In order to better understand how to create a web page and spruce up my blog, I recently read an article by John Allsopp title The Dao of Web Design. For the most part, Allsopp made some good points about how to make web pages accessible to anyone. By using style sheets instead of HTML for all style elements, you create a much more accessible web page, because any person on any computer can go in and edit the page as they best see fit.
Now, some of this was a little shocking to me. As a long-time HTML user, the world of CSS is a very scary one to me. I like to use HTML to emphasize my point. See? And I am also part of that old school of web designers that Allsopp speaks of that believe the website is thought of like the printed page, wherein the designer expects their hard work to look identical on every browser. I am one of those people who will spend ages browsing over a Colour Codes sheet, picking exactly which shade of fuchsia I wish to inflict on visitors to my website.
Allsopp argued that this is no longer the case. He believes that a web design should be flexible and adaptable, in order to meet the needs of all of its visitors. By using style sheets, he says, you can control fonts using relative formulas rather than absolute values, or allow people to change their colours, based on what they are best able to view. While I would typically reply with, "No! There's no way! This is MY website and I'll edit it until everyone sees it MY WAY!", I am beginning to understand why the web does not work like that. With such a large audience, it is unreasonable to assume that my vision of my web page is the only acceptable one. Once I begin to better understand how to create CSS, I can further my education as to why I'm not always right. A shocking revelation, I know, albeit a necessary one if I want people to read my web page and actually enjoy reading it. Oops, that was more HTML , wasn't it? I'm going to have to get out of the habit of doing that...
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Monday, September 11, 2006
Your Website and You
As a university student, I seem to spend an inordinate amount of time on the Internet. I've seen some spectacularly bad websites, made both by fellow students and professional website designers who should really know better. I've thankfully also seen some very good ones, and one in particular that has always stood out to be as being well run, well laid-out website is Penny Arcade.
The website is part comic, part news feed/video game review site. Because the website is designed for "gamers" (video game players), the creators have strived to create a website that will most appeal to people interested in video games and web comics about them. It looks like they've done a pretty good job, too. The avatars of the creators, Gabe and Tycho, are not only in the comic, but are featured throughout the website. The comic itself is very entertaining, however all of the aspects surrounding the comic are what make this website so strong.
The various parts of the website that have spun off from the comic are all components that contribute to a better understanding of gamer culture. All of the links expand the experience of the comic, from the Forum where fans can discuss topics related to video games and that day's comic, to a blog updated by the creators of the site daily, featuring video game related new and observations from the point of view of Gabe and Tycho.
As far as technical aspects are concerned, the website is well put together, in the sense that it is visually appealing and laid out in a very accessible way. It is easy to read the day's comic and the day's blog post, without having to search through numerous links to find it. Also, whenever Penny Arcade is advertising special events, such as the Penny Arcade Expo or the Child's Play Christmas gift drive, unique and eye-catching graphics are used to draw the reader in, and bring them to a part of the site they may not typically go to.
A website does not need to be educational or productive in order to be good. Sometimes, a well-designed website can just be downright fun!
The website is part comic, part news feed/video game review site. Because the website is designed for "gamers" (video game players), the creators have strived to create a website that will most appeal to people interested in video games and web comics about them. It looks like they've done a pretty good job, too. The avatars of the creators, Gabe and Tycho, are not only in the comic, but are featured throughout the website. The comic itself is very entertaining, however all of the aspects surrounding the comic are what make this website so strong.
The various parts of the website that have spun off from the comic are all components that contribute to a better understanding of gamer culture. All of the links expand the experience of the comic, from the Forum where fans can discuss topics related to video games and that day's comic, to a blog updated by the creators of the site daily, featuring video game related new and observations from the point of view of Gabe and Tycho.
As far as technical aspects are concerned, the website is well put together, in the sense that it is visually appealing and laid out in a very accessible way. It is easy to read the day's comic and the day's blog post, without having to search through numerous links to find it. Also, whenever Penny Arcade is advertising special events, such as the Penny Arcade Expo or the Child's Play Christmas gift drive, unique and eye-catching graphics are used to draw the reader in, and bring them to a part of the site they may not typically go to.
A website does not need to be educational or productive in order to be good. Sometimes, a well-designed website can just be downright fun!
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