackers-why-you-...
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