amakalski
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Artistic side of web site development
Hi,
Does anybody know a good book or article/tutorial on the subject how to make web site look estethically/nice. I mean, not technical side of web dev., but more of artistic side -how to choose colors/fonts/backgrounds that nicely match with each other, that make sense of harmony. I guess that's more art than science, nevertheless maybe there are some guides/tutorials.
Does anybody know a good book or article/tutorial on the subject how to make web site look estethically/nice. I mean, not technical side of web dev., but more of artistic side -how to choose colors/fonts/backgrounds that nicely match with each other, that make sense of harmony. I guess that's more art than science, nevertheless maybe there are some guides/tutorials.
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I think zen garden is fabulous. Williams and Tollett's The Non-Designer's Web Book usually gets good reviews.
I love zen garden too.
Pick up some art books. Color theory, typography, layout, basic graphic design things. Learn Photoshop, Fireworks, Flash, or whatever graphics program you can find. Buy/download fonts. Find something you like and use that as a starting point for creating something similar -- not necessarily for the web. Sketch things out ON PAPER for rough ideas, then play on the computer.
Graphic skills can be taught or learned -- but not overnight, so don't expect to be an expert after one book. ;-) And not everything will translate to the web, so expect to have to modify some of the 'rules' you learn. But some things -- like color theory and basic typography -- haven't changed in hundreds of years, so they're not likely to go away any time soon. You just have to adapt them somewhat.
Pick up some art books. Color theory, typography, layout, basic graphic design things. Learn Photoshop, Fireworks, Flash, or whatever graphics program you can find. Buy/download fonts. Find something you like and use that as a starting point for creating something similar -- not necessarily for the web. Sketch things out ON PAPER for rough ideas, then play on the computer.
Graphic skills can be taught or learned -- but not overnight, so don't expect to be an expert after one book. ;-) And not everything will translate to the web, so expect to have to modify some of the 'rules' you learn. But some things -- like color theory and basic typography -- haven't changed in hundreds of years, so they're not likely to go away any time soon. You just have to adapt them somewhat.
look at some examples at www.templatemonster.com...
you can get idea of how everything fits, and looks professional
you can get idea of how everything fits, and looks professional
There's also the notion about learning what not to do:
http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com/
and
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20031222.html
A "good book" list:
http://www.andybudd.com/blog/books.html
One of my personal favorites, if you get tired of doing it yourself :-)
http://www.pdgmedia.com/
http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com/
and
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20031222.html
A "good book" list:
http://www.andybudd.com/blog/books.html
One of my personal favorites, if you get tired of doing it yourself :-)
http://www.pdgmedia.com/
One source not yet mentioned:
WEB STYLE GUIDE (formerly Yale C/AIM Web Style Guide)
http://www.webstyleguide.com/index.html?/contents.html
WEB STYLE GUIDE (formerly Yale C/AIM Web Style Guide)
http://www.webstyleguide.com/index.html?/contents.html
you might also want to try http://www.deviantart.com , to get in touch with a community of people who are committed to computer art, and have extensive graphic experience
from there you can even start with tutorials, or might just wanna browse the web design section, you'll see ;) just go there
Georgiana
from there you can even start with tutorials, or might just wanna browse the web design section, you'll see ;) just go there
Georgiana
any progress?
ASKER
Sorry for late reply, I appreciate everybody for wonderful comments.
I liked color wheel pro and css zen garden :)
I liked color wheel pro and css zen garden :)
...from the question your asking, you're not an artist. In my opinion, an artist's intuition is what it takes. If you can learn that from a book, my life has no meaning.
If I'm wrong, please let me know so I can look for a tall building to jump off of.
Best of all worlds,
Monte Krause
Fine Art Design
8031 Nimrod Trail
Dallas, Texas 75238.3356
214.349.2672
monte@montemedia.net
http://www.montemedia.net/
http://www.montemedia.com/
http://www.montemedia.us/
If I'm wrong, please let me know so I can look for a tall building to jump off of.
Best of all worlds,
Monte Krause
Fine Art Design
8031 Nimrod Trail
Dallas, Texas 75238.3356
214.349.2672
monte@montemedia.net
http://www.montemedia.net/
http://www.montemedia.com/
http://www.montemedia.us/
Intuition? Pshaw.
