Re: Intro to Web Design

When I first started learning about web design, I was taught through Dreamweaver. I know, Dreamweaver is kind of the devil, but to be honest, since it did most of the coding for you, I was able to focus on the front-end design. First thing I do is make a complete list of pages and sub pages— are dropdowns appropriate? Do I need or want navigation vertical as well as horizontal? I do my best to find the answer to certain questions: who is my audience? Are they computer savvy-- probably, but can they handle non-traditional websites? 

 I know I already mentioned my love of sketches and thumbnails and I think I benefit from using this when designing webpages even now.  I always start by sketching out different grids—like 25 different grids. Probably a bit much, but it works for me. Some grids are just throwing out ideas that I can visually see and some start to make sense. I haven't really messed with parallax scrolling, which is something that I need to study further, but even if I intended use this, I would still start with grid sketches-- boring, right?

When it comes to choosing a type, I honestly should spend more time, but my main goal is to make my website legible and clean looking. I tend to gravitate towards the same typefaces, which I am okay with for now, because they work.   

My biggest reference, which has given me many an inspiration, is Smashing Magazine. Whether its for tutorials, articles or browsing for ideas, I love this website, maybe borderline obsessive love it. There might be better sites, but my first design professor got me hooked many years ago.

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2013/08/29/innovative-appraoches-web-layout/

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/08/26/how-simple-web-design-helps-your-business/