So the website is now up and this may become my "official business blog". Thought I would add that.
Just click on the image to get there:
Showing posts with label Web Design War Journal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Web Design War Journal. Show all posts
Monday, November 10, 2008
I've Relaunched My Website! AWESOME!
I've actually had my website finished for a bit now, at least November 1st. I've been insanely busy lately with the relaunch, the election, and a few other things.
So the website is now up and this may become my "official business blog". Thought I would add that.
Just click on the image to get there:
So the website is now up and this may become my "official business blog". Thought I would add that.
Just click on the image to get there:
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Redesigning My Website: War Journal 9: One Evil Comes a Million Follow
Grrr....
Well, nothing beats having a website turn on you, especially when you don't know at all what the hell your doing anymore.
It's been about a week now since I've decided to start this site redesign project and I guess the best thing to say, and to reassure anyone who wants to hire me, is the successes I've had thus far:
But I will show you my new photo:
Yes, for some reason, I decided my ugly mug was worth posting a new photo of. I'm in my Minor Threat photo. If you get the reference, good for you!
Well, nothing beats having a website turn on you, especially when you don't know at all what the hell your doing anymore.
It's been about a week now since I've decided to start this site redesign project and I guess the best thing to say, and to reassure anyone who wants to hire me, is the successes I've had thus far:
- I've learned a LOT about CSS coding, including making a background image a link.
- How to create and code a web design that not only looks great, but works great!
- The importance of CSS and XHTML Validation and compliance.
- Really, really good SEO tips.
- Realizing that not know anything about MySQL is now a problem in "Web 2.0".
- Wordpress only takes "5 minutes to install" only if you know what your doing and your database is already set-up.
- My CSS Coding needs some very small tweaking work.
But I will show you my new photo:
Yes, for some reason, I decided my ugly mug was worth posting a new photo of. I'm in my Minor Threat photo. If you get the reference, good for you!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Redesigning My Website: War Journal 8: Home Stretch?
So, this is the longest it's taken me to do a site ever. That's only because I tend to stay awake and work non-stop on a site until it's done. This time I wasn't able to, so it's been hanging over my head since I started designing since Friday. I was able to write that article earlier today because, frankly, I could.
Right now, here's what's left:
Also, a few design Bloggers have been checking out my "Your Website SUCKS!" post. No comments or anything yet, but I am doing an interview with someone, so look for it soon!
Right now, here's what's left:
- Cleaning up some XHTML errors.
- Getting a Form to work.
- Taking care of Internet Explorer Bugs.
- Stopping 99.99% of all browser errors.
- Creating images for one page in my site.
- Deciding what to do for a portfolio page.
- Getting a blog for the site.
- Finally getting a certain freebies page to work.
Also, a few design Bloggers have been checking out my "Your Website SUCKS!" post. No comments or anything yet, but I am doing an interview with someone, so look for it soon!
Redesigning My Website: War Journal 7: Half-Way There
Short entry since I need to go to bed and wake up in... damn, 5 1/2 hours and counting.
So, what isn't happening first:
Right now, the problem is how I plan on laying out the content. Yes, it's sad: I waited to do this last. Four out of 13 pages are set, 8 out of 13 are close to a final layout, and the other one just need me to roll up my sleeves.
So, what isn't happening first:
- I'm not using a CMS system since I only have one page where the content will really change.
- The first published version will not have a floating footer.
- The CSS Coding will be 100% W3C Complaint
- I'll fix nearly all the errors I have to make it XHTML Compliant
Right now, the problem is how I plan on laying out the content. Yes, it's sad: I waited to do this last. Four out of 13 pages are set, 8 out of 13 are close to a final layout, and the other one just need me to roll up my sleeves.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Redesigning My Website: War Journal 6: The Battle of CSS Positioning
I hate CSS positioning. A lot. Then again, you only hate something like this when you can't get it to work for you.
Also, I want to take some time to complain about W3 standards, at least to some degree.
A neutral validation service, W3 has been basically defining what it means to have a site that works in all browsers. Admittedly, the validation seems so incredibly anal retentive it's sick. Want an example? Twitter gives a code that allows you to put their code on your page. The problem? The code they have leaves one tiny little list object.
The result:
Line 385, Column 57: end tag for "ul" which is not finished.