Of course you can learn artistic and aesthetic principles, if you couldn't, there would be no need for art schools, graphic design courses, colleges, etc. Some people have a better "eye" for what looks good and better skills at executing that, in exactly the same way that some people are very astute programmers who need very little in the way of instruction. The amount that you can be taught depends on your personal aptitude, not some goofy concept like "intuition". I don't need a "coder's intuition" to be able to pick languages up and develop with them fairly quickly, I'm just fortunate that that's my area of skill.
Of course you can learn artistic and aesthetic principles, if you couldn't, there would be no need for art schools, graphic design courses, colleges, etc. Some people have a better "eye" for what looks good and better skills at executing that, in exactly the same way that some people are very astute programmers who need very little in the way of instruction. The amount that you can be taught depends on your personal aptitude, not some goofy concept like "intuition". I don't need a "coder's intuition" to be able to pick languages up and develop with them fairly quickly, I'm just fortunate that that's my area of skill.
...what's so goofy about intuition?
That "eye" you're talking about proves my point. It's an illusive thing that successful artists have. You have the "knack" for coding and that's cool - you have what it takes - not everyone has that. Not everyone can learn it to the point that it becomes "second nature" and that's what we are talking about. I am an artist and I do coding but, the coding does not come easy to me. It's frustrating at times because my mind doesn't bend that way easily --- it's too logical for me. You are making a very logical assumption about art schools - an assumption I am not attune with.
Artistic principles can be pointed out, labeled, dissected and someone can earn a degree to prove they passed the course work. One would logically assume that student of the arts has a handle on what art is, what makes it happen - they supposedly get it. But, I'm telling you, that does not make them an artist - the same way as someone having a doctorate in music does not make them Bob Dylan.
Be cool.
That "eye" you're talking about proves my point. It's an illusive thing that successful artists have. You have the "knack" for coding and that's cool - you have what it takes - not everyone has that. Not everyone can learn it to the point that it becomes "second nature" and that's what we are talking about. I am an artist and I do coding but, the coding does not come easy to me. It's frustrating at times because my mind doesn't bend that way easily --- it's too logical for me. You are making a very logical assumption about art schools - an assumption I am not attune with.
Artistic principles can be pointed out, labeled, dissected and someone can earn a degree to prove they passed the course work. One would logically assume that student of the arts has a handle on what art is, what makes it happen - they supposedly get it. But, I'm telling you, that does not make them an artist - the same way as someone having a doctorate in music does not make them Bob Dylan.
Be cool.
I also disagree. There are plenty of books out there that *can* teach you how to create an "aesthetically/nice" website. It doesn't take an artist, although the difference between a great site and a phenomenal site can be the artistic design behind it, but that also depends on what the site's geared towards as well.
Just because one is an artist does not necessarily mean that they can create an aesthetically pleasing website, and the reason for this is usually lack of knowledge. I've seen sites done by beautifully talented pen/ink, oil, sketch artists that were some of the most atrocious web designs I've ever seen.
Yes, having an "eye" does help, but things like color coordination, basic design principles, and cohesiveness CAN be taught from books, as long as you surf plenty of "well-designed" sites hand in hand with the book knowledge.
Here are some sites I recommend for learning what's right and what's wrong (and others have mentioned these above):
http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com -- learn how NOT to do it :)
http://www.csszengarden.com -- the best site I've ever seen for pure inspiration
http://www.lynda.com <-- note that she has MANY courses that deal directly with web design. Great site.
http://www.mundidesign.com/home.html -- has a presentation on design theory. Basic/brief, but nice.
Here are some books that I recommend for learning design:
Designing With Web Standards -- Jeffrey Zeldman
Eric Meyer on CSS -- Eric Meyer
More Eric Meyer on CSS -- Eric Meyer
Creative HTML Design 2 -- Lynda Weinman
Robin Williams Web Design Workshop -- Robin Williams, John Tollett, Dave Rohr, David Rohr
The Non-Designer's Web Book - Robin Williams
The Non-Designer's Design Book - Robin Williams
Best of luck to you and most of all, enjoy LEARNING!
