Helpful tips for anyone!

Impluo, why would anyone make such a site?

I know that site does look good AlexK, I was implying more that, when designing and such most of the CSS templates are more dull and bland, not saying all just saying that I think since CSS and XHTML have been out there, people have become more bland in the designing since they don't want to take the time to code a more graphical site into CSS or XHTML. I understand your point and you are correct, I am just speaking of a majority of designs that I have seen.

Ineedalife, I see. I guess that's because you work in the *almost* direct opposite of what I do.

Sorry for my relatively bad behaviour.
Have a nice day

Firstly, I think CSS/XHTML sites are like the best sites out there for many reasons. They look clean, simple and professional. In addtion they're accessible by search engines and mobile devices. Along with that, they're functional with their easy to use navigation.

"Don't look at Templatemonters templates for inspiration?"
What's up with that. Even if you aren't good it doesn't mean you can aim for the sky.

Not sure all you said in the article but I do agree with one person who said, 2grand doesn't mean you are a designer. However, as the business person you are, I do appreciate you opinions.

12. XHTML/CSS - I personally, think it is the worst thing that could have happened to web design in years. It has totally demolished everything that is beautiful about web design. They seem flat, and boring. All for a different type of coding which frankly I would rather have a beautiful template. But that's your personal choice not mine!

xhtml and css can code any design...

I know that, but as you will notice on most peoples designs. They aren't nice designs. They are all just blocks of color, as most portfolios for designers are these days. Yes CSS and XHTML are great coding and such, but I am saying it has put designers backwards who can only code a little bit.

Originally Posted by Ineedalife I know that, but as you will notice on most peoples designs. They aren't nice designs. They are all just blocks of color, as most portfolios for designers are these days. Yes CSS and XHTML are great coding and such, but I am saying it has put designers backwards who can only code a little bit.

Although I agree with the others that xhtml/css can code any design.. I can see your point.

I have noticed that recently, kind of just blocks of colour, like you said.

Originally Posted by Ineedalife I know that, but as you will notice on most peoples designs. They aren't nice designs. They are all just blocks of color, as most portfolios for designers are these days. Yes CSS and XHTML are great coding and such, but I am saying it has put designers backwards who can only code a little bit.

Maybe you mean by coding with Divs (<div> instead of tables) it is such a pain for highly graphical design WITHOUT a simple layout like AlexK. Anyway, tables with a layout inside aren't supposed to be compliant, W3C do not want you to put your layout into tables.

Remember,
# XHTML have tables and doesn't care if you use tables for your design
# W3C compliancy care about that
# Google doesn't recognize W3C compliant web site, but MSN Search seems to like them
# Compliancy is ONLY a way to be sure that your design will look good on every browser..but not in every resolution

I appreciate your guys' inputs alot. Thanks!

this "list" is pretty rediculous...

1. No tutorials - Why no tutorials? I personally believe it stunts any and all creative thinking you might have about your design. You may have an amazing idea in your head and then you decide that you aren't good enough so you look at a tutorial and ruin your dream.

this makes no sense.

tutorials are bad because people are impatient and they want to jump right into the deepend of the software/language and look up cheesey effects because they're fast and easy, and they don't know any better.

i look up tutorials for elements all the time and it never stunts my creativity.

2. No Professional Templates - What do I mean by this? I mean that you should not look at professional templates when trying to get an idea. You aren't that good yet, and all it will do is ruin your self esteem in your desgining ability and also make you want to quit all together. Believe me, even great designers don't look at template buying websites for inspiration, it just depresses you...

professional templates? "professional" templates aren't that good period.

you are right though, looking at that garbage does depress me.

3. Practice, Practice, Practice - I cannot stress this enough. Artists do not become amazing over night, ok well some do but most of the time not. You need to be willing to be insulted and be ready to spend hours, or days on 1 template. It takes a great designer over 1 to 3 weeks to make a good design. You need to be dedicated to it and want to practice as much as possible. This means say bye bye to your girlfriend and hello photoshop!

developing an eye for design takes a hell of a lot longer than a couple weeks.

you're right, people need to be dedicated, but you have to be dedicated to be good at anything. this isn't any different.

6. Then don't do it - If you don't have the time, or desire to try and make a template but people are bugging you. DON'T DO IT. Believe me, you are saving yourself alot of wasted time, arguments and fights with your friends, or whomever you are speaking with about it. Don't bother, it isn't worth it. If you need to, just use my website for a free template, or there are tons of paying websites that will definintly give you, your bang for your buck.

yeah, i like shameless plugs too.

7. Gradients - ONLY IF USED CORRECTLY! This means, that gradients can either make or break your template. I have seen people butcher a template by improper use of gradients, but then again I have seen amazing examples of gradients. You must first learn how to use them. A quick hint to gradients is, never go from one extreme color to another. Gradients are always meant to be close colored, so say you are using a black on one end of the gradient. DON'T DO A WHITE ON THE OTHER. Use another extremely dark grey/almost black color and mix and match in between. It looks stupid and ruins the template going from 2 extremes. It just doesn't look good.

....

