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When the internet was first invented, web design consisted of a very basic markup language that included some formatting options, and the unique ability to link pages together using hyperlinks. It was this feature that characterized the web among other communication methods, and characterized web design from other design methods. Because of this unique behaviour of the world wide web, and the unique behaviour it encouraged in users, web design has proved to be unlike any other form of design before or since, with the possible exception of interactive CD-ROM design.
As the web and web design progressed, the markup language used to make it, HTML, has become more complex and flexible. Things like tables, which could be used to display tabular information, were soon used as invisible layout devices. Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) allowed even more variety in web page design. Database integration technologies such as server-side scripting (see PHP, ASP, JSP, and ColdFusion) and design standards like CSS further changed and enhanced the way the web was made.
The introduction of Macromedia Flash into an already interactivity-ready scene has further changed the face of the web, giving new power to designers and media creators, and offering new interactivity features to users.
Controversies
As in all professions, there are arguments on different ways of doing things. These are
a few of the ongoing ones.
Liquid versus Fixed Layouts. Many web designers initially come from a graphic artist background in print, where the artist has absolute control over the size and dimensions of all aspects of the design. On the web however, the web designer has no control over several factors, especially the width of the browser window.
Other designers compensate for this by wrapping their entire webpage in a fixed width box, essentially limiting it to an exact pixel-perfect value, which is a fixed layout. Other designers say that this is bad because it ignores the preferences of the user, who might have their browser sized a specific way that they like best. These people propose a liquid layout, where the size of the webpage adjusts itself based on the size of the browser window.
It should be noted that there is a usability reason (rather than wanting control) for why a designer may choose a more fixed layout. Studies have shown that there is usually an optimal line width in terms of readability. One rule to appear from such studies is that; lines should be between 40-60 characters long, approximately 11 words per line.
Most designers make this decision of which style of layout to use on a case by case basis, depending on the needs and audience of the website.
Flash. Macromedia Flash is a graphics animation program that's used to deliver animated and interactive content to the web. Many graphic artists like Flash because it gives them exact control over every part of the design, and anything can be animated and generally "jazzed up." There are many sites which forego HTML and are done entirely in Flash.
Its detractors claim that Flash websites tend to be poorly designed, and often use confusing and non-standard user-interfaces. Search engines cannot index Flash pages, which can prevent stores from having their products easily found. And, Flash websites cannot take into account many usability features, such as respecting the browser's font size and allowing deep-linking, and they outright fail any accessibility tests for blind users using screen readers.
Due to these issues, many web designers do not consider Flash to be a valid solution for corporate or retail web sites. However the consensus tends to be that Flash is simply a tool, and like all tools it can be misused or applied for the wrong purpose.
CSS versus Tables. Back when Netscape Navigator 4 dominated the browser market, the only solution available for designers to lay out a web page was by using tables. Often even simple designs for a page would require dozens of tables nested in each other. Navigator 4 didn't support CSS to a useful degree, so it simply wasn't used.
After Internet Explorer started dominating the market, designers started turning towards CSS as an alternate, better means of laying out their pages. CSS proponents say that tables should only be used for tabular data, not for layout. Using CSS instead of tables also returns HTML to a semantic markup, which helps bots and search engines understand what's going on in a web page. Today, all modern web browsers, including Netscape Navigator, now support CSS - with certain limitations.
However, one of the main points against CSS is that by relying on it exclusively, control is essentially relinquished as each browser has its own quirks which result in a slightly different page display. This is especially a problem as not every browser support the same subset of CSS codes. For some designers used to the creating table-based layouts, developing web sites in CSS often becomes a matter of replicating what can be done with tables, leading some to find CSS design rather cumbersome. For example, it has proved rather difficult to produce certain design elements, such as vertical positioning, and full-length footers in a design using absolute positions.
The internet continues to evolve dynamically. Being a web designer can often feel like you are standing on constantly shifting sands. It is important to continually keep abreast of the emerging issues so that you can design websites that meet the current standards. Participating in internet forums like Webmaster World, professional associations, and continuing your education with seminars, magazines, and books is an important component of being a good web designer.
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Web designers are part of the NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) code of 541511, which is Custom Computer Programming Services. Web designers create custom web pages for their clients. They need to not only have a good sense of designing an appealing, user-friendly website, but they must also be technically knowledgeable in software and hardware solutions, and be able to interact well with their clients. Web designers often also operate as webmasters, meaning that they work on the website on an ongoing basis, keeping it fresh and serving as the central contact person for changes and updates.
The first step in web design is to find out why the design is important to the client. Designers make drafts or drawings by hand or with a computer. They need up-to-date computer, software, and a fast internet connection. It is also important to have access to a variety of computers with a broad spectrum of web browsers to be able to test how the design looks across a number of platforms.
Web designers also try to make sites work faster. They keep the size of files as small as they can so that it doesn't take a lot of time for a computer to download. They test web sites, watching people use a site to see if there are any parts that cause difficulty.
Webmasters can spend a lot of time adding new things to the site. They fix mistakes, like links that don't work and pictures that don't show up on the screen. Some web designers/webmasters decide what kind of computer will hold a web site's information. And they decide how the information in a web site will get to the Internet. They pick the kind of software, server, and other equipment that will be used. They also decide when information will be sent to the Internet.