.: tekchic :.
Just because one is an artist does not necessarily mean that they can create an aesthetically pleasing website, and the reason for this is usually lack of knowledge. I've seen sites done by beautifully talented pen/ink, oil, sketch artists that were some of the most atrocious web designs I've ever seen.
Yes, having an "eye" does help, but things like color coordination, basic design principles, and cohesiveness CAN be taught from books, as long as you surf plenty of "well-designed" sites hand in hand with the book knowledge.
Here are some sites I recommend for learning what's right and what's wrong (and others have mentioned these above):
http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com -- learn how NOT to do it :)
http://www.csszengarden.com -- the best site I've ever seen for pure inspiration
http://www.lynda.com <-- note that she has MANY courses that deal directly with web design. Great site.
http://www.mundidesign.com/home.html -- has a presentation on design theory. Basic/brief, but nice.
Here are some books that I recommend for learning design:
Designing With Web Standards -- Jeffrey Zeldman
Eric Meyer on CSS -- Eric Meyer
More Eric Meyer on CSS -- Eric Meyer
Creative HTML Design 2 -- Lynda Weinman
Robin Williams Web Design Workshop -- Robin Williams, John Tollett, Dave Rohr, David Rohr
The Non-Designer's Web Book - Robin Williams
The Non-Designer's Design Book - Robin Williams
Best of luck to you and most of all, enjoy LEARNING!
.: tekchic :.
Everything that is a skill is the same way -- I can learn to play piano, but that doesn't mean I'll play like <great pianist name here>. There are people who have a natural talent for something, and people who don't. Just because I don't have that innate talent doesn't mean that I can't learn it. It just means that it will be harder for me than for someone who does have that level of innate talent.
Usually, someone with a gift picks it up faster, doesn't need as much training, and seems to understand the concepts without even knowing why.
But not all artistic talent is the same. Someone who is a gifted scuptor might not be able to put two complementary colors together without help. Someone who has a gift for painting might not know one typeface from another. Someone who can create gorgeous and innovative animations/cgi might not be able to draw anything with a pencil. And someone who can create a really innovative and complex website might not know the first thing about any of the above. They are completely different skill sets, and in some cases there is VERY little overlap.
Colors in a print piece are pretty defined. You can spec them to within an eyelash of what you want. Colors on a website are iffy to say the least. You have almost NO control over how they'll look to somebody else. Typography is another totally different beast from print to web. In print, you have absolute control over the type. On the web, you can only SUGGEST what you want.
And don't get me started on navigation....
Innate talent exists, but it's (as in anything else) relatively rare. However, most people can learn the guidelines and techniques to create something pleasing, if not spectactular. ;-)
Usually, someone with a gift picks it up faster, doesn't need as much training, and seems to understand the concepts without even knowing why.
But not all artistic talent is the same. Someone who is a gifted scuptor might not be able to put two complementary colors together without help. Someone who has a gift for painting might not know one typeface from another. Someone who can create gorgeous and innovative animations/cgi might not be able to draw anything with a pencil. And someone who can create a really innovative and complex website might not know the first thing about any of the above. They are completely different skill sets, and in some cases there is VERY little overlap.
Colors in a print piece are pretty defined. You can spec them to within an eyelash of what you want. Colors on a website are iffy to say the least. You have almost NO control over how they'll look to somebody else. Typography is another totally different beast from print to web. In print, you have absolute control over the type. On the web, you can only SUGGEST what you want.
And don't get me started on navigation....
Innate talent exists, but it's (as in anything else) relatively rare. However, most people can learn the guidelines and techniques to create something pleasing, if not spectactular. ;-)
one of the best sites that teaches how to design with web standards is also www.alistapart.com
it certainly helped me make my second-third steps in web design ;-)
G
it certainly helped me make my second-third steps in web design ;-)
G
I don't know where you are from but if you can get it Computer Arts is good mag aimed at designers - it's not web specific but it will show you how to get the most out programs like photoshop and flash - which will help make your sites more professional, and sometimes do stuff on fonts as well.
www.computerarts.co.uk they have some web design tutorials on their site as well.