I asked my designer friends for some tips for students who are learning web design. This is the advice they have for you:
- to have a lot of patience
- suggestion for them to learn and use Fireworks?
out with tables, in with divs. CSS ftw. - Be very clear about the goal of your site is – who’s going to go to us it, why and how.
- Set your workspace up properly – measure in pixels, get grids set to 1px increments. Keep your output device in mind…
- Web isn’t print and can’t be treated the same. Make sure everything is “on pixel”. Be aware that you need to show clients functionality as if you don’t spell it out they can’t visualise it & can potentially be disappointed with results. Communicate too much rather than not enough – your client will be nervous if you are a student, and if you explain what you’re doing and involve them in the process, they will be more understanding if you do make a mistake – and you will as web is tough. Be flexible.
- Also remember u are not the user. Don’t just make shit up, use established conventions like YUI as a base for the important functionality
- Make sure it’s build-able. Learn code / ask a developer pre-designing. Wireframe so u know what’s on each page – get sign off 1st!
- Don’t be too precious about your design/build, because the client’s always going to change it at the last minute…
- Hell yeah. Remember above all else that you’re in a service industry. People are entitled to request changes 2 your work
- don’t forget to talk to the client about maintainance/updating time, and training if a CMS.
- And most of all… Remember to LOL… The World Wide Web is a fun place to be.
- Do what you say you’ll do and treat people with respect. The industry is WAY too small to be burning bridges.
- Try something new in every project. It doesn’t have to be big new
- Follow @smashingmag loads of good links to build skills & knowledge
- Always remember: You rock the grid, the grid doesn’t rock you.
- It’s not print.
