I’m sick of it.
Browse Gumtree, view responses to freelance adverts, search Google or speak to just about any small business – there are so many useless individuals out there billing themselves as web designers with absolutely no idea what they are talking about. Just because you know your way around Dreamweaver does not equate you to a web designer.
Web design encompasses more elements than most people, it appears, even have a vague concept of. True design involves grappling with the idea of accessible design, thinking about information architecture and considering user navigation paths. Outside of this decidedly geeky bubble, you will quite often be tasked with copywriting and marketing, and producing eye-catching design that serves more of a purpose than “to look good”. Consider how the audience connects to the narrative of the piece; what you want them to achieve and how you’re going to accomplish this. I think if you don’t succeed in delivering more than what was asked, you fail your client and you fail at your job, because you’re not there to say “yes”, you are there to give added value to the project and business.
Generally, I can tell a web designers’ salt immediately by:
- Their markup
- Their visual design
- Their copywriting
- Their advert (if applicable)
Anyone whose portfolio page fails to pass transitional validation, looks a bit naff or sounds like it’s been written unprofessionally, will immediately get a red cross in my book, and should NOT be offering their services. Based in Leeds, I browse the local “web design scene” quite often, and I find too many individuals (and companies) not adhering to these standards that I consider to be the basic building blocks that form our industry’s foundation.
If you can’t even get your portfolio site right, you sure as hell should not be offering to build websites for other people.
I am considering naming and shaming a few local companies in the coming weeks, but I’m not sure I want to give them any publicity let alone a free backlink. Stay tuned.
john smith
February 13, 2010
Dude, you need to take a chill pill and stop bagging on other peoples work. I checked out both your personal and work website. And to tell you the truth I’m not impressed at all. So sit on that one for a minute…………..Now that you have done that, maybe you should go to design school and learn how to actually design.
matt5409
March 8, 2010
moron