Web Design Company
The field of Web Design is an intricate vocation, yet it occupies a very important place with regards to the development of the Internet as a whole. Lay opinions vary enormously where web design is the subject, thus qualifying it as somewhat arcane and oft misunderstood. The average small-business owner usually identifies an eye-pleasing website with a good one, but this is not always the case. Such misconceptions are prevalent among the uninitiated, and is one of the more common myths that make its way to the general online public’s awareness all the time.
Web design is divided into two disciplines, and those are style and design. Both play importantly in terms of website functionality. Novices might confuse one for the other, but style and design have subtle differences that the professional will need to understand in order to make a good, working web design.
The concept of design is involved with combining the aspects of functionality and accessibility with search engine-friendly characteristics in the intended website. The design is responsible for the layout of the site, and should imply these aspects in the interplay of its various contents. It should feature a viewer experience that is both meaningful and enjoyable at the same time.
Style, on the other hand, is focused on conveying to viewers a distinction between the website and its counterparts in a given online niche. Basically it speaks of the brand, which is literally the website’s own identity. Style can be expressed through unique patterns and coloration in the website. The more unique the style, the better it becomes.
These are but simple illustrations of the twin concepts of style and design. Though an understanding of the two can potentially make or break a website, there are many design firms that overlook the difference, and thus mistake style focus for good design. A professional looking forward to work in an employed capacity would do well to apply with outfits that are able to discern the subtle distinction between style and design.
Corporate setups do not hold a monopoly on good website design. More people on a design project team do not necessarily mean a superior finished product, since the craft is not a cut-and-dried process in itself. Therefore, a small dedicated team composed of as few as two persons, a designer and a programmer, can potentially produce similarly excellent output with that of companies capable of fielding several people on the same project. In the same thread, even an individual freelancer with adequate skills and superb work ethic can do the same job equally well.
Given an even playing field for both companies and individuals alike, the web design industry naturally has an intense competition vying for projects. Would-be clients should learn to identify a good service from the rest, but this is easier said than done. Usually a customer simply looks for one using a search engine, and picks either the first on the list or the one with the catchiest name. This is not good practice and possibly disastrous in the end.
Some examples of reputable services are Happy Cog Studios, a major firm with an impressive list of projects under its belt, and Khoi Vinh, a little-known but competent freelancer serving as the design director for the New York Times. An example of useful directories when searching for professionals would be the one in A List Apart, a well-respected website which regularly publishes articles on the web design scene.
Alternatively, the American Institute of Graphic Artists, or AIGA, has a website that contains informative compilations for businesses looking for a good web design professional.
Jobseekers can find a resource in Authentic Jobs, which caters to professional freelancers and their clients. For certain fees, contracts and regular job positions can be posted in their website. Authentic Jobs hold an advantage over other freelancer hosting websites such as Craigslist, in that the former is frequented by more experienced and reliable professionals in web design rather than the latter, which hosts freelancers of varying competencies and stripe. If looking for quality output and money is no object, then Authentic Jobs is the website to look into.
Another way to identify good website designers is to locate them through their handiwork. Look out for websites with outstanding design, and with a little research you can track down the individual or group responsible. Chances are they might be willing to work with you on a project.
Since web design is an art and its creations are not produced through assembly lines, it is very difficult to devise a definitive pricing scheme for design services. Rather, a design project is an undertaking to provide a unique solution to a particular design need, and is much like the concept of a custom-fitted piece of clothing being tailored for a specific person. This specialized treatment to a problem therefore means a unique price tag, but the output is usually worth it.
All these are just general guidelines for picking the right professional or outfit for the job. It is still up to the website owner to do the actual selection, and it should be noted beforehand that a good design is not all about appearances. In the battle between appearance and substance, substance always wins.
