Playing cards as we know them today are used in Europe since the 14th century (more precisely 1371 in Catalonia according to historians). Since then, the success is huge: hundreds of uses and games are available. For what reasons ?
The ergonomics of a card game is wonderful!
We had fun comparing the ergonomics of a card game against the good practices of designing a wordpress website or convert it psd to wordpress and we found 4 good practices common to the methodology of web design : to repeat but differently, s to address multiple audiences, be creative but conservative and inspire confidence.
1. Repeating yourself, differently
A playing card contains the same information in several forms: first the color is present on the writing as on the illustrations but the value of the card is both present in the center and on the 2 corners (or sometimes the 4 corners ) in summary ways. The numbers are written in full in the corners while they are represented in the center by the repetition of the sign (3 hearts for the 3 of heart). So whatever the position of the card: covered on the game or held in hand can be identified very easily.
For a website, it’s the same: information has to be reformulated differently in different places. Access to a private area will be accessible from the top menu permanently but also from an internal block of the home page. This is the rehearsal principle we apply in our website design methodology .
2. Addressing a multiple hearing
Card games are also used by youngsters who play simple games such as battle or mistigri or by experienced players, belote, country or rummy followers. Some prefer to play alone with the “successes”, others in team (bridge or belote) or each for his apple (poker).
So we have a very large audience with a very diversified use that does not stop at the games: some use them for their divinatory potential, others for magic tricks and some to make ephemeral card casts .
In web design, it is the same idea: each type of user must be able to achieve whatever he wants regardless of its technical level , its degree of attention and regardless of the size of its screen and its physical capabilities. The multi-audience design is one of the key vaults of modern and relevant websites. Our web agency has implemented an effective methodology for designing websites that can not be used for multiple audiences. (Check out our ergonomics audit offer here !
3. Freedom of creation governed by strict rules
By observing different card games to play, we can notice that the card designs retain certain strict rules : the repetition of the values of the card at the corners is for example a constant. The white border (padding) is also always present. But the figures (valet, lady king and aces) allow an interesting creative freedom which adds an important attraction to the game. This freedom was notably used by the advertisers to convey their messages as of the 19th century .
In web site design, the same rule applies so as not to lose the user. Creativity must be framed by strict rules often derived from practices and habits of use. A charity website will almost always have a call to action to donate to the right corner of the top menu bar. You will notice the
4. Inspire confidence
If you play cards regularly, you may not notice another trivial but essential detail: all the corners of all the card games in the world are rounded . And yes, the rounding allows a longer life of the game and especially prevents the clever little to mark the cards to cheat! Also, without the rounded tips some uses simply would not be possible, including making card castles.
In web design we find exactly the same rule of good practice : if the system must be robust and have the longest life possible, it must also establish a relationship of trust with the user , a confidence needed to achieve his various actions. Subscribe to a newsletter, make a donation, buy a product, subscribe to a subscription, all this is not done without confidence.
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