8. Drop Shadows - Almost never should you use these. I despise drop shadows with a passion as it ruins almost all good templates. If you are a beginner or mediocre believe me, the template looks better without the drop shadow. Please just get rid of it until you are amazing enough to even put a little bit in.

...

9. Outer/Inner Glow - Again meant only for those who know how to use it properly. It is another thing where you can totally butcher a template when used incorrectly. Yet another case that you do not want extremes. If you have an all dark template, DO NOT USE BRIGHT GLOW EFFECTS. It looks retarded and can ruin an otherwise great template.

did you even read these? you've basically just said contrast and depth are bad. there's a lot more to these than a strictly good or bad attitude. pay attention to where you're using them, why and when. how is probably the least important.

11. Backgrounds - In this case, I recommend when you are first starting out. Make the templapte first, then worry about the background later. The background can be a pain if you want a "unique" look to it when coding, but usually a background with a nice gradient effect, or just a plain color with a little design or something is fine. Just don't make the background the main attraction. The main attraction is the content, not the background!

why not design everything seperately? i guess headers and overall shells should be as simple as possible too right? to keep focus on the text that got no attention right?

everything is a pain when you want a unique look. the background has to be one of the simplest parts.

12. XHTML/CSS - I personally, think it is the worst thing that could have happened to web design in years. It has totally demolished everything that is beautiful about web design. They seem flat, and boring. All for a different type of coding which frankly I would rather have a beautiful template. But that's your personal choice not mine!

"zomg0rz defining the background mage in a css file instead of directly into th html, what are wes to do?!

do you even read these?! if you understand the language, there's virtually no difference. i can only assume, you have 0 understanding.

13. Criticism - Be willing to take it. You will get alot of it, but it will definintly help you bcome a better designer in the end. Now I do not recommend listening to some 8 year old off the street but your friends, and family will know what looks good. But I also recommend posting it on a site you frequent and they will tell you what needs to stay and what needs to go.

i wanted to agree.. but then i read all of it.

explain to me how my friends and family with no sense of design know more about it than an 8year old kid also with no sense of design? 0 = 0.

14. Business Or Personal - If you are building a business website, don't take so much merit in what designers say. Listen to the customer, as they know best! If a designer says your layout and design blow, but you get compliments from your clients all the time, then keep the design! Now if you are just using it for your clan or something like that, and the designers nor your buddies care for it, trash it and work on another. It's all about pleasing the people who see your site!

customer knows best? they barely know anything when it comes to this area. you're actually sugesting keeping/showing trash because some idiot might buy it once instead of dropping your losses and mantaining dignity and talent? who in their right mind would do that over losing one bad job to gain 10 in the future.

clients aren't designers. if they were, they wouldnt be paying you.

15. Inspiration - As stated earlier, don't go looking for inspiration in professional work like templatemonster.com or something like that. They all have degrees in the field and know more than we will ever know about designing lol. It will just get you frustrated, confused and thinking "How the heck did they do that?" You won't be able to look at their sites without wondering that for years! I suggest looking at good quality templates of the same style you would like that include the .PSD. For instance of course our website freeprotemplates.com has a great selection of low, middle and high end templates for you to look at and include the .PSD files. After downloading them, open up photoshop and re-organize the template. Don't try and design one right away. Move around stuff and try to spice of the template you just downloaded. Have a ball and see what you come up with. After you have moved it around, get ideas from it, learn from it and try to begin on your own. Don't remake the template, make your own, and make it totally different from everyone else.

+1 for cheap plugs. and what's with this overprase of templatemonster. 90% of their inventory is terrible. just because they know how to use the sopftware doesn't mean they're any good at designing.

inspiration comes from anything. i won't lie, i've even found design inspiration in porn before.

18. Flash - Avoid at all costs when not a professional. Poorly done flash is the worst thing to do. It is ugly and loads your template SLOW. Stay away until you have taken classes or read long and hard how to do it. It is difficult to do and a pain in the butt to master.

define professional.

i pretty much disagree with this entire thing.

19. Text - Text can look amazing or look like crap. In order to make your text look good, don't go with funky text styles. Your main content text should be arial or verdana, a basic in each computer you own. So don't stray, the banner text on the other hand you can go willy nilly with I don't care. Just learn carefully how to incorporate it well. If you can make a half decent sig with good text, you will be able to do this no problem.

ignore this and buy a book on typography if you care about type.

20. Images - When making your site you will want to use either stock photos or screenshots. Screenshots I mean for gaming sites, so a screenshot of a game would be fine. Otherwise only use stock photos, as they look the best and most professional. The only way you can truly get stock photos is by paying, so suck it up and pay a little bit for a pro photo.

even for gaming sites it's still illegal, it's just not worth attorny fees to pursue.

i'm sorry, but this really doesn't help anyone. when summed up, this pretty much said "learn to be good if you want to be good". you've provided almost no examples of how to execute your points, and when you did, they were almost completely backwards.

based on what you've written out, there's no way you're a designer, so i'm a bit boggled about why you're giving design advice. did it match up to the 8yr old off the street?