Schneier’s blog entry: http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2005/09/marcusranumst.html

Ranum’s article: http://www.ranum.com/security/computer_security/editorials/dumb/

Both are very interesting reading for anyone that owns computers, whether or not you adminsiter them for a living.

It’s now 2005 and a recent relocation to the Las Vegas, Nevada area has given me an opportunity to work for customers again in a variety of capacities. In setting up, I dug through some of my old customer folders (and some of the newer ones as well) and found a few of the web sites I have designed. This list is not comprehensive, and some of the code is “old style”. It should, however, give a rough idea of some of the concepts I have come up with.

Take a look here: Chris Mospaw’s Web Portfolio

Please check back from time-to-time. As I consolidate files and check the archives, I will find and post other sites I have worked on. Better yet, get in touch today and I will be happy to design a site for you and add it to the list!

So what exactly are web standards anyway?

The dry, academic answer: Web standards are methods developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) for marking up pages using HTML, HXTML and CSS. JavaScript can also be used to add additional functionality to a page.

The answer you’re probably looking for: web standards the professional way to ensure a web site is available to the most users in a format they find most convenient to use.

What this means for a site

A web site that is standards compliant will work in the usual browsers like Internet Explorer, Opera, and Mozilla Firefox. Furthermore, sites that adhere to standards tend to also work well in “non traditional” browsing devices such as PDA’s and cell phones. Standards-compliant sites also render in devices such as screen readers that visually impaired individuals use.

In other words, you want a standards-compliant site. If you’re a designer, you need to know the standards inside and out and make sure that everything you produce is compliant.

A Little History

In the beginning there was HTML. HTML is a markup language used to tell a browser how to display text in an orderly fashion. Then along came a few graphics to make things look a bit better. Early browsers did not have the ability to display complex layouts. Eventually, though, as browsers added more features, designers figured out new and complex ways to lay out web pages, usually using tables.

Sophisticated table-based layouts were all the rage in the late 1990’s and into the new century. They displayed well in most browsers, but usually ended up in web pages that had lots of graphics associated with them and large file sizes. Additionally, the code was a mish-mash of content (the information) and layout (the decorative stuff). This made maintenance a real nightmare, especially when changing designs.

Along came Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), which would allow the content (HTML) to be separated form the layout, making site maintenance much easier. Unfortunately, CSS and web standards in general got off to a rocky start, mostly thanks to poor and buggy support in many browsers. In the last few years, browser support has caught up quite a bit with the standards, and their use is increasing every day. In fact, designing a web site “the old way” is now inconceivable to me.

The Good News

Your browser probably knows this, but incompliant web page code will usually display in a browser anyway, albeit unpredictably. It probably always will display since standards, while not a new concept, are only recently becoming the preferred method of web site development. Incompliant web pages also tend to vary wildly in appearance and will likely limit the browsers and computers your site will work on.

Well formed and properly marked up code is pretty much guaranteed to render in any popular browser, and many of the less popular ones as well. Granted, there are differences between browsers and devices, but there will be a much greater degree of predictability and stability for properly written code. And the good news is that writing good (X)HTML, and CSS takes no more time than writing sloppy code.

A dirty little secret is that most browsers are not fully standards compliant. In other words, properly-written code can have slightly unpredictable results on some browsers. Most professional web designers know these limitations and can easily work around them. And more good news: as newer version of browsers are released, they come more into full standards compliance, enhancing compatibility and expanding what your pages can do.

One Huge Advantage

In the bad old days of designing with tables

If you entirely separate content and styling by using CSS, you have the ability to re-style the site completely for different media, such as the screen (default for browsers), printing and even smaller screens like cell phones and PDAs. One advantage to your client is that you don’t need different code bases for different media. One code base, many style sheets. Maintainability is also enhanced, since the style sheet can be changed having to touch the HTML and vice-versa.

Proper code also enhances accessibility. Granted, disabled users are probably a very small percentage of your site’s visitors, but why exclude them when inclusion is so easy? In fact, inclusion should be an integral part of any site, not an accidental side-effect.

Personally…

To me, it’s about having pride in my work and doing it the right way to begin with. It doesn’t take any more effort to write correct code than it does to write sloppy code. This means that I can provide far more value to my customers for the same investment.

If you are hiring a designer, at the very least, make sure they will provide you with standards-compliant code and will stand behind it by proving validation.

For reading, it’s quite nice. I have been using various handheld devices for years, and find the screens easily readable, even for more than a few minutes.

This makes anything but terse emails somewhat … a slow and laborious process at best. I know I type a lot faster on a standard keyboard.

Text entry is another issue.

Handheld and mobile wireless devices are necessarily small. Unless you opt for a larger custom keyboard, that means using a stylus or a keyboard with keys the size of baby ladybugs. Other options do exist, such as voice recognition, but they’re not widespread in mobile devices and have limited usability.

This makes anything but terse emails somewhat of a chore to enter. It can be done, but it’s a slow and laborious process at best. I know I type a lot faster on a standard keyboard.

Form a designer’s standpoint, the Internet doesn’t change much. Sure, the form factor must be taken into consideration due to smaller screens. Years ago, support for web sites was sporadic and difficult to implement. Today, using CSS in a special style sheet, most handhelds can be directed to display content quite nicely. Even without special style sheets, today’s handhelds are orders of magnitude better than yesterday’s.

I enjoy my mobile devices for what they are, but don’t see them replacing my “real” computers any time soon. It’s not a limitation of the device, or a lack of power, so much as the form factor.

Be wary of anyone who will commit to a project by taking a quick look at another site you like and gives you a set amount it will cost.