It leaves a small open list thing since, without it, the content doesn't work properly. My friend, who's site is 100% XHML complaint, told me not to worry about it. It's only getting under my skin because that one tiny thing is holding my back from actually having a perfect page. ...OK, at least in terms of XHML coding. CSS wise, it's fine, but the positioning thing is really less about valid CSS than making it right in the eyes of coders. But that's something else.
If you do a W3 Validator search on what may be some of your favorite sites, you'll see that about 99% of them aren't valid. My favorite band's site, Megadeth... well, it's a lot. 291 Errors, and 194 Warnings. Anthrax? 64 errors, 16 warnings. Nettuts, an awesome website dedicated to helping designers create awesome and valid websites. Their results? 102 Errors, 53 warning.
To me, it isn't a total holy grail for a web designer since, well, a lot of great sites that work fine and look great aren't valid. This doesn't mean I'm trying to forgive the sites, mind you. A lot of them should be valid in all browsers... and they are. The errors are mainly dealing with some rather odd occurances that don't realy effect the site at all. But I guess all I'm saying is that the validation is really cool.
At the same time, save my friends site, I really haven't seen a Fully W3 Complaint website that looks cool. Not one. They all seem to suck. It's like they all have one thing in common; being so damn over-simplified that, in reallity, it isn't exactly that much different than the websites that populated the internet when it first started. Here's one site that is 100% complaint. It's a fairly nice design, but really, it's so slick and clean it doesn't seem like something that I would ever go to.
Eh, I'm just rambling.
Also, I want to take some time to complain about W3 standards, at least to some degree.
A neutral validation service, W3 has been basically defining what it means to have a site that works in all browsers. Admittedly, the validation seems so incredibly anal retentive it's sick. Want an example? Twitter gives a code that allows you to put their code on your page. The problem? The code they have leaves one tiny little list object.
The result:
Line 385, Column 57: end tag for "ul" which is not finished.
It leaves a small open list thing since, without it, the content doesn't work properly. My friend, who's site is 100% XHML complaint, told me not to worry about it. It's only getting under my skin because that one tiny thing is holding my back from actually having a perfect page. ...OK, at least in terms of XHML coding. CSS wise, it's fine, but the positioning thing is really less about valid CSS than making it right in the eyes of coders. But that's something else.
If you do a W3 Validator search on what may be some of your favorite sites, you'll see that about 99% of them aren't valid. My favorite band's site, Megadeth... well, it's a lot. 291 Errors, and 194 Warnings. Anthrax? 64 errors, 16 warnings. Nettuts, an awesome website dedicated to helping designers create awesome and valid websites. Their results? 102 Errors, 53 warning.
To me, it isn't a total holy grail for a web designer since, well, a lot of great sites that work fine and look great aren't valid. This doesn't mean I'm trying to forgive the sites, mind you. A lot of them should be valid in all browsers... and they are. The errors are mainly dealing with some rather odd occurances that don't realy effect the site at all. But I guess all I'm saying is that the validation is really cool.
At the same time, save my friends site, I really haven't seen a Fully W3 Complaint website that looks cool. Not one. They all seem to suck. It's like they all have one thing in common; being so damn over-simplified that, in reallity, it isn't exactly that much different than the websites that populated the internet when it first started. Here's one site that is 100% complaint. It's a fairly nice design, but really, it's so slick and clean it doesn't seem like something that I would ever go to.
Eh, I'm just rambling.
Redesigning My Website: War Journal 5
Long day winding down way too soon.
I've got to go to work tomorrow, I've lost about 8 hours of sleep the last two days combined, and my site isn't done yet. The CSS coding is 90% done. The main thing left is basically cleaning up my code. I'm considering not doing a drop-down menu, but I may change my mind. I'm still stuck cutting up the images, but other than that, my site is a good 75% done.
I've got to go to work tomorrow, I've lost about 8 hours of sleep the last two days combined, and my site isn't done yet. The CSS coding is 90% done. The main thing left is basically cleaning up my code. I'm considering not doing a drop-down menu, but I may change my mind. I'm still stuck cutting up the images, but other than that, my site is a good 75% done.
Redesigning My Website: War Journal 4
One hell of a day, huh?
