Oct
30
2008
Step 2a is for the blogger who is NOT going to modify their selected theme. This article is for bloggers looking for themes to use ‘out of the box’. In the next few days, step 2b will be posted for bloggers who like to tinker.
In step 1 of Finding the perfect blog theme, your homework was to take pen to paper and determine exactly what your blog will need. 
Why are you blogging? Who is your audience? What is your purpose? The answers to these questions, and the blog elements list you created for step 1 are about to be put to the test. Consider these your rules. Rules that cannot be broken.
Armed with these rules, it is now time to begin the search for your perfect blog theme.
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Oct
27
2008
I was working on a project for my actual paying job, and I couldn’t decide on how I wanted the navigation structured. The project has a table of contents containing pages and subpages. There are so many links that the page is forced to scroll based solely on the navigation. I was thinking of using expandable/collapsible links for the subpages to shorten the navigation. I went back and forth, weighing the pros and cons of listing every link versus expandable links.
In the end, listing every link won out. Here’s why.
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Oct
21
2008
When designing for a blog, there are more design issues to consider than if you are designing a website. I’m not taking anything away from website designers–I happen to be one. Blog designers, however, must consider web design elements in addition to blog design elements. These things include but are not limited to:
- layouts to incorporate advertising space, widgets, personal information, tags, etc.
- common widget elements (tags, categories, calendar, blogroll, etc.)
- comments and replies
- knowledge of PHP and CSS
- specialized design elements (date icons, sidebar icons, sidebar separators, etc.)
- archives
Of course the list above is not exhaustive, and it should give you a good idea as to the additional work involved when designing a blog. This is why 90% of the bloggers out there (myself included) scramble to find and incorporate pre-made themes. Personally, I have struggled with this factor at my family blog for years. I’ve gone through multiple themes, only to find they didn’t really meet my standards or were not as easy to modify as I initially believed. (Generally, when choosing a theme, I’m looking for a layout–not design. I’m going to change most if not all of the graphics and I want a good skeleton to dress.)
So, for those of you looking for the perfect theme for your blog, let’s talk about choosing a pre-made theme. You’ll be surprised to find out what the first step is.
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Oct
17
2008
WSMS’s tagline states:
…because you have less than a second to make a good first impression.
So I decided it was fitting to have a standard post covering first impressions. Each week I will randomly visit a website or blog, then post my honest reaction. No critique. No list of things that are good or bad. Just my general thoughts.
I think this will be a refreshing change for me. At 10 things I hate about your site I’m always striving to maintain that fine balance between constructive feedback and outright criticism. Here, for FIF, anything goes!
Because I couldn’t think of any better way to pick a site at random, I simply used StumbleUpon.
Let’s get it started!
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Oct
17
2008
We’re going to continue our series on what makes good web design by taking an element that was discussed in
Web design terms, the basics and breaking it down. The term for this article is look-and-feel. To recap, WSMS’s definition of look-and-feel states:
The look-and-feel of a website is how its branding and content are reflected in its design. ‘Look’ refers to the appearance of the web elements: text color, font size, header treatments, navigation design, etc. ‘Feel’ refers to the reader’s experience of using the website.
These terms are used together as it is the website’s look that will determine its feel—the two are intertwined. Successful web design starts with your audience. What are their needs? When you first consider your audience and what you are building, you can create a look-and-feel that meets your audiences needs. This will help you create a successful design.
Let’s jump right in and review some examples.
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Oct
14
2008
Before we move forward with the “
What makes good web design?” series, I think it’s important to discuss/define the basic terms you will be reading about at
Web Substance Meets Style. Now you’re probably thinking to yourself “I already know these web design terms,” but I would challenge that. I’m sure you know the terms, but do you understand them? That’s the key difference.
If you already know the specific differences between web development and web design, or if you understand why CSS is so important (not just that you can do cool stuff with it), consider yourself ahead of the curve—this will serve as a nice little review. If, however, you want a better understanding of the elements that make up web design for the sake of improving your own, get out your pens and take some notes!
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Oct
13
2008
Web design is an art. Great web design occurs when design and content are seamless and you don’t notice its greatness.
Vincent Flanders, Web Pages That Suck
No truer web design words have been spoken. Notice that the quote mentions both design and content. This will be important to remember as we travel down the path of discovering what truly makes good web design.
So how do you know good web design versus bad web design? How do you create “seamless” design versus clunky design? How do you make your visitors notice your site but “not notice the greatness”? The answers to these questions are not as obvious as you would think. 
The differences between good and bad web design are often times very subtle.
Good web design does not mean any of the following:
- attractive
- pretty
- fun
- simple
- clean
- flashy
- web 2.0
- grungy
- cool
- trendy
To further illustrate this point, let’s take a look at KC The Catalog.
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Oct
10
2008
Why are you on the web? Are you promoting a product? Promoting yourself? Promoting an opinion? Let’s face it—the web is all about promotion. The same rules that apply to first impressions when meeting people offline apply to first impressions when meeting people online. 
The way you are dressed matters. The tone of your voice and the firmness of your handshake matter. In fact, on the web, first impressions matter even more.
If someone’s first impression of you is less than stellar, you have time in their presence to change their mind. On the web, if a reader’s first impression of you is less than stellar, POOF! They are gone in the click of a mouse—probably to visit your competitor. The rule of the web:
“You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”
This means that, while “content it king,” how you present that content is just as important. Your layout and design act as your product’s first impression. Dress well, have something interesting to say, and firmly establish your presence. This will give reader’s a positive first impression, thus greatly improving the odds of them staying on your site/blog for more than a passing glance.
Let’s look at the science.
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