Web designers do the technical, computer programming work to make a web site. They may work with artists, writers, and designers who create the things that go on the site and decide how the site will look.
Many work as independent contractors, working as a sole proprietor with each job being a separate contract. Jobs are priced in a variety of ways. Some designers charge by the page, some by the hour, and others set a fixed price after assessing the work involved. However, you charge, it is important to specify precisely what is going to be delivered in the contract itself. In setting your pricing scheme look at how your competitors are pricing their work. You do not want to be significantly out-of-line with what is being charged in your market.
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The Book of Standard Legal Business Agreements, Contracts and Forms for Computer Software Programming, IT, and Web Site Design & Development
Over 70 lawyer-approved contracts, forms and agreements.
Defensive Design for the Web
How to improve error messages, help, forms, and other crisis points.
The Design of Sites
Patterns, principles, and processes for crafting a customer-centered web experience.
Designing Websites for Every Audience
What works and what doesn't when it comes to usability.
Don't Make Me Think
A common sense approach to web usability design.
How to Start a Home-Based Web Design Business
Assess personal skills, estimate start-up costs, find and keep customers,
and stay profitable.
Maintaining and Evolving Successful Commercial Web Sites
Managing change, content, customer relationships, and site measurement.
Professional Web Site Design from Start to Finish
The web design and development process from start to finish,
from a successful studio owner's perspective.
The Real Business of Web Design
Provides a framework of specific tools for improving Web initiatives in any business.
Redesigning Web Sites: Retooling for Changing Needs of Business
In-depth case studies of 22 Web sites that have been recently redesigned.
Secrets of Successful Web Sites
The insider secrets of successful business planning, budgeting, and collaboration.
Web ReDesign : Workflow that Works
Critical steps to planning, budgeting, organizing, and managing a web design or
redesign project.
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Business 2.0
What is working today in management, technology, marketing and other areas. Business 2.0
provides complete industry coverage including the latest in developing technologies,
business models, and trends.
Fast Company
Business magazine of ideas and tools, profiles and evaluations on the ways business
works. Advises readers on how to compete in the global business environment. The
magazine debunks old myths and discovers new legends, and covers smart people working
in smart companies all while having serious fun.
Inc.
This magazine's editorial focus is on the men and women who run growing companies. It
offers business and technology solutions to help growing-company owners and executives
run their businesses more effectively. It explores the leading growing companies and
the trends affecting their growth.
Inside Web Design
Step-by-step articles full of expert shortcuts, proven techniques and fresh ideas
to improve Web pages.
MacAddict
Features product reviews, ratings, how-to's, and recreational uses.
Maximum PC
Provides truth in computing. Monthly departments include: The Watchdog which
investigates consumer complaints; Ask the Doctor which diagnoses PC's problems;
Peripheral Vision, a guide to high-tech toys; plus, the Terminator, a tech glossary
of terms used in the magazine.
PC World
A source of information on how to select, buy, and use computer products and services
for home and business. It's full of award-winning articles, monthly Top 100 PC and
product rankings, evaluations from the PC World Test Center, tips, how-tos, consumer
advice, and step-by-step guides.
Wired
Coverage of the people, companies, and ideas that are transforming our lives. You'll
get the intelligence you need on the topics that matter most: technology and
innovation, science and medicine, business and global politics, arts and culture,
the best new products, and more.
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Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
Founded in 1947, ACM advances the skills of information technology professionals and
students worldwide. They provide the industry's leading Portal to Computing Literature,
authoritative publications and pioneering conferences.
Association of Computer Professionals (ACP)
An independent, professional examining body, its Council Members working in both the education and
commercial sectors of the computer industry. The Association's principal aim is to set and
maintain standards of education, which reflect the constantly changing requirements
of the computer industry, both in the United Kingdom and overseas.
GoFreelance
Membership organization that provides twice-weekly bulletins about freelance jobs, news, advice and
other information.
The HTML Writers Guild (HWG)
The HWG was founded in 1994 as the World Wide Web's leading training organization for the
Web design community, with over 150,000 members in more than 160 countries world-wide.
In 2001 the Guild joined with the International Webmaster's Association to form IWA-HWG,
the professional association for the growth of the professional web design company and individual.
International Webmasters Association (IWA)
IWA, a professional trade association, is the industry's recognized leader in
providing educational and certification standards for Web professionals.
Internet Society (ISOC)
A professional membership society that provides leadership in addressing issues that confront
the future of the Internet, and an organization home for the groups responsible
for Internet infrastructure standards, including the Internet Engineering Task
Force (IETF) and the Internet Architecture Board (IAB).
Usability Professionals' Association (UPA)
The UPA supports those who promote and advance the development of usable products,
reaching out to people who act as advocates for usability and the user experience.
Members come from across the broad family of disciplines that create the user experience.
Webmaster World
Considered by many as the most extensive and informative webmaster discussion forum on the Web.
Worldwide Wide Web Consortium (W3C)
Develops interoperable technologies (specifications, guidelines, software, and
tools) to lead the Web to its full potential. W3C is a forum for information, commerce,
communication, and collective understanding.
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