The Principles of Real-World Web Design
Killersites.com’s central philosophy is based in real-world web design principles. Real-world web design is about being able to filter out the ‘garbage’, while concentrating on what really works.
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In the web design and programming world, it is common for people to get caught up with trends that actually get in the way of our work. Many times the source of these ‘trends’ is found with people who are looking to make a profit.
I’ve been burnt in the past (and on more than one occasion,) by getting caught up with ‘the next greatest thing’. I’ve put together a list of the top 7 principles of Real-World web design, with the goal of helping people avoid common pitfalls.
THE PRINCIPLES OF REAL-WORLD WEB DESIGN
- Keep your eye on the prize: your job is to build effective websites, not to waste time on nerd-details that have no pratical impact.
- Don’t reinvent the wheel: use website templates, blogs and CMS (content management systems.)
- Don’t be ruled by ivory-tower specifications: pay attention to the reality in the field!
- Beware of upcoming technologies: ‘the next big thing’ is usually a one-hit-wonder.
- Respect your REAL audience: People surf the web with browsers – not website validators!
- Stick to: mainstream technologies and tools – avoid the weird stuff.
- Remember: most people don’t care what browser they’re using.
Stefan Mischook
October 30th, 2005 at 5:18 am
I find u’s site good in building with the pace for the novice.pls supply me the link or tutorials for me to begin my study in HTML to be a good designer.Thanking on the same.
October 30th, 2005 at 10:17 am
You are always one of the bright spots in my e-mail inbox. Thank you for always telling it how it is. Great article and I believe so true.
October 30th, 2005 at 1:12 pm
Maybe next time the top ten of “nerd-details”?? I love your colorful way of expressing your opinions. Keep ‘em coming!
Shelly
October 30th, 2005 at 10:07 pm
Your stuff is sound…..keep on truckin’
October 31st, 2005 at 11:53 pm
just started getting your email it is really informing and i would like to learn more stuff as i am a begginner at 50 to the world of computers
November 1st, 2005 at 9:14 am
Thanks for all the great articles!
November 1st, 2005 at 9:20 am
killer sites been reading your articles for 2 years now never fails to impress
keep up the good work cheers
November 1st, 2005 at 3:26 pm
I’ve been doing web/graphic/multimedia design for about 6 years now. You always provide a fresh, grounded point of view that helps the novice to the experienced. Thanks for reminding me that I don’t know everything!
November 1st, 2005 at 4:36 pm
To everyone,
Many thanks for the kind words.
Stefan ‘heretic nerd’
December 6th, 2005 at 4:50 pm
“Keep your eye on the prize: your job is to build effective websites, not to waste time on nerd-details that have no pratical impact.”
–how do I, the newbie-not-interested-in-being-a-professional-webdesigner, know what is practical and what is a “nerd-detail”?
“Don’t reinvent the wheel: ”
–can you point us NNIIBAPWDs to some good templates?
“Stick to: mainstream technologies and tools – avoid the weird stuff.”
–how can a NNIIBAPWD tell the difference between mainstream and weird?
Last winter I stumbled across your site while trying to turn my tabled-formatted site into a css one {I’m almost there!}. The way you write is the way I speak/learn/read and after struggling with some courses for a few months in less than a day had the skeleton of my site going using your CSS tutorial.
Now it’s winter again and time to finish changing over the site and adding a new one so I’m back and reading before I start coding to save myself some grief
Sue
December 7th, 2005 at 11:17 am
I will have to address your question in another article.