In every design project, there is a point in the process where you ask yourself, “Do I want to use cutting-edge features and techniques, or will I be better off playing it safe?” The question may arise early on during high-level strategy discussions, or later on when weighing options for how to handle a specific component, but how you answer can have major impacts on how well your site meets your needs. As in most things, the answer depends on your particular goals, markets, and circumstances. If your brand involves an early adopter component, then taking chances on the latest and greatest aligns well with your strategy, but if you are more in the technological mainstream, proceed with caution.

Assess the Risk

In designing for the Web, pushing the envelope often equates to exploring the limits of what we can do with current browser and platform technology. Since the tools your audience uses can vary widely, deciding whether or not to build a cutting-edge feature usually comes down to listing the pros and cons of going forward with it. Some typical responses are:

Pros

• Pushing the limits forces you to think more creatively and critically.
• Pushing the limits also presents the possibility of uncovering previously unforeseen opportunities you can take advantage of.
• Discover and solve problems related to the feature before your competitors.
• Promote an avant-garde image.
• Build a reputation as being ahead of the curve.

Cons

• The latest technology may be theoretically nice, but practically useless to the vast majority of your audience.
• Your user base uses older technology that cannot support the newest features.
• Code may have to be turned over to less skilled maintenance staff.
• Immature technology can be buggy. If something doesn’t work, your audience won’t be impressed with your efforts to be cutting-edge – they’ll just think you’re inept.
• Usability may suffer if you stray too far from expectations.

Your Turn

Obviously, your list will vary and be specific to the feature you’re considering. Comments are welcome – what pros and cons to cutting-edge features and techniques have you encountered in your web design projects?

Image: Skydiving 2009, by divemasterking2000 on Flickr

For those of you who are unaware, BarCamp is a “technology and media un-conference.” Unlike typical conferences, where attendees pay upwards of $1000 to experience a highly choreographed package of industry leader presentations, workshops, and networking, BarCamp follows more of a grass-roots, DIY model. Instead of following a pre-selected agenda and lineup of speakers, BarCampers themselves vote on who presents what at the start of the day. If you have a topic that you want to talk about, you get a chance to give your pitch before the entire group. If enough people want to hear what you have to offer, you get a spot on the schedule (hopefully not up against the “How to Make Money Online” session), and voila! you’re now a featured speaker.

Being a first-time Bar Camper, I didn’t have anything prepared to present, so I mostly observed, learned, chipped in my two cents here and there, and met a few people who I had only previously “known” through Twitter. Unfortunately, I was only able to attend the afternoon portion of the day, so I missed out on quite a bit of the fun. I’ll make up for that next time – I’ll make it a point to have a babysitter lined up well in advance. But from what I did experience, I’ve come away with a few impressions:

• BarCamp is like herding cats. Kudos to the organizers for putting it together and keeping it on track. Although it seemed a bit chaotic at times, a semblance of order eventually emerged. If you come into such an event expecting to follow a smoothly run program where everything runs on schedule with flash and pizzazz, you will be disappointed. But if you’re in tune with the whole improvisational, DIY, can-do ethic, you will find rewards.
• BarCamp is about participants, not spectators. There’s a blurry line between audience and performer. More than one spontaneous discussion arose among Campers who weren’t currently attending one of the “official” sessions.
• BarCamp can be a great vehicle for creativity and innovation. Given the open nature of topics for discussion, the fact that a broad cross-section of fields and disciplines are represented provides fertile ground for new ideas.
• BarCamp should frighten proponents of staid methods and technologies. This is the kind of place where people who know what they’re doing can compare notes, generate ideas, and figure out ways to get around the roadblocks thrown up by institutional over-investment in past glories.
• BarCamp is cool.

Were you there too? Been to a different BarCamp? Only wish you had?