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Giomanach
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Designing Webs - Without Images - 3/19/2009 13:57:23
More a discussion than a question, just after opinions and ideals.
I have all the content for a web project ready, text based content that is. Now, I've sat in Photoshop for hours on end and just don't seem to be happy with anything I create for it. So, here's my questions that are open for discussion
1) What's the view on sites that are pure HTML/CSS based - no images 'cept the "Get Adobe Reader" button and the likes.
2) I would use a complicated design, not just a simple "block" design. Obviously I would be utlising Floats etc - what's the general mind frame for sites built like this without images? Would it be too bland or just simply not do-able?
3) I understand that this would seem to be "regressing" in the whole idea of designing a web, however, I'm fairly confident I could pull it off, and I understand that it wouldn't be a brand new thing on the web, but my main question here is, would it be seen as an asthetic, professional and physcially pleasing design?
View, Opinions, Suggestions, Banter please!
Gio
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caz
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RE: Designing Webs - Without Images - 3/19/2009 14:23:42
Who said that images are a necessity? IMO purely decorative images can be a distraction when the site is delivering information, visitors would be accessing it for the informative content I assume and not as a work of art. However without a url it's difficult to say whether it works as a professional and pleasing offering.
What do you mean by "complicated design"? Or "regressing"?
Who is the client and who is the intended audience should govern how you design rather than a vague notion of web design fashion. I would also say that the information architecture of the site should ensure that users can navigate to what they want to see easily and not get lost.
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treetopsranch
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RE: Designing Webs - Without Images - 3/19/2009 15:04:49
My 2 cents here: If you are selling some type of item you absolutely need images of that item. And the best image you can create. Sharp, good color, etc. I have a client that sells jewelry on her site. Would you buy jewelry without seeing a photo of it first?
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Giomanach
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RE: Designing Webs - Without Images - 3/19/2009 18:32:41
Caz - The client is me
By complicated design I would mean using floats to place everything, keeping it visually simple, yet not just blocks of text crunched into one place.
And by regressing - I know a fair few web designers would consider an "image-free" web a bit stone age in the modern world, just trying to cover all my bases before Joe Blogs steps in and gives me some stick 
Audience = Anyone willing to learn XHTML and CSS - yes I know there's several sites out there already, but most are cluttered with ads, hard to navigate, and a general pain the the behind to understand.
Design I was thinking of using is viewable here: http://beta.giomanach.com
I may change the colours, but I think it looks best is shades of grey. I'll be using a SQL database to store things like Design Tips and Quotes from designers purely to make them random and a different one each time the page loads.
Don - No selling whatsoever, it's an informative site rather than a commercial site. The intention of it is to teach people XHTML and CSS in as simple a way as possible, provide a reference for the languages.
Comments etc are welcomed. I know the design is simple at the moment, haven't quite decided how to get it sorted so it doesn't look too cluttered, yet have a lot of info on one page.
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Giomanach
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RE: Designing Webs - Without Images - 3/20/2009 12:19:16
JB - Have seen Mondrian before, but not really that keen on it - I won't design anything I wouldn't wanna look at myself. If it's a client then yep, I'll do as they ask (even if it makes me cringe so much I pass out), but in this case, it's me. I want a design I'm happy with before I think about adding the content I have and publishing it on the web for full time display.
Caz/TWD/Tail - My first design ideas are never perfect, I realised I would need a bit more white "real-estate" on the pages. I just wanted to give a general idea of the layout I would use. The colours aren't final, I would mix other colours in, but not too many, don't want it looking like a rainbow, but more an infusion of colours to make the important items on the page stand out.
Have always thought that greys/light blues go together well, am open to other schemes, I would use no more than 3 colours on a page.
Oh, and Tail, I have already started looking at Typography, just deciding which route to take on it.....the stlylistic approach, or the sophisticated approach, leaning towards the stylistic approach at the mo ;)
(And before anyone asks, yes I would enure the side is valid coding before publishing  )
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michaelea
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RE: Designing Webs - Without Images - 4/26/2009 4:25:09
I think it's a great idea too.
As Tail says and shared, there are some really really good looking sites out there with predominantly text. Some I've seen have just blown me away and made me read more about fonts and their histories and stuff...
I think your ideas about the colors are right on too and, by the time you finish with the right white space, embellishments, fonts, subtle color and borders, it's gonna look so darn hot that no-one'll even notice the "Click Here for Adobe Reader" button - even if it is red!!
I like the way Verdana looks in text... clean, spacey, easy to read. Bright and airy even at small pixels, ems, points and %ages!
<-- My 2 bits...
p.s. and just as an aside of interest, do you know who has been at the top of the search engines forever for the search phrase "Click Here" - without even paying a penny for it and without even their name or product on the link. No? Try it!
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Mango Himself
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RE: Designing Webs - Without Images - 4/26/2009 14:22:23
quote:
I know a fair few web designers would consider an "image-free" web a bit stone age
I disagree. If anything, it will look more modern if it is done right. Minimalism is totally "in". Obviously it depends on what you offer on the site. And don't overdo the text.
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michaelea
Posts: 143
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RE: Designing Webs - Without Images - 4/26/2009 15:33:53
quote:
ORIGINAL: Gio
quote:
....the stlylistic approach, or the sophisticated approach, leaning towards the stylistic approach at the mo ;)
Can anyone please share with this (me) wannabe site designer about the difference between stylistic and sophisticated.
A short sentence maybe or a link or something that'll help Pls..
Thank You.
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