Web Design Blog & Web Design Resources Blog & News: Web design resources and graphics blog with lists of useful web site design tools, utilities, and articles for web designers. : Web Design Resources Blog & Graphics Blog with Lists of Web Site Design Tools

Web Design – Software for the Bloggers

April 12, 2010 – 1:24 pm

The guy beside you on the subway might be one. The woman driving your cab could too. Believe it or not, your third grade teacher could possibly do it too. Everyone with access to a computer and an Internet connection can be a blogger, and for this reason, software for the blogging community is constantly evolving. A web designer should be in the know, so let’s take a gander at some of these technologies.

Windows Live Writer:

Loved by critics and users alike, Windows Live Writer makes blogging even easier. This free application allows you to write your blog via its simple template, and upload your post to virtually any blog site. Although it’s targeted to the Windows user, it also can be used with WordPress, Movable Type, LiveJournal, and other other content management systems. Also, once you’ve typed that riveting post, you can take a look at how it will display before you officially published it. Whether you are a web designer or new to the blog biz, Widows Live Writer is a no muss, no fuss application.

Infinite Sushi ecto 2.3.4:

Funny name, serious benefits. Infinite Sushi ecto 2.3.4 is your blog backup machine. This offline editor downloads to your computer, and ensures that you never lose an entry from your blournal. Unfortunately, it’s not free and you have to take the time to create a layout at your host site first. However, you need no code proficiency to master the application. Infinite Sushi even checks spelling and performs other editing chores. For those who have been to web design school, and for novices, download is a helpful tool.

If the blog is your medium for global conversation, don’t sell yourself short! There are countless ways to enhance your posting experience.

By admin Posted in Blog Tools, Tools & Resources, blog Promotion & Traffic No Comments

Web Design Conference – May 2010

April 1, 2010 – 5:05 pm

Web Design Conference

Happy April! Spring is here, gardens are in bloom, and one of the largest web design conferences in the world is about to take place. If you are currently a web designer or at all involved in the industry, it may very well be worth attending the 2010 Future of Web Design Conference.

Info

Held at The Brewery in the heart of London, the conference begins on May 17 and runs through the 19^th. While the workshops are held at Wallacespace, the event in total is aiming to pack a larger punch than previous years. In just 3 days, 33 sessions and 4 workshops are slated for rookies and veterans alike. The speakers this year promise an entertaining and informative event, and include Elliot Jay Stocks, Brenden Dawes, Dan Rubin, and Dan Cederholm from SimpleBits.

Why Attend?

This is not your average conference; the energy is high and technologies abound. The focus, according to event language, is to provide essential web learning and to revitalize the web design community. Not only is this an opportunity for web designers to learn, but it’s a chance for you to network. Now more than ever, the key to success is getting your name out there, and a conference like this one can introduce you to people, companies, and opportunities you may otherwise have missed. And if these reasons aren’t sufficient, included in your registration is a branded Web Designer’s Took Kit, a $95 value that you can bring home for free.

More details on pricing and registration can be found on the event website.

By admin Posted in Publishing Ads & Monetizing Your Website, Web Design & Layout, Web Design Inspiration, Web Design Jobs, Web Designer Self Promotion, web design education No Comments

Web Design Templates

March 28, 2010 – 3:43 pm

Web Design Templates

If you’re interested in designing your own website but you’re not crazy about starting from scratch, web design templates can be a great alternative. This option provides a virtual buffet of pre-designed templates from which you can choose. Once you have the backdrop determined, you plug in content, and voila! Not only can you find quick and easy website templates, but you can find them for free!

But, before you determine your template, think about the brand you’re trying to build. What should your brand look like? Is it edgy, sophisticated, simple, or modern? In other words, if the website is the new storefront, what kind of store are you running?

If your website is a medium for buying/selling goods, consider what kind of format is the most user-friendly for customers. This site provides images of the product immediately, along with descriptions and pricing. Minimize the click-throughs between a customer visiting your site and buying your product.

On the other hand, your site could be a virtual welcome center for people interested in your company. If that’s the case, your template should be as easy to read and navigate as this site. Visitors should know just what to do to find the information they need. This template showcases the sectors of the company and provides an opportunity to highlight the brand.

Pictures are worth a thousand words, so if your site should tell a story with images, find a template that accommodates your needs. This template invites you into the hotel immediately. Find the room you want with the ambiance you want gazing out onto the view you want!

Before letting your design prowess take charge, strategize. If you don’t understand the look, feel, and intent of your company or blog, no one visiting the site will either.

By admin Posted in Colors in Design, Web Design & Layout, Web Design Inspiration, Web Graphics, Wordpress Themes & Plugins No Comments

Web Designer: What it Takes

March 12, 2010 – 9:40 pm

Could you be a Web Designer?

If you are technically savvy and creatively motivated, web design could be the right career path for you. If this could be your dream job, let’s take a closer look at what you need to know to be successful.

High-Tech

Many graphic design schools have classes in web design, which should aim to provide a working knowledge of the Adobe design suite, HTML, and optimization techniques. Employers ask about your confidence with these programs, so sharpen those tools! Likewise, as you take these classes, or if you have already, assess honestly whether you enjoy the material. If you dread every assignment in Photoshop, web design may not be a fit.

Ins & Outs

Just as you wouldn’t start building a car without understanding mechanics, don’t design a website without understanding how the Internet works. This general knowledge can help you overcome obstacles, find loopholes, and simply sound more professional and knowledgeable to your clients. Not all graphic design colleges provide this training, so seek it on your own. The World Wide Web Consortium provides plenty of information on the history of the Internet as well as how it works and progress that is still being made.

It’s Not all Links & Codes

Many web designers work freelance. To be a successful freelance worker, networking and interpersonal skills are key. Don’t overlook this aspect of the job description. Without aggressive networking and tuned client management skills, you could be waiting a while for that first job, and the one after, and so on.

By admin Posted in HTML Tools, Job Tools, Uncategorized, Web Design Inspiration, Web Design Jobs, web design education No Comments

Got (Photoshop) Gadgets? Part II

January 29, 2010 – 4:42 pm

More Cool Gadgets
This week wraps up our series on Photoshop gadgets for websites. These gadgets are quite generic and can be used in many different sorts of applications. The accompanying tutorials are straightforward and detailed. The more difficult ones will take more time to build, but the results will be worth it. Enjoy!

Digital MP3 Player
mp3-stick-player
This generic MP3 player will be perfect for those in need of a gadget that represents music. There’s a funny typo in this MP3 player’s screen that says “Linking Park,” instead of “Linkin Park,” but the author of the tutorial has already said “Sorry!” to his tutorial followers. ; D

Big Screen MP3 Player

This cool gadget will allow the buttons and screen to work on your website. It looks deceptively simple but is a nice gadget for attracting attention to your webpage.

LCD TV
lcd-tv
Here’s a gadget that has endless possibilities for promotion and messaging to your visitors. The tutorial is simple to understand and easy to implement.

Retro Video Game Cartridge
game-cartridge-old-school
If you have ever played on the venerable Atari 2600 game console of the 80’s, you’ll really appreciate this little gadget. It’s a very good reproduction of the 8-bit game carts that many of us were all too familiar with during the “golden age” of gaming.

MacBook
macbook
Can’t afford a MacBook? Your worries are over with this tutorial in how to make one of your very own with Photoshop. If you want to use this gadget on your website but don’t want the apple logo on the screen, just modify and replace the logo with something more suitable.