The complex art of web design
Professional products are no substitute for expertise when it comes
to Web design.
What is it?
Web design is often treated as a digital version of graphic design,
but there is a lot more to it. As well as conforming to corporate
standards for publication, the Web site needs links to databases
and back-end systems.
A Web design team may encompass a range of roles, from graphic designer
to a systems architect. But many firms simply call in pony-tailed
creative types who indulge their own creative urges, putting as
many fonts, colours and graphics as they can onto each page. Web
design products such as Macromedia's Dreamweaver and Adobe Photoshop
are professional tools, not a substitute for professional expertise.
Where did it originate?
With HTML (Hypertext Markup Language). HTML, along with its successors
DHTML (Dynamic HTML) and XHTML (Extensible HTML), remains an important
foundation skill, but there is now an array of tools -- some needing
to be purchased, others downloadable free of charge -- to create
richer, more functional pages.
What is it for?
Web sites can be anything from online brochures or company reports
to fully interactive sales and ordering front-ends linked to enterprise
accounting and logistics systems.
What makes it special?
A well-rounded Web designer has a grasp of design principles, an
understanding of the organisation's objectives in setting up the
Web site, and an awareness of the requirements and capabilities
of the target audience.
How difficult is it?
Using products such as Dreamweaver, it is possible to create complex
and functionally rich Web pages without writing a line of code.
However, Web designers must take into account differences between
browsers -- including versions of the same browser -- which can
profoundly affect how a page is displayed. Further complications
come from the different devices visitors may use. Mobile phones
and digital TVs have much more limited capabilities than PCs but
the user experience needs to be as similar as possible.
Where is it used?
Large organisations may employ their own Web design teams, but most
businesses buy in skills as they need them.
Internet consultancies providing Web site design and management
as a package were hit hard when the dotcom bubble burst. Much of
this work is now carried out by old- style service companies such
as EDS and IBM Global Services.
Not to be confused with...
Webb's Wonder lettuces, Andrew Lloyd-Webber.
What does it run on?
Windows, Unix and Linux, although mainframes and AS400 mid-range
systems can also be Web servers.
Few people know that...
Orb Web refers to a genus of garden spider, not an object request
broker for the Internet.
What's coming up?
Scalable Vector Graphics, an XML-based graphics format which is
being hailed as "the next big thing".
Training
Parity Training offers courses in Macromedia products including
Flash and Dreamweaver. Advance Training and Consultancy offers a
Web Design Week covering HTML. Javascript and Photoshop for [pound]1,200
(www.advance-training.co.uk). Try also www.theinternetcentre.co.uk.
www.techconnect.com/courses/int-int and www.training.ntsnet.co.uk.
For free tutorials, see www.goldray.com/Webdesign/design-resources,
which has links to a number of worthwhile sites, including the Yale
Style Guide. IBM's Web Design Guidelines. Microsoft's Usability
site, and Writing for the Web by Jakob Neilsen.
Rates of pay
Rates of pay for basic digital graphic designers are relatively
low, but senior Web designers with Flash or Photoshop can expect
[pound]20,000-[pound]23,500. Web architects and project Leaders,
however. can command [pound]35,000-[pound]45,000 and upwards.
________________________________________
By: Nick Langley
(c) Reed Elsevier Business Publishing, Ltd.
|
