Many companies have asked the question "how to ensure a unified website style", especially websites with multiple product lines. Yes, maintaining a unified style is indeed a big problem for the website. It is not just the surface unity of visuals and text, but also the unity of the page structure, interaction process, and interaction methods. I won’t go into details here. Because only a unified website can give users a better unified experience. Almost every small website will encounter this problem in the conversion process to a medium-sized website.
In previous software projects, the general way to solve this problem was to have a dedicated person manage and summarize unified "design specifications". But on a website project, this doesn't seem to work.
Firstly, it is because the update frequency of the website is too high, and the standard maintenance cost increases and the practicality decreases. Secondly, it is because it is difficult for the general website development team to devote time and personnel to this matter. More importantly, even if there are detailed The implementation cost of applying system specifications is also very high. YUI is also impractical for most Internet companies.
Under normal circumstances, I recommend that the team adopt a "cross-over" collaboration method and use people to ensure the overall unity. Then through the "checking" of individual people to make up for the unity of text and visuals. Here’s how:
1. Ensure the integrity of the product design department.
Try not to split people into different products or project groups based on "organizational principles". Splitting the design department is very dangerous. Even in a very harmonious company, it is difficult for designers in different departments to maintain communication and unified behavior. Products created this way will inevitably not be unified.
2. Fully implement the idea of “continuation design”.
Before making a design, think, "What previous designs on our website are similar to this one? Which layout rules and interaction methods can be directly continued?" , if not, then rethink the new layout rules and interaction methods. Before the new design, you still need to think about "what kind of similar designs can this new method be continued in the future?"
3. Try to ensure that a fixed designer “leads” the upgrade and adjustment of the same product.
Arrange within the design department which designers are mainly responsible for which projects. Don’t let whoever has the time to take on the task when it comes. Every designer has his own style. If different designers often design the same product, it will be difficult to unify the design style. A product designed by a designer can at least be consistent in thoughts and ideas.
4. Let each designer participate in multiple products, and projects and personnel are intertwined.
Let each designer "lead" one or two products according to his or her own abilities, but "participate" in multiple products at the same time. One designer will always "lead" the design of a product, but multiple designers will participate at the same time. Even if it is very simple participation.
A leads product A and participates in products B and C; B leads product B and participates in products A and C at the same time;... In this way, A can provide some necessary discussions and suggestions when participating in product B led by B, and can also inform B: "When I was making product A, how did I deal with a similar place?" Similarly, when I look back when I was making product A, I can think of "When B was making product B, how did I deal with a similar place?" . . In this way, some style continuation between different products can be naturally achieved through the daily work of designers.
5. The unity of visual style is controlled by the "team leader" of the design team. The design of each style needs to be "checked" to gradually form a unity. Visual design is often difficult at the same time, especially when there are multiple designers who all have their own "design styles."
6. The style of writing is carefully controlled by a dedicated person, and a standard is gradually formed.
Of course, necessary regulations are still needed to a certain extent. However, it is recommended to grasp the scale, gradually improve it, and keep it updated. What’s more important is ensuring “execution”.