I realize I have a problem. Being a control freak is not a comfortable state to live in, and I often find myself completely tied in knots over the smallest of problems. When designing for the web, being a control freak can be an especially difficult prospect. The web cannot be tamed like the printed page, XHTML is interpreted differently by different browsers, operating systems, and environments. Consequently, that three pixel margin for the paragraphs that I had painstakingly aligned with level two headings which look perfect in Firefox are now off by one in Internet Explorer 5 for Mac.
This drives me nuts.
I’ve often thought, maybe I would be better suited as a print designer. Unfortunately for me, there is still the problem of the fonts. I have this thing where I can’t settle on a font unless I’ve previewed every single piece of type in my collection. Even after I do this, sometimes I’m still not completely satisfied and end up scouring foundries online for another typeface that may be suitable.
This obsession with control has taken its toll on me, I must admit. This type of thinking usually leaves one creatively drained and frustrated. I sit here completely unsatisfied with my work because it does not coincide with this imagined vision of perfection. Unattainable, impossible, and completely unmanageable.
So I’ve decided to make a resolution. I’m letting go of all these things today. I’m admitting that my work is not perfect; my code has bugs, my CSS and HTML are not properly formed, and my websites are not compatible with every browser. Starting today, I am going to be real again, hopefully…
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