Web Design?...where to start.

**joka232** · 07-23-12 at 04:36 PM

while admiring the new look for TP, its freakin awesome btw i wanted to ask you people. what is web design to you? your input will help me gain some knowledge on the topic. whe ni design for websites. and get rejected, i ask myself what is wrong?...i cant figure it out..i wanted to ask you...

when a professional does a web design what does he/she do? what goes through thier minds? when i do a design, i don't think i draw a blank most of the time...i have the skills to make them...but not the creativity..:/..

its like having a lifetime supply of chocolate but your allergic to them..

so i wanted to as you guys? what is web design? how does it work? what goes through your/thier minds.

BobbyGambler · 07-23-12 at 04:41 PM

Ease of Use pretty much. Cut the crap, the bells and whistles, make it simple, easy to navigate and cross platform compatible.
check out other nice designed sites to see how they work, usually a nice grid system, alignment everywhere.

moyness · 07-23-12 at 04:43 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by BobbyGambler

Ease of Use pretty much. Cut the crap, the bells and whistles, make it simple, easy to navigate and cross platform compatible.
check out other nice designed sites to see how they work, usually a nice grid system, alignment everywhere.

this. as well as a uniform "feel" and color scheme all throughout.

**wtfjack** · 07-23-12 at 04:54 PM

Businesses don't want fluff, bells or whistles.
They want their information presented in a clear cut fashion with minimal effort by the consumer.

You have to remember that the person visiting that site probably has many other potential companies offering the same product on their list so the time spent on one site is minimal.

**cazmajor** · 07-23-12 at 05:04 PM

Usability
Are things where they are supposed to be?
What if they don't have Java?
Mobiles?
Who will use the site and what will they be accessing with?

Code: Select All

http://www.usefulusability.com/24-usability-testing-tools/

Accessibility
Can disabled people (or even people with just bad sight, hearing etc) access and properly use the site?

Code: Select All

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_accessibility

A good and appropriate colour scheme
Maybe steal a colour scheme? :p
Maybe use a tool?
Use an existing one to do with the product or marketing? (if there is a product or marketing)

Code: Select All

http://colorschemedesigner.com/

Appropriate technologies and hardware (More relevant to Web Development)
Coming down to you not using expensive services and hardware where not needed (Who needs proprietary Oracle if you can do mySQL effectively for free?).

Options for expansion
Commented code for future developers and documented site. If constant updating is required maybe consider using a Content Management System, or incorporating some other way of allowing the client to update information.

Most of these things overlap heavily and many more are specific/'more pertinent' to particular projects and the extensiveness of your involvement in the design!

There are loads and loads to consider but the above are a start. If you are talking about 'Web Development' instead of 'Web Design' then the list is crazy. The main point is to brainstorm, learn from your mistakes and get clients to sign of at the beginning on a clearly defined list of what they and you will end your business with!

Obviously I could have said 'google it' or here is a site on 'web design practices' but you asked for opinions of people here so there you go!

Hope that helps!

**PunKeD_GuRu** · 07-24-12 at 03:02 AM

Depends on who your selling too..
If its a portfolio setup for someone its more creative.
Businesses usually go for minimalistic.

When I'm doing sites I usually think:
Is it retarded enough for retards to understand the retarded inner workings

The statement isn't true (obviously) but its easy to remember, made me laugh and so I don't forget it.

But the person your selling a website too doesn't understand it (probably) so you just need to make the whole site easy to use.
The smallest of things that you think dont look/feel right, could be massive for an idiot customer.

Have you got some work to show us and I'm sure people on here can throw back some constructive crit's

hisshash · 07-24-12 at 03:26 AM

The best rule out there for web design. KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid).

As the others said, make your site as retard proof as possible.

**Oamey** · 07-24-12 at 06:51 AM

Website should be simple to use, elegant, look decent, be informative, etc.

Even if it meets the criteria it's useless if no one ever finds it. Advertise, get your friends to use it, add a FB page for your website (social integration), SEO, a mobile version, etc. are all very important as well.

**joka232** · 07-24-12 at 12:14 PM

Nice, thanks all of you for your input it really does help :)

Likes FOR ALL OF YOU :P

BobbyGambler · 07-25-12 at 04:32 PM

ALso, forgot to mention, even after everyones excellent posts here, NEVER USE FLASH! its a dead unnecessary animation option, you can do some excellent stuff in other languages nowdays and also iphone/ipad cant see it, so you are cutting out allot of new web users if you put flash on a site.
Also dont worry about code for ie6/ie7 just use a tool that lets the users know their browser is too old and should be upgraded.
Finally check check and check again other browsers adobe browser labs

j4v3d · 07-30-12 at 04:39 AM

look at W3C Standard and look at example websites.

**rockyrocks** · 07-30-12 at 06:54 AM

I too am working on something so thanks for all the inputs.. :D

If it were upto me I'd have a black and white website with just about 5-6 navigation buttons! (Well there are a few splendid websites exactly like I described) That's how minimalistic I like things..

