The Woes of Web Design - Overclock.net

archangelabove · 02-27-08

So guys, I've been doing HTML and PHP and etc for almost 6 years now.

My work always turns out subpar, not as I imagined it. It doesn't help that my Photoshop skills suck. Almost everything I make in Photoshop looks great in Photoshop, but then it looks like hell online, no matter what format I save it at.

This gets frustrating. I'm not a very technical coding person.. I work more on the side of creativity. I can't seem to crank out quality stuff.

I've put out some decent stuff, but I'm still a beginner after all these years.

I think I could use some guidance. Code isn't something you can't learn to do effectively. I know I can make it all better.

As for photoshop skills.. I don't know why I suck lol. I think because I don't know it that well, like the pros do, but I know enough. That, and I just naturally suck at it because I lose my patience.

What do you guys think? As fellow webmakers, what do you think I need? I'm still making basic html pages with PHP elements here and there, but I normally have to steal code from someone else if I want it to look good at all.

This all comes because I'm trying to save money by not having to pay somebody else to make a website for my company.. but I might have to, because it sucks as of now.

ted · 02-27-08

If you have a live prototype of your site, you should definitely post it and we can give you some constructive criticism.
I myself dabble in some web design contracts on the side (of school and job) and find the same problem of having work turn out worse than I imagine it. The next project I start on actually I hope to use Photoshop almost entirely to cut down the time needed and hopefully have a more fluid design.

SgtSpike · 02-27-08

I hear ya man... I'm more of a coder than a graphics designer though, so my pages are always simplish. No flash, no moving stuff (except maybe a mouseover image change here and there). It's a hard life when you're not both a good coder AND a good graphics designer.

archangelabove · 02-27-08

Quote:

Originally Posted by SgtSpike

I hear ya man... I'm more of a coder than a graphics designer though, so my pages are always simplish. No flash, no moving stuff (except maybe a mouseover image change here and there). It's a hard life when you're not both a good coder AND a good graphics designer.

Yea exactly. I can put out advanced code, but when its more code than graphics, it looks less professional and too bland.

I would dabble into Flash sites, but I like the customization and simplicity of writing the code. Just a matter of understanding it.

As for a prototype of work, the current site I'm working on is really only structure right now, with no content. I've come to a block, because it's turning out worse than I wanted, and I have to take some time to rethink it.

There really isn't much substance, but if you want to look at my coding be my guest :-D.

www.zemevents.com

I just messed up the footer a second ago, but I'm going to fix it in a sec.

Looks like crap right now IMO, but the color scheme is all there.

Right now I only have the index up.

**BFRD** · 02-27-08

Well, if you can make it look nice in Photoshop you should be able to cut it up and have it look the same way on the web. One issue that often hurts in design is making something that looks cool, but doesn't translate into a functioning website. Variable resolutions and the possible widescreen are also new little things to worry about. Resolution has always been an issue, it is just a different one now. Dynamic content can be hard on an improperly designed site.

I have been checking out www.oswd.org for my personal stuff. They have some real nice designs that scale well. That will let you focus more on the code and less on the design. If you are looking at coding at a higher level the design will be handled elsewhere. I have never worked on a big project that had the coders doing the design.

PUNK rock · 02-27-08

I've dabbled with web design for school projects as well, the frustration is a blast.

This picture sums my thoughts on web design pretty well, though I think my swearing section is a bit larger...

archangelabove · 02-27-08

Quote:

Originally Posted by PUNK rock

I've dabbled with web design for school projects as well, the frustration is a blast.

This picture sums my thoughts on web design pretty well, though I think my swearing section is a bit larger...

Yea, thats the truth right there. I think the solution is to just crank more hours into this baddy, and make it a full timer.

BFRD: I like that site, except everything looks very.. Bloglike.

Good resource though..

SgtSpike · 02-27-08

Quote:

Originally Posted by BFRD

Well, if you can make it look nice in Photoshop you should be able to cut it up and have it look the same way on the web. One issue that often hurts in design is making something that looks cool, but doesn't translate into a functioning website. Variable resolutions and the possible widescreen are also new little things to worry about. Resolution has always been an issue, it is just a different one now. Dynamic content can be hard on an improperly designed site.

I have been checking out www.oswd.org for my personal stuff. They have some real nice designs that scale well. That will let you focus more on the code and less on the design. If you are looking at coding at a higher level the design will be handled elsewhere. I have never worked on a big project that had the coders doing the design.

Wow, awesome website, thanks!

**BFRD** · 02-27-08

I have just been working on a site, and it has been FireFox that causes me issues. IE is always a piece of cake. I do have to agree on the CSS bit though. However, some of my more recent projects have been mostly table free.

archangelabove · 02-27-08

Anyone ever host using godaddy? Their FTP sucks bad.

Yeah, well about doing design and code, this is for a family business so I'm trying to save money by not having to outsource the project. I shouldn't have to. I'll just have to get some more time, probably this weekend to get atleast all the coding done, and then set it up so I can come back later with better looking elements.

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The Woes of Web Design

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