In Episode 6 of Discussing Stupid, host Virgil Carroll and co-host Cole Schlotthauer from High Monkey reflect on the evolution of web design and discuss how websites have grown increasingly complex over the years. This episode delves into the challenges of balancing form and function in web design, examining how trends have influenced modern websites—often at the expense of user experience.

Virgil and Cole explore the history of web design, from the simplicity of early 2000s websites to the rise of stylistic trends like Flash, hero images, and parallax scrolling. They discuss how the pursuit of flashy, modern designs can overshadow usability, creating obstacles for users trying to complete tasks. Drawing on decades of experience, Virgil shares insights into the “form vs. function” debate, emphasizing that good design prioritizes purpose and user needs.

To wrap up, the duo highlights the growing trend toward simplicity in web design and the importance of finding a balance between aesthetics and practicality. Listeners will leave with a deeper understanding of how to create websites that are both visually engaging and user-friendly.

Join us every two weeks for new episodes, and don’t forget to like, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. For more resources and updates, visit www.discussingstupid.com.

(0:00) - Intro
(1:26) - Websites have gotten too complicated
(3:13) - Evolution of web design trends
(4:43) - Form vs Function: An age old battle
(6:59) - When did style over substance get big?
(8:53) - The pressure to keep up with trends
(10:15) - It's about balancing form and function
(13:55) - Outro

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In Episode 5 of Discussing Stupid, host Virgil Carroll and co-hosts Chad Heinle and Cole Schlotthauer from High Monkey explore the often-overlooked mistakes organizations make with typography and the significant impact it can have on user experience and performance. From excessive font usage to unreadable design choices, this episode dives into the dos and don’ts of effective typography.

The team discusses:

• Why using too many fonts on a website creates confusion and slows down performance.
• The importance of keeping fonts readable and how font size and weight affect usability.
• Real-world examples of font mistakes, including when and where decorative fonts can work—and when they don’t.
• How poor typography choices can kill website performance, particularly through improper font loading.

To wrap up, they discuss actionable best practices, including limiting font selections, optimizing font files for performance, and always keeping your audience in mind when choosing typography.

By the end of this episode, you’ll gain practical insights to help your website achieve both aesthetic appeal and functional clarity—without sacrificing performance.

This marks the final episode of 2024, and we want to thank all of you for joining us this year! We’ll be taking a short break for the holidays but will return in 2025 with more episodes, more “stupid,” and more expert advice to help you avoid common digital mistakes.

Until then, like, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform, and visit www.discussingstupid.com for updates and resources.

Happy holidays, and see you in the new year!

(0:00) - Intro & holiday spirit
(1:44) - Welcome back, Chad
(2:20) - Too many fonts = chaos
(4:05) - Learning from print design
(5:25) - Typography as Art vs. Function
(6:23) - The hidden cost of fancy fonts
(8:04) - Should some fonts be banned?
(10:11) - Know your audience and the context
(12:06) - With fonts, less is more
(14:28) - Outro & happy holidays!

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In Episode 4 of Discussing Stupid, host Virgil Carroll and co-host Cole Schlotthauer from High Monkey dive into the complex world of search systems and the importance of semantics in delivering relevant results. This episode explores the frustrations users often face when search systems fail to recognize variations in spelling, synonyms, and context, which can drastically impact user experience.

Virgil and Cole discuss common issues with search systems, such as treating every search term the same and ignoring common phrases and alternative names. They share real-world examples, like a bank where users searched for one name in numerous ways, illustrating the need for search systems to recognize and account for these variations. The team also emphasizes that improving search functionality requires more than just turning it on—it involves continuous work, testing, and understanding of user behavior.

To wrap up, Virgil highlights best practices, including using “push search” technology to guide users to the right results and leveraging search analytics to understand how people are searching. By the end of the episode, listeners will gain practical insights into making search more intuitive and user-friendly.

Join us every two weeks for new episodes, and don’t forget to like, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. For more resources and updates, visit www.discussingstupid.com.

(0:00) - Intro

(1:26) - A lot of search systems suck

(1:57) - Search needs semantics

(3:04) - Search with VS without semantics

(4:48) - When AB&T meets AB and T

(6:14) - The English language is funny

(8:00) - The power of curated results

(10:50) - Virgil's biggest piece of advice

(12:41) - Outro

Subscribe for email updates on our website:

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Watch us on YouTube:

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Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Soundcloud:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/discussing-stupid-a-byte-sized-podcast-on-stupid-ux/id1428145024

https://open.spotify.com/show/0c47grVFmXk1cco63QioHp?si=87dbb37a4ca441c0

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