If you are using tables, you are out of a job
In case you didn’t know, I usually source out my design work because it’s my weakest skillset. Why should I agonize – and take forever to come to a decision – over what color scheme to use or design elements to incorporate. It adds a lot of stress on me because the design is so very important because people are visual creatures. A picture really is worth a thousand words. I’d rather use my time on something I have more confidence on – making sure the design markup is clean and as close to W3 compliance as humanly possible in order to set the sites’ SEO foot in the right direction.
A few months ago I had a designer I had worked with previously contact me inquiring if I had any upcoming projects. We had collaborated well on our last project and everyone was satisfied with his work. And yes, he used tables in the layout but that was still acceptable then. Using <div> was still “cutting edge.” I told him I would hand off the next design project to him. After a couple rounds of revisions, the client was satisfied and I told the designer to slice it up and send me the files.
So I unpack the Zip file, fire up my trusty old Dreamweaver MX and open up index.html and here’s what I see:
Whoa. I’ve gotten so used to seeing <div> now for page layout that seeing the <table> markup really did cause a small shock. Even worse, it was only html and not valid xhtml. Well, ok, that’s easy enough to fix. So I have this sinking feeling in the bottom of my stomach that I have paid this person for what is really sub-par work. You wouldn’t know it by looking at just the design – it looks fine. Do that right-click > view source and that’s when it gets ugly. I see something that stops me dead in my tracks:
You’ve got to be kidding me. A ‘spacer.gif’ as a means to control page layout? Really? Um, I’m actually speechless on this one.
What it all this boils down to is one thing: laziness. Laziness on the designers part for not keeping his skillset up with the changing times. Keeping up with all the browser differences, CSS techniques and W3 recommendations can be time consuming and frustrating – but necessary for your career. It’s obvious to me that whatever graphics program he uses, he just used the quick “auto generate” html button. I know this because back when I tried to design my own sites, using my old Paint Shop Pro, if you used the auto-generate html it spits out <table> and ‘spacer.gif’. I knew the very first time I tried this that it was NOT the right way to do things – and back then tables were the norm.
So just an FYI to any designer who I may work with in the future – I will ask for live sites that you’ve worked on so I can right-click > view source…..
A Not-So-Small Investment for the Future
Back in the fall of 2010, I met Cathie Dull and Jeni Elkins of Discoveries Unlimited at a nwitweetup. They both shared with me the focus of their organization – to encourage middle school girls to pursue career paths in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), which are heavily dominated by men. The rest of the story….
New Design for Portage Indiana Dentist
Custom WordPress Theme
We are delighted to announce a new site design for our latest client, Dr. Laura Hannon in Portage, Indiana.
Dr. Hannon’s practice offers a comprehensive approach to dentistry. They offer cosmetic dentistry services such as porcelain veneers and teeth whitening, as well as general dentistry for the entire family.
When I talked to Dr. Hannon and her staff, they were very clear that they did not want to deviate too far from their previous site. It was important to them to maintain the sense of familiarity with their existing clients and to improve upon their brand by putting Dr. Hannon herself into the design.
Their previous site had nice, flowing lines and soft colors. We kept those curved lines and soft colors in the new design, but chose warm colors over the previous cool tones.
Dr. Hannon’s office staff also wanted to be able to have control over their own web site and use it more for educating patients. We used WordPress to build the site because of its user friendly Content Management System (CMS), which would enable them to update any page and add more before/after images to their smile gallery. They wanted to be able to have a more dynamic, frequently updated web site and WordPress will allow them the freedom to expand the information provided to current and future patients.
Site Development: Lisa Fox
Graphic Design: Nichole Baiel
Pre-Made WordPress Theme or Custom Design?
For many web sites, WordPress has become the primary tool used to manage the site because of its user friendliness, a seemingly unending sea of plugins to use and a host of pre-made theme templates available, ready to use out of the box.
A big question for a lot of people is whether or not to use a pre-made WordPress theme or go with a custom design.
The answer to that question is that there is no right or wrong answer. It all depends upon your situation. The rest of the story….
New Site Design
Well, I’ve finally done it. I’ve been wanting to re-do my site for so long now and it’s finally finished – for now. 
This new site is built on the WordPress framework and this is the software I’ll be using to build all of my clients’ sites. More businesses are finally starting to embrace Web 2.0 (even though it’s been around for a few years now) and realize the powerful potential a web site has to reach customers. It’s not about having your logo, name and number anymore. It’s all about fresh content and staying connected.
Look for more posts to come on this soon.
~Lisa
