I love the web. Really. It has opened up a big, broad world, and in many cases to those who were isolated, unheard, or oppressed. I'm just old enough to remember the pre-desktop publishing days, when design and publication were too expensive for most of us, and required an incredibly long learning curve. The web was a quantum leap beyond that. Publishing for a world-wide audience for pennies.  At no cost, in many cases. That's  cool to the power of ten.

The internet also exposed the sordid underbelly of hate and given a worldwide platform to views many of us find distasteful. But that's okay, too. Leonard Cohen has a line that goes: There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in.  Exposing those views is the first step to healing them. Some ideas don't sound so wacky in isolation, but can't stand up to open-heart scrutiny.

Purists might also say that the web has put out a lot of crap that isn't quite ready for prime time. And that's true, too.  And that's okay, too. I don't think the grunge look would have been introduced without it. Everyone has an idea to express, not only trained professionals. But it does make professionally designed materials shine.

The great thing is that design tools are finally beginning to mature for web publishers. We're finally able to come closer to say what we want to say in the manner that is the most powerful and appropriate. What makes it come across with the most power? How could it be better presented?  Now we have tools that we can use to formulate that answer.

My own desire is to have the design be nominated as the Best Supporting Actor... to have it subordinate to the message.  The design IS part of the message, to be sure.  But it shouldn't take over or blur the message.  Or worse, hide it.  It's beautiful when they both interact together, each letting the other's strengths come through and creating something bigger than either individual parts.