It all comes down to usability. If your potential customers can’t use your site, then it’s pointless. They’ll go back to their Google search and pick someone else! You may be wondering how all of this is relevant to the title of this article, but I’m getting there. You see, the importance of the usability and accessibility of your website is just about the only aspect of web design that hasn’t been ‘spiced up’ over the years. Alright, there’s more things to worry about these days such as cross-browser compatibility, flash animation, clever JavaScript actions and what have you, but fundamentally it still revolved around the same thing – the customer.

Sadly though, it seems that it’s the only thing that’s stuck around over the last decade or two. HTML 5 and CSS3 are dominating modern websites, and they are nothing like the old table-based original HTML. CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) has brought a whole new level of functionality to today’s websites. The old <table> tags have been chucked away for the super-powered <div> tags, and width and height attributes have been stolen away by Mr. CSS.

However, it’s not just the coding that’s evolved so rapidly. Look at the quality of today’s logos and images compared to the older versions. A whole wave gradient-packed logo’s and designs have been unleashed onto the internet, and with staggering effects. (I’ll be making a compilation for you guys of the best modern logo designs shortly).

Flash animation has also made a dramatic entrance to the stage. Clever flash animations such as carousels and image galleries are all over the place these days. Thanks to increased broadband speeds, sites are able to get ever larger, opening up more space for bigger swf files.

The way we design has changed a lot too. It’s now the norm for designers to incorporate large amount of white space into the design, whereas we had previously just tried to cram everything into the smallest space possible. We’re also utilising huge typography, with 48px headers kicking about these days. You’ve probably also noticed a rapid growth of large, vibrant images amongst our pages (many of which have been inspired by Apple in one way or the other ).

Finally, modal-boxes/pop-up boxes are all over the place these days, normally concealing themselves as log-in boxes or contact-us forms. They usually darken the rest of the page and will have a shadow around the edge until the user chooses to close them, at which point the rest of the page will come back into focus and the box disappear.

Anyway, at this point I realised that I should probably get on with my design so the list ends here, but I hope you can agree/add to at least something I mentioned here. The web is a changing place, but most people don’t realise just how quickly it’s evolving.

http://www.w3schools.com/

Okay, so my first resource isn’t strictly web design based, but let’s be honest, the

chances are if you’re going to design a website, you’re going to want to know how to

actually build it too. W3schools provide tutorials for building a professional website

with JavaScript and the works. We particularly like their use of ‘try it yourself’ tools.

These allow the reader to experiment with the coding learnt on preceding pages

with ease.

http://www.designshard.com/

This one is a little more on topic. This website offers both tutorials, and inspiration

on web design. I was impressed with the inspiration page of this site, which

contains many lists of sites that carry out a certain effect particularly well. I’m by

no means suggesting that you should copy the design ‘pixel for pixel’, but it’s always

handy to find some inspiration, and you may be surprised at how easy this page can

help you trigger your own ideas.

http://photoshoptutorials.ws/

This one does what it says on the tin. You may already be familiar with photoshop,

but if you’re not, sites such as this one are a must. Web design is all about

photoshop, and for good reason. Photoshop frees the user to design absolutely

anything imaginable, and although at first it may seem unfamiliar, it’s absolutely

essential that a designer learns to use the software’s ins and outs. It’s also worth

mentioning that for Mac users, an equally useful software – ‘aperture’ is available.

http://webdesignerforum.co.uk/

I felt it was necessary to include a forum into this list, and the one aforementioned

covers a lot of ground. Using a forums like this allows one to gain personalized

advice and in conversing with fellow designers, you tend to pick up skills without

even realising it. I can personally vouch for this forum, and they certainly made me

feel welcome.

http://www.webdesignermag.co.uk/

Making full use of the word ‘resources’, I am not referring to the website here, but

rather the magazine itself. Okay, it’s a big step for a fresh designer to pay a monthly

subscription to a magazine, but I assure you it is worth it. If you are serious about

web design and want to progress in it towards a professional level, I couldn’t

recommend this magazine more. Intuitive, friendly, and resourceful, it’s like all the

best web design sites rolled into one.

A warm welcome to the Glendelm Web Design blog. We hope you enjoy your time browsing our site and blog, and that you find what you’re looking for.

If there’s not an article relating to what you were looking for, you can always email us here at Glendelm Web Design with an enquiry – info@glendelmdesign.co.uk, or contact us using our online form.

We are hoping to get a video blog online soon, with a collection of various video tutorials from us here at Glendelm. Check out our links page for more of our sites/networks.

Thanks very much,

The Glendelm Team

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