But have to think like the user which makes it tough if one is targeting a wide user base.. so hopefully will get it right.. :D

07-23-12 at 05:04 PM	#5
cazmajor Elite Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 1,648	Usability Are things where they are supposed to be? What if they don't have Java? Mobiles? Who will use the site and what will they be accessing with? Code: Select All http://www.usefulusability.com/24-usability-testing-tools/ Accessibility Can disabled people (or even people with just bad sight, hearing etc) access and properly use the site? Code: Select All http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_accessibility A good and appropriate colour scheme Maybe steal a colour scheme? :p Maybe use a tool? Use an existing one to do with the product or marketing? (if there is a product or marketing) Code: Select All http://colorschemedesigner.com/ Appropriate technologies and hardware (More relevant to Web Development) Coming down to you not using expensive services and hardware where not needed (Who needs proprietary Oracle if you can do mySQL effectively for free?). Options for expansion Commented code for future developers and documented site. If constant updating is required maybe consider using a Content Management System, or incorporating some other way of allowing the client to update information. Most of these things overlap heavily and many more are specific/'more pertinent' to particular projects and the extensiveness of your involvement in the design! There are loads and loads to consider but the above are a start. If you are talking about 'Web Development' instead of 'Web Design' then the list is crazy. The main point is to brainstorm, learn from your mistakes and get clients to sign of at the beginning on a clearly defined list of what they and you will end your business with! Obviously I could have said 'google it' or here is a site on 'web design practices' but you asked for opinions of people here so there you go! Hope that helps! Last edited by cazmajor; 07-23-12 at 05:07 PM.

07-23-12 at 04:41 PM	#2
BobbyGambler Newcomer Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 18	Ease of Use pretty much. Cut the crap, the bells and whistles, make it simple, easy to navigate and cross platform compatible. check out other nice designed sites to see how they work, usually a nice grid system, alignment everywhere.

07-23-12 at 04:43 PM	#3
moyness Newcomer Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 14	Quote: Originally Posted by BobbyGambler Ease of Use pretty much. Cut the crap, the bells and whistles, make it simple, easy to navigate and cross platform compatible. check out other nice designed sites to see how they work, usually a nice grid system, alignment everywhere. this. as well as a uniform "feel" and color scheme all throughout.

07-23-12 at 04:54 PM	#4
wtfjack Elite Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,609	Businesses don't want fluff, bells or whistles. They want their information presented in a clear cut fashion with minimal effort by the consumer. You have to remember that the person visiting that site probably has many other potential companies offering the same product on their list so the time spent on one site is minimal.

07-24-12 at 03:02 AM	#6
PunKeD_GuRu Bored Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: England! =) Posts: 1,102	Depends on who your selling too.. If its a portfolio setup for someone its more creative. Businesses usually go for minimalistic. When I'm doing sites I usually think: Is it retarded enough for retards to understand the retarded inner workings The statement isn't true (obviously) but its easy to remember, made me laugh and so I don't forget it. But the person your selling a website too doesn't understand it (probably) so you just need to make the whole site easy to use. The smallest of things that you think dont look/feel right, could be massive for an idiot customer. Have you got some work to show us and I'm sure people on here can throw back some constructive crit's

07-24-12 at 06:51 AM	#8
Oamey Professional Garden Gnome Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: USA Posts: 200	Website should be simple to use, elegant, look decent, be informative, etc. Even if it meets the criteria it's useless if no one ever finds it. Advertise, get your friends to use it, add a FB page for your website (social integration), SEO, a mobile version, etc. are all very important as well.

07-24-12 at 12:14 PM	#9
joka232 Why so fudgie-ous? Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Gotham City, Underground Posts: 829	Nice, thanks all of you for your input it really does help :) Likes FOR ALL OF YOU :P

07-25-12 at 04:32 PM	#10
BobbyGambler Newcomer Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 18	ALso, forgot to mention, even after everyones excellent posts here, NEVER USE FLASH! its a dead unnecessary animation option, you can do some excellent stuff in other languages nowdays and also iphone/ipad cant see it, so you are cutting out allot of new web users if you put flash on a site. Also dont worry about code for ie6/ie7 just use a tool that lets the users know their browser is too old and should be upgraded. Finally check check and check again other browsers adobe browser labs

07-30-12 at 04:39 AM	#11
j4v3d Newcomer Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 15	look at W3C Standard and look at example websites.

07-30-12 at 06:54 AM	#12
rockyrocks Elite Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 2,365	I too am working on something so thanks for all the inputs.. :D If it were upto me I'd have a black and white website with just about 5-6 navigation buttons! (Well there are a few splendid websites exactly like I described) That's how minimalistic I like things.. But have to think like the user which makes it tough if one is targeting a wide user base.. so hopefully will get it right.. :D