The first step in the process is to get an idea of what the designer can do. Most designers are incredibly flexible and resilient. They also look forward to a new challenge. So even though a particular designer might be known for conservative work, that designer might want to do a project that stretches their imagination into areas it has never been before. A professional designer knows his limits, but is always willing to explore the outreaches of them.

Whose opinion is right?

Web design, or any design for that matter, is a matter of subjective opinion. I could do the best work in the world, but if you don’t like what I’ve done, you’re not going to hire me. Having an open mind is essential to both the designer and customer. Some designers approach design as if they are giving dictation to the customer: “This is your new logo.” The customer has no input. This is grossly unfair to the customer and usually results in dissatisfaction.

A professional knows the features and limitations of the medium in which they are working and guides the customer appropriately. Professionals seek opinions and attempt to find out the needs of their customers in order to deliver not only what a customer needs, but what they want. Sometimes it is necessary to over-ride a customer’s choices for specific reasons. Professionals know how to explain why a certain way might be better, the pitfalls of the “wrong” way, and help reach a decision that results in a sound design.

Professionals are an investment

If you want professional results, you will need a professional designer. If you need a professional, you will pay for one. Professionals are not kids who learned a little Adobe InDesign or some HTML and CSS running a pirated copy of some web page editing software.

Professionals have thousands of dollars in equipment and software. They adhere to standard practices, and deliver a quality product that another professional with the same skill set should be able to work on it the first is not available. Professionals like contracts, and most work on an hourly basis. They will give a good faith estimate, but things like changes, additional work, etc. that vary from the initial quote are going to cost you. Professionals also know ho to save you money. If I can leverage code and design work I have already done, reusing stuff, then it’s like you get it for free. Pros also know how to use Open Source packages to your advantage, and how to use them properly.

Professionals are also educated. This does not necessarily mean a degree or certification (although that’s a huge plus). This does mean that they know not only the technology, but how and why to use it and even when not to use it. They keep up to date on new technologies and techniques, and they’re not afraid to learn new stuff – on their own time. In other words, it’s a passion for them. Professionals take care of the details so that you do not have to.

Beware of flat rates

Be extra careful of anyone who can design a web site or provide custom work for X dollars. Anyone doing work that way has to limit their time on a project, and typically uses pre-built templates. There’s nothing wrong with that, but individuality and original design are usually the first things sacrificed. If you want individual service and not “cut and paste”, you will pay for it. However, with many things in life, a lot of it is you get what you pay for.

Having a gorgeous web site and lousy cheap business cards or ugly generic invoices sends a mixed message at best.

It’s a lot like asking you to build a car, with the customer wanting you to let them know how much it will cost, but without giving any information about what they want. You will need a lot of information to proceed correctly. Do you want a Hyundai or a Mercedes? What color? Leather or cloth interior? Basic engine or high performance? Without that information, you could get half way through the project and the customer could come in and tell you that is not what they want. At this point, a lot of work got done that someone has to pay for. Could be you, the builder, if you eat the time, materials, and effort. Or it could be the customer. Either way, someone will be unhappy. Getting information is critical.

Web sites are the same way. Be wary of anyone who will commit to a project by taking a quick look at another site you like and gives you a set amount it will cost. A professional will ask a lot of questions, trying to find out what you want, your goals, and your taste. More than half the work involved in getting a design realized is not done in front of a computer, but in front of the customer, finding out, sometimes in excruciating detail, what they want. It also means anticipating their needs and fulfilling them, even if the customer doesn’t know they need it. A pro does this because it’s the only way to make sure they are working efficiently and fairly.

Honesty IS the best policy

You don’t want a designer who will take advantage of you, padding their time, or acting dishonestly. You want one with a proven track record of results and honesty, preferably one with references and a portfolio. A diverse portfolio is a plus. You are also entitled to a very specific breakdown of all efforts and charges. Pros provide this automatically. It’s part of the job. There should never be a question about the efforts a pro puts forward matching the time involved or the results obtained. Pros know this.

Flexibility isn’t just for gymnasts

Your needs will probably vary and increase as your business grows and changes. This means that you will likely need design done in many media. Designers familiar with electronic and physical design can help integrate the two. Even if you are only looking for a web site and don’t plan to have a print presence at this point, you still might need good logo design, incidental business forms (invoices, business cards, etc.). If you plan to look professional, you will want someone who knows how to tie every aspect of your business together into a cohesive package. Having a gorgeous web site and lousy cheap business cards or ugly generic invoices sends a mixed message at best.

The short form

These are the quick steps:

• Ask around. Find out who did sites you like, or if anyone you know hss had a good experience.
• Hire a pro. The initial cost will be a bit more, but the overall cost is considerably less. If you cannot afford a professional, you probably cannot afford to be in business yet.
• Get to know your pro. Make sure they have a portfolio of work you can look at and references to call. Make sure they are honest. Give them a call and find out who they are before giving them your business.

Final Words

Hiring a web designer for the first time isn’t easy. You have to put a lot of trust in that person. You might even have to go out of town to find someone to work with. That’s not as bad as it sounds since the web is usually as close as the nearest computer. You can be anywhere and work with anyone. Even print work is done electronically and files are easily moved around the globe with the click of a button.

Then again, you can save yourself a lot of effort and simply hire me, but that’s probably a bit too obvious. Whatever you do, having an ongoing relationship with a quality designer can only enhance your image and give it the professional polish and attention it needs to succeed.

As always, your input is welcome. Let me know what you think about the site, what works, and what doesn’t. I’m an open-minded designer, always seeking new information.

In the meantime, you can get in touch with us here.