I am continuing to work on a test project for Mercer St. and decided to improve the first impression—the loading process. I created an animated preloader for the main screen to make the waiting time seem purposeful rather than empty. I focused on rhythm, smooth transitions, and brand-appropriate movement to set the tone before users even reach the interface. I think these small details shape the impression of the product from the very first second. I wonder how much attention you usually pay to preloaders and micro-interactive elements in web products? Are they still important, or are they becoming an invisible part of the user experience? Follow up for the next updates.

Love the pacing and subtle transitions. Feels very intentional 👌

I still think about a moment when one of my first clients asked me to redesign the hero section on their website.

I couldn't believe they thought they had a better idea for the design.

With my version, it was a great photo of an employee, smiling, wearing the uniform with the logo showing clearly… it was perfect.

With theirs, it was just the portrait of the owner.

I thought they were crazy, but I wanted to make them happy.

Years later, I see it different now.

Their focus was clarity and familiarity with the owner because clients wanted to see who owned the company, I was focused on was aesthetics.

The best design isn’t always the most beautiful one, it’s the one that works for the right audience.

What do you think about this balance of expectations? And which version of the hero section do you think is better?

I like the designer version, but I'd go with the client version because I understand where they're coming from. The customer is always right. * * = but only sometimes, though.