Here is something I found worth my noodle! It is true that most designers cannot write. All they are concerned with is that if the design pleasant and catchy enough. That is technically how it should be, and I really like those who stick to their core competence. The kinds who don't get in other's way because they know what they're good at, and stick to that. Work goes on faster. Unfortunately, the world doesn't think so.

That article there clearly makes a point worth remembering. Design is about communicating ideas, and an effective designer is one who can convert thoughts into more than one visual form.

So if you’re someone who hires designers, ask them what they like to read. Talk to them about their word choice in every button, every link, every title. Give them a crack at writing your about page. It’s the designer’s job to think about your site the way a user does, and tell them what they need to hear, and when they need to hear it. A designer worth their salt will be able to do it. And if your designer says, “I’m not a writer,” it may be time to find one who is.

If you’re a designer who doesn’t think of yourself as a writer, it’s time to reconsider. Buy yourself a copy of Strunk and White, do some research online, or take a class. Design is about communication, and it takes more than pixels to communicate.

Ofcourse, people can't complain now that they don't have a way of sharing their knowledge with other people, or say something. Blogs are the perfect and cheapest way of doing so. I am myself subscribed to some 7 blogs related to design, and learn so much from. What I learn is that it is not just about the look. You need content to back up that look. A designer hired to work on a particular interface should also come up with the text that goes with the interface. No-one is asking him to generate the main content, that'll be stupid. But small things like by-lines, links, so on so forth should be his cup of tea. The designer is after all the one who made that design, and his personality will reflect in it. If the text doesn't support the design, it'll be jarringly obvious.

For example, you can't have a blog in yellow, orange and red with text which says, "This has been (someone's name)'s work. I hope you liked it. You can reach me at the following address." It'll seem very out of place, atleast for me. So, people who design should really learn how to write. If not whole articles, just enough to be able to get their thought across in text, and not colours or layouts.

After all, if not anything else, it is text which imparts knowledge. A designer who doesn't share his fundamentals is as good as nobody. The Web 2.0 principal truly should be applied to every facet of life. Share your knowledge and information. You never know what may come out of it. There isn't a dearth of ideas. What lacks is the guidance, and someone with knowledge who can share it, is really held in great esteem amongst his comrades! So if not to keep the tone of a design consistent, designers should learn to write to just share what they've learnt.

So all you designers out there, begin writing! Its good for you, and for those around you! :)

The discussion continues over at Bloggeratto's post, Writing into Perceptions