Saturday, August 20, 2011

[WD&D] Digest for sitedesign@googlegroups.com - 6 Messages in 2 Topics

Group: http://groups.google.com/group/sitedesign/topics

    Liam Kenneth <liam.kenneth89@gmail.com> Aug 20 05:58PM +0100 ^
     
    nice this is excellent stuff! thanks :)
     
    liam
    www.riak.uk.com
     

     

    Michele Walker <michele@scarletmouse.com> Aug 20 07:44AM -0700 ^
     
    Hello all!
     
    I am primarily a graphic designer who works in a print shop by day
    (logos, brochures, etc.) but I have a fair amount of experience in web
    design because I occasionally freelance for clients who like my
    graphics work. I teach intro to HTML & CSS (a very basic course), and
    have created about 10 websites in Dreamweaver in the last 5 years or
    so. My most recent site involved slicing Photoshop comps into <divs>
    and creating a custom layout in Dreamweaver with the <divs> then
    inserting the Nivo slide show. (Thanks to the person who recommended
    it!) It took some fiddling with the code to learn how to make custom
    sized divs, float them, link the Nivo files, etc. but I learned a lot
    and feel more confident now with code.
     
    Lately Adobe has been coming out with Muse and other WYSIWIG software
    aimed at people like me who are primarily graphic designers with not
    as much experience with code.
     
    I would like to continue to increase my knowledge and experience with
    web design and gain more web design clients. I want to be able to work
    efficiently since I do this in my spare time.
     
    Those of you with experience- would you advise me to learn Adobe Muse
    and other software that makes it "easy" for designers, or dig deeper
    into understanding Dreamweaver? I am also interested in the abilities
    of WordPress. Any advice is appreciated.
     
    Thanks!
    Michele

     

    Joni Mueller <joni@jonimueller.com> Aug 20 11:32AM -0500 ^
     
    Hi, Michele. First of all, you will be in high demand with your graphic art skills coupled with your web design expertise. Not everyone can do that. (Heck, I can't; that's why I have a business partner; he does all the drawing and I'm the "code jockey.")
     
    I have never liked WYSIWYG editors. In fact the only WYSIWYG editor I ever used (don't laugh) is the now defunct (as in 8-track tape player defunct) Claris Home Page. Then I started learning code on my own and went with another dinosaur, Evrsoft 1st Page. Then I graduated to my two tools of choice; EditPlus and TopStyle Pro. Those were the two best investments I ever made.
     
    I think maybe once you get your feet wet in code, you may decide that WYSIWYG works for you. I prefer to just dig into the code. I edit my files and templates in EditPlus and my stylesheets in TopStyle. But you can have your cake and eat it too, as I understand that TopStyle Pro integrates with Dreamweaver.
     
    I've heard a lot of bad things about the beta version of Adobe Muse. It doesn't appear that "pros" are embracing it.
     
    Links:
    TopStyle Pro:
    http://www.topstyle4.com/
     
    TopStyle is for Windows only. If you need a Mac CSS editor, I have heard good things about Style Master:
    http://www.westciv.com/style_master/
     
    EditPlus:
    http://www.editplus.com/
     
    Reviews on Muse:
    http://www.netmagazine.com/features/developers-respond-adobe-muse
     
    As far as WordPress is concerned, I've been working with it and designing for it since version 1.12 (anyone remember "Wuh-Wuh"?). It's come along way, due in large part not only to the dedication of its developers, but its large and enthusiastic user base. I think the market is becoming saturated with WordPress (and I hate this word, hate, hate, HATE it) "rockstar" wannabes. Everyone wants to be a WordPress "guru." So you have to find your niche market there.
     
    There are so many great CMSes out there, and while you cannot be expected to master each and every one of them, a passing familiarity with the big players (WordPress, Joomla!, Drupal, CMS Made Simple, Concrete 5, MovableType, ModX, etc.) is good to have. But focus on just a handful, master those and learn them inside and out. That way you are in a good position to leverage your talent to the market and give value to your clients when it comes to figuring out what the best solution is. Our primary focus is WordPress and CMS Made Simple, and we also use Drupal and MovableType and my web partner knows Simple Machines Forum software like the back of his hand, so we are well-rounded, I believe.
     
    HTH.
     
     
    Joni Mueller
    Pixelita Designs
    http://www.pixelita.com
    ________________________________________
    From: sitedesign@googlegroups.com [sitedesign@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Michele Walker [michele@scarletmouse.com]
    Sent: Saturday, August 20, 2011 9:44 AM
    To: Web Design and Development
    Subject: [WD&D] Advice for Designer?
     
    Hello all!
     
    I am primarily a graphic designer who works in a print shop by day
    (logos, brochures, etc.) but I have a fair amount of experience in web
    design because I occasionally freelance for clients who like my
    graphics work. I teach intro to HTML & CSS (a very basic course), and
    have created about 10 websites in Dreamweaver in the last 5 years or
    so. My most recent site involved slicing Photoshop comps into <divs>
    and creating a custom layout in Dreamweaver with the <divs> then
    inserting the Nivo slide show. (Thanks to the person who recommended
    it!) It took some fiddling with the code to learn how to make custom
    sized divs, float them, link the Nivo files, etc. but I learned a lot
    and feel more confident now with code.
     
    Lately Adobe has been coming out with Muse and other WYSIWIG software
    aimed at people like me who are primarily graphic designers with not
    as much experience with code.
     
    I would like to continue to increase my knowledge and experience with
    web design and gain more web design clients. I want to be able to work
    efficiently since I do this in my spare time.
     
    Those of you with experience- would you advise me to learn Adobe Muse
    and other software that makes it "easy" for designers, or dig deeper
    into understanding Dreamweaver? I am also interested in the abilities
    of WordPress. Any advice is appreciated.

     

    Deb * Digital Mouse Designs <listmember@digitalmousedesigns.com> Aug 20 11:46AM -0500 ^
     
    On 8/20/2011 9:44 AM, Michele Walker wrote:
     
    > of WordPress. Any advice is appreciated.
     
    > Thanks!
    > Michele
     
    I personally do not like WYSIWYG programs. If you're going to do web
    design I think one needs to be able to access the code easily and have
    many more options and features available than what I've seen any WYSIWYG
    editor provide. I think of these programs as being for "do-it-yourself"
    people who don't want to pay a professional web designer. I feel they're
    constrictive and restrictive. I haven't found one yet that will allow me
    enough freedom to do what I want, at least not without a lot of hassle.
     
    As for WP, my opinion is that today this is a must for any designer to
    learn how to work in. I do very little static site work anymore and
    nearly every site I do is WP. For me WP is a love-hate relationship but
    it's one that I have to be able to work in if I want to stay in business.
    --
    Deb * Digital Mouse Designs

     

    Liam Kenneth <liam.kenneth89@gmail.com> Aug 20 05:53PM +0100 ^
     
    I cant build a nice site in a WYSIWYG to save my life. I code by hand and do
    shit hot work. its better to learn the code because you will then be able to
    do more advanced things and understand why so and so happens etc.
     
    Liam
     
    www.riak.uk.com
     
    On Sat, Aug 20, 2011 at 5:46 PM, Deb * Digital Mouse Designs <

     

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