The Shadowed Edge

The final project of the semester came down to a five day hell of creating a website. I literally stopped to take short naps over a weekend and a couple days. I quickly learned how my profession as a graphic designer can have it's challenges when crossing between mediums. This case being from print to web.

A big difference between web and print is that of gradients. In print we're told and I agree that gradients are a big taboo thing. Maybe there's some room for argument that they can be done tastefully. Usually the result is something that looks like a those god-awful-club-cards. Gradients in print don't work usually because they lack an organic feel.

When you move to web though - gradients are tool of the trade. Web is rarely organic. They're used to really give a presence to text, a sort of depth to imagery and design. Really, what gradients do is a good job of polishing a web design off. Giving it that finished look.

Check this website, link given to me from a teacher. It has great tips about the cleaning off and finishing of a web design:

http://psd.tutsplus.com/designing-tutorials/elements-of-great-web-design-the-polish/

One thing I've noticed in design regardless of the medium - whether its an print ad, a web page, or an illustration is the shadowed edge.

A shadowed edge works in taking away a flat feeling from the design. It works in giving a good feeling of depth and somewhat a feeling of warmth. That little glow. It also works in bringing the attention, drawing the eye into the piece. It's a very directive tool.

Here on the right is a couple stages in on a design, the final product not really showcasing the shadowed edge. I didn't really do it too strongly, but the shadowed edge is there.

When it comes to print though it's entering that taboo I mentioned earlier: the gradient. In this medium I think it works because its an actual mock-element of an organic thing (shadows) and the focus isn't on the gradient. It's pushing the eye away from itself entirely.

When it comes to the shadowed edge though - how far is too far?

When has the design world become too saturated and a new direction is needed?

Please take a look at http://dndcraft.com/ It actually has a lot of cool stuff and a community of excellent artists.

This site looks good, it looks excellent in fact. In being a D&D website it stands out even more as many D&D related sites are poorly designed.

Looking at it though the question haunts me, is this overkill? Has the shadowed edge been overdone? Something seems almost glitchy about it - though it follows a lot of the so-called-rules of thumb that are laid out in properly approaching a web design.

I would really pull back a bit. Don't get me wrong - it looks damn good. It's an A + project.

The question I would love to explore is how far is too far?

As a designer and anyone else who likes to put together things with a bit more of a professional appeal what are your feelings on the shadowed edge?

Have you seen too much of it? Does it have its place?