Topic awaiting preservation: I was thinking

This board is for the advancement of the web and design. well i am thinking of where to start my web site but i dont really have a place to start it. I don t like doing this but of all the forums this place has, im surprised a "Web Design and Layout" forum hasnt been created.

I dont like to make topics like this but it is a thought. Your thoughts?


Cell 650

errr.....

well, that's kind of what the whole board is.

Seeing as, 'web design and layout' entails a wide variety of issues and technologies (such as 'HTML' and 'DHTML/Javascript' 'CSS' "multimedia/animation' and 'photoshop'....for example )

What he said.
If you are having a particular problem or have a specific question regarding design/lay-out, chances are good it will fit in one of the existing forums.
The entire gamut is covered, as it were.
Nice and tidy in sub-categories.

I guess I can think of a few non-design things that don't quite fit, like maintaining and setting up your own server, or advanced networking, but those are things we've always addressed in Server-Side Scripting.

If you're thinking of making a website and you're completely at a loss, I'd start with a more general tutorial site -- www.w3schools.com , www.webmonkey.com , maybe www.gurusnetwork.com (not as complete as the other two, but it's us, and it's a labor of love!) Then, you can bring us your specific issues.

Cell 1250 :: alanmacdougall.com :: Illustrator tips

my thoughts:

of all the forums this site has, it also has a FAQ
and if you can't find it in one of the forums
you can probably find it there
for example:
:FAQ: Webdesign


[This message has been edited by outcydr (edited 06-21-2003).]

my problem is layout types, and coming up with ideas for a site. i have them but cant put them into a creation.


Cell 650

Maybe you already do this, but try making your ideas into a comp. in Photoshop. Then when you have each element of the page exactly how you want it, start to code.

If you are into using WSIWYG editors, in Dreamweaver you can take your Photoshop comp and use it for kind of a background template. The comp will not show up in a browser, but you can use it to position elements while coding in Dreamweaver.

quote:

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my problem is layout types, and coming up with ideas for a site

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Well....I don't see how a specific forum would help with that in any way whatsoever.
It's like saying "I'm a chef, but I don't know what to cook"

You learn that by doing. Period.

Kick out a few designs, see what happens.

Following on from what DL said, I think the best forum would be the Site Reviews forum--kick out a few designs, drop them in there, and see what people have to say.

Ahhh .. the staring at a blank canvas syndrome ...

I know how you feel .. so what I do is to sit with a pencin and an infinite supply of paper, and I draw boxes with boxes in them 'till the spacing feels OK .. then I start thinking about how to fill the boxes ... but regardless of how you do it, the very first thing to do is to switch off your computer, get a coke/JD/coffee/water and something to munch on, take out your sketchpad and pencil, got to your favourite place and do something ... once that bit is over, turn on photoshop and make a picture of what you want .. no HTML ... no javascript .. jut a picture or two .. if you want popups or such .. different layers so you can switch them from popped to unpopped etc .. you get the idea.

After getting that far, the fancy graphics, mechanics, coding, .. it all falls into place, and you're just left to sort out the steady plod towards a finished product .. and there are a zillion tutorials in every aspect of coding, graphics and design, and over 3000 inmates here/there to help you turn "your ideas" in a sketch into "da real ting" on the web ...

Now just switch off that computer and let's get those creative juices flowing ...


Bug-free software only exisits in two places
A programmer's mind and a salesman's lips

*nail on the head*

Good stuff trib. Patrick, I've always found that being hungry can really keep ideas from coming out. So eat something before you start. Just because some of us are "starving artists" doesn't mean we gotta be hungry.

If you find yourself staring at the blank canvas, then you're trying too hard. It's like preparing people before you tell them a joke. It just doesn't seem to have as much substance after that. Spontanaiety (sp?) is one of the best tools for laying things out. However, if you haven't learned at least some basics of design, it will be more difficult for you to zone in on something appealing.

Last year, I took a long haitus from my previous job of physical labor (installing windows, doors, siding, and roofing). For about 6 months, I did nothing more than experimentation - living off very little for quite some time. In that period of time, I learned more from this forum and other sources than I ever did in school. My ability had leaped enough for me to take up graphic and web design full time, as I had not felt such confidence after schooling.

If you think you'd be able to allocate some time to peck around with design, this is a great forum to start in. Taking a departure from the rat race (not having impending deadlines or pressure to output your best) is almost as important as sowing your wild oats before marriage. Things just work out better in the long run - my opinion.

Good luck...