I would like to ask some questions to experienced designers, and I will try to clarify my points with an example.

Let's consider the case of Nikolay, a web designer who created the design for a small regional online store. After delivering the design to the customer, the online store was launched successfully, with a developer involved in setting it up, and it was hosted on a platform. Nikolai included the project in his portfolio.

After three months, the customer is satisfied with the performance of the online store. Sales have increased, the conversion rate is 30%, and new products have been added to the assortment. However, Nikolai starts hearing from colleagues that the layout of the website is poor, with issues related to internal/external alignment, balance, and composition. These criticisms are made without any knowledge of the site's metrics and performance. On one hand, there is a happy customer and a 30% conversion rate, but on the other hand, Nikolai is facing difficulties finding new job opportunities due to the perception of having the "wrong" layout.

Now, let's address several questions related to this situation:

1) Who should assess the design: users or other designers?
2) Are there any objective criteria available to evaluate the quality of Nikolai's design?
3) If such criteria exist, what are they?
4) To what extent does the conceptual idea take precedence over the visual aspect in design evaluation?
5) Why do you think that top design studios are specifically looking for designers with research skills, rather than just UX expertise, even when their clients (like Nikolai's customer) may not have the time or resources for extensive UX testing and research?

These questions highlight the challenge of evaluating design quality and serve as a basis for discussing the importance of metrics, user feedback, and research-driven approaches in the field of design.

1) The assessment of design can be done by both users and other designers. Users provide valuable feedback based on their experience using the website and can highlight any usability issues or areas of improvement. On the other hand, designers can evaluate the design based on their expertise and knowledge of design principles and best practices.

2) Yes, there are objective criteria available to evaluate the quality of Nikolai's design. These include factors like usability, accessibility, visual hierarchy, consistency, responsiveness, and overall user experience. These criteria can be measured against industry standards and best practices to determine the effectiveness of the design.

3) Some objective criteria to evaluate the quality of Nikolai's design can include:

- Alignment: Ensuring visual elements are properly aligned, both internally within the design and externally with other design elements.
- Balance: Achieving a harmonious arrangement of visual elements to create a sense of equilibrium and visual stability.
- Composition: Considering the arrangement and proportion of various design elements to create an aesthetically pleasing and functional layout.
- Usability: Assessing how easy it is for users to navigate and interact with the website, ensuring clear information hierarchy and intuitive navigation.
- Consistency: Maintaining consistency in terms of visual style, typography, color schemes, and overall branding throughout the website.
- Responsiveness: Ensuring the design adapts well to different screen sizes and devices, providing a seamless experience across platforms.

4) The conceptual idea and the visual aspect both play important roles in design evaluation. While the visual aspect is what users first encounter and can significantly impact their perception, the conceptual idea behind the design guides the overall purpose and effectiveness of the design. A strong conceptual idea, coupled with an effective visual execution, creates a compelling and impactful design.

5) Top design studios often look for designers with research skills because research-driven approaches help create designs that are more likely to meet user needs and expectations. Good design goes beyond just aesthetics; it should also solve problems and enhance user experiences. By conducting research, designers gain insights into user behavior, preferences, and pain points, which inform their design decisions. This user-centered approach leads to more successful designs that align with user expectations and drive positive outcomes. Although clients may not have the time or resources for extensive UX testing and research, these studios recognize the value of research skills in ensuring the effectiveness and success of their designs.

Both perspectives have their validity, yet neither fully captures the essence of the matter. While a third-party designer may lack comprehensive knowledge of all the nuances and user requirements, users themselves can only evaluate based on their personal preferences and convenience.

In my opinion, there doesn't seem to be a definitive answer.

The worth of a design lies in its ability to fulfill the primary function of a website. The achievement of goals and functionality consistently outweigh mere visual aesthetics.

As for the remaining 10%, the question arises: what exactly constitutes "research"?

In my understanding, research is an ongoing process of improvement. If resources are available for continuous focus groups with attention tracking, then it is advantageous. However, research can also be conducted using technical means, such as website analytics, reviews, and analysis of the sales funnel. Additionally, requesting user feedback at the end of their interaction can provide valuable insights.

These research methods are cost-effective, time-efficient, and yield a wealth of valuable information.

On a larger scale, inconsistent design hampers developer productivity, as changes need to be made to each component separately. Furthermore, it causes uncertainty for users since they cannot rely on "looks the same = acts the same," resulting in errors and frustration.

All the elements play a crucial role in this scenario. Maybe Nikolai managed to make the shitty appearance a little more bearable, resulting in a slight improvement, but the fact remains that it is still shit, as his colleagues pointed out to him in a solemn manner.

Everyone is subject to assessment.
Adherence to UI/UX design principles.
Both visual and conceptual aspects are equally important. They constitute integral components.
UX itself necessitates thorough research.

However, you fail to comprehend this concept, and most likely, you never will. Your evaluation stems from a programmer's perspective, focused on actual returns such as conversion rates. However, the quality of design cannot be solely judged based on this metric. But don't worry, you are a developer, belonging to a distinct category with a completely different mindset.

Responses from programmers are handled separately. After all, who else is better suited to answer these questions than programmers?

First and foremost, usability is crucial. A well-designed website should be intuitive and easy to navigate, with clear calls to action and logical information architecture. This can be measured through user testing and heat maps to understand how visitors engage with the site.

Secondly, visual appeal is important. Aesthetics play a key role in capturing and retaining the attention of users. A visually balanced layout, appropriate color scheme, and high-quality images contribute to a positive user experience.

Another objective criterion is performance. A well-designed website should load quickly and perform efficiently across various devices and screen sizes. This can be evaluated through tools like Google PageSpeed Insights and GTmetrix to measure loading times and identify performance bottlenecks.

Accessibility is also a critical factor in assessing design quality. The website should be inclusive and comply with accessibility standards such as WCAG to ensure that all users, including those with disabilities, can easily access and navigate the content.

Lastly, the design should align with the brand identity and effectively communicate the intended message. Consistency in branding elements, such as the use of logo, colors, and typography, helps to reinforce brand recognition and trust.