Wednesday, August 7, 2013

she said my webpage was ugly

I love color. Its fun. Its bright, and cheerful and full of something I can't name. It draws me in. I love putting a lot of color into my home, and its something that really attracts me to vegetarian food. Its usually so vibrant with fresh fruits and veggies.

My closet definitely reflects my love of color.
I made this shirt a long time ago--it was one of the first wearable garments I constructed all by hand, from drafting my own pattern to picking my own colors. And I love it.
I don't understand this new minimalist movement. A few days ago I was in a coffee shop, talking to a random 20-someting about the difference between Blogger and Wordpress. She wanted to start a blog, and was in a discussion with a male to the table on my right. I said, "Hey, I blog!" and she asked what platform. We had a little discussion about blogger, that ended with me showing her my blog. "Wow," she said, "It is so cluttered...I mean, so colorful. I'm definitely going with Wordpress now, they are much more whiter and open".
"Blogger can be whatever you design it as" I said quickly, pulling up Wifessionals, a blogging friend of mine whose design is very minimalist. My new coffee mate looked critically over the open page I showed her, and said "That's exactly what I want! Look, how cute! And trendy! And white. That's what a website should be." I smiled politely, and she walked off with her drink to another part of the shop.
Then I fumed a bit. I didn't like her critical comment about my website being cluttered. I like my site the way it is. Sure, it isn't perfect, and its not minimalist--but I'm not a minimalist. And I'm far from trendy. Don't get me wrong, I'm not bashing anyone who has a "minimalist" type design. I do appreciate those--and read several blogs that employ this style into their design. It's just not me. And I don't like the idea that there is only one way to be creative, only one way to plan a website, being circulated. I don't like being judged for a bit of color in my space. My blog is very much a lot of bits of me, fun and zany and colorful and loud all at once.
But maybe I'm reading to much into her words that she spoke about a site she only saw for a fleeting second. But I feel like she saw me walk past her and hated my outfit.

20 comments:

A Positive Presence said...

The only person you can ever please or stay true to is yourself. Naturally, for every individual that finds you entertaining, curious and insightful, another will find you overly eccentric, distasteful or even bland. You can't win them all. Based on this lady's behavior and attitude, she isn't the type worth winning anyways. :)

Michelle Bellamy said...

That is so rude of her!! I've read posts from bloggers about how your design should be and I've heard people say they only read blogs with "beautiful designs." It's shallow and ridiculous. It's the content of the blog that's important. Your design should be whatever makes you happy.

blavender said...

Well she didn't actually say it was ugly, so I think she meant better than what came out of her mouth. If I'm reading your quote correctly it sounds like she tried to correct herself but it was too late. I know I've been that person! Blogs are public and people will be honest with you about what they think, so it comes with the territory. Take the advice you like and politely ignore the rest.

Deanna Fike said...

ehhh....i think our layouts describe our personalities. and everyone has a different one. so maybe she didn't prefer the colorfulness, but that doesn't mean that everyone feels that way. :)

Carolynn said...

In retrospect I think I was reading to much into her words. She'd been the last straw in a number of people who have been critical of my page...so I think I was just annoyed :)

Emorie Kidder said...

I love your blog and its design. It's very you, as it should be. And I mean, who doesn't love Totoro?

Crissy said...

I love colorful layouts but I'm also into minimal too. It was probably just a preference on colors but focus on what you like. It's your page >:) I'm not sure how your layout is cluttered..? It's all displayed nicely! It would be silly to not like a blog based on it's layout.

Blogger you can make whatever but wordpress, you have to pay to customize right? haha

Deanna Fike said...

did you get my email about the lady commenting on my tote and asking if you also made backpacks?

Kaitlyn Wifey said...

hahahaha I am glad I was the example blog lol. I absolutely think you can make your design whatever you want it to be! I think your blog perfectly represents you and who you are as a person - and I love it (:


Every time I re-did my design it got cleaner and cleaner. Now it IS very white and minimalist...but that's because that is how I want MY blog to be since I stare at it more than anyone else in the world lol. Don;t worry what other people think...just make sure you are happy xoxo

_emmaread_ said...

But wouldn't it be boring if all blogs looked the same?! Especially if they were all minimalism...no offense to those who use that style, but I'm with you. I prefer color and variety and personal touch! Your blog has a lot of those which is one reason I love it. Maybe by "it's too cluttered" she meant "it's too much creativity for me to handle"? Haha. :P

MsB said...

No wordpress can be free if you host it off your own URL. And I prefer only because I can edit or totally rewrite the css.

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