Well, it's 2:34 AM and I am exhausted. I want to finish this site... but I want to sleep first. Coding most likely is going to kill my Sunday, and I guess doing a few things I had in mind is out the question. Right now, the site is giving me a few problems that will need to wait until tomorrow, so consider this a peek for now and a checklist for myself:
Well, it's 2:34 AM and I am exhausted. I want to finish this site... but I want to sleep first. Coding most likely is going to kill my Sunday, and I guess doing a few things I had in mind is out the question. Right now, the site is giving me a few problems that will need to wait until tomorrow, so consider this a peek for now and a checklist for myself:
- Finish getting images ready for the site.
- Start learning that CMS so I know how to start update and managing contnet.
- Get the image I want to go to the bottom of the page to go there and stay.
- Make sure the footer stays where I want it to.
- Make images for CSS.
- Build the 13 other pages of the site.
- Get the lightbox thing for the portfolio.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Redesigning My Website: War Journal 3
OK, the design for the main page is wrapped up and I'm pretty psyched about it!
The next steps are going to be more complicated. I now need to design the layout for a few more pages, as well as content. A few things are in the work and it's going to be a pain to get done.
Also, I'm going to do more SEO (Search Engine Optimization) work on the site as well. A few of my old tricks (Meta tags) aren't exactly working anymore, so I'm going to use a few tricks I've learned over the past year and, well, yeah.
Once all is said and done, I will gladly post that the site is 100% W3 CSS Complaint.
Right now, I'm trying to decide if I'm going to have a drop-down menu for the site. It's leaning towards a yes.
Here's a quick list of sites I'm using for inspiration so maybe you'll get an idea of what I'm doing:
We'll see where this site goes. Normally, I don't even sleep until one of these things are done. So far, I'm sleeping and still having something of a life. But I'm still spending a ton of time thinking about this site and getting it done. I'm pretty happy so far.
The next steps are going to be more complicated. I now need to design the layout for a few more pages, as well as content. A few things are in the work and it's going to be a pain to get done.
Also, I'm going to do more SEO (Search Engine Optimization) work on the site as well. A few of my old tricks (Meta tags) aren't exactly working anymore, so I'm going to use a few tricks I've learned over the past year and, well, yeah.
Once all is said and done, I will gladly post that the site is 100% W3 CSS Complaint.
Right now, I'm trying to decide if I'm going to have a drop-down menu for the site. It's leaning towards a yes.
Here's a quick list of sites I'm using for inspiration so maybe you'll get an idea of what I'm doing:
We'll see where this site goes. Normally, I don't even sleep until one of these things are done. So far, I'm sleeping and still having something of a life. But I'm still spending a ton of time thinking about this site and getting it done. I'm pretty happy so far.
Redesigning My Website: War Journal 2
I'm currently talking to my friend through AIM on how to refine the site since the design is 99% close to done. Right now, there's a few changes involving content and language, and just how to do a few things.
As for what it's going to look like when it's done... no hints. This site is just going to kick ass now!
I'm going to start studying more about CMS and, hopefully, will understand it.
As for what it's going to look like when it's done... no hints. This site is just going to kick ass now!
I'm going to start studying more about CMS and, hopefully, will understand it.
Redesigning My Website: War Journal 1
So, as you may have noticed, this blog has been really quiet lately.
Right now, I'm in the middle of a massive project: Re-branding and re-launching Larry West Productions. Everything from the website to the logo is getting redone. In doing so, I decided to start tossing aside a few things and add new things as well.
So, my list of things that are leaving (I hope):
What I want to do:
That's it for now. I want to start posting comps and the design, but I really want it to be more of a surprise when it's all done. I've never used a CMS system, but more and more it's not only becoming standard, but no one is exactly thrilled with having to pay someone to update their website for them. Content Management Systems act as the middle-man that allows people to do an otherwise complicated thing. In essence, it really is the next logical step.
Now, I don't want people to think I did it out of pressure; I was pumped when I did the original website, and now I'm still really proud of it. I'm doing the design because I want to start learning a lot more about current practices in web design, coding, and management. I've been doing this stuff since 2002... and I haven't exactly been happy about growing up.
So look for periodic posts this weekend.
Right now, I'm in the middle of a massive project: Re-branding and re-launching Larry West Productions. Everything from the website to the logo is getting redone. In doing so, I decided to start tossing aside a few things and add new things as well.
So, my list of things that are leaving (I hope):
- Abandoning Dreamweaver-only and code-heavy updates by using a Content Management System (CMS)
- No more splash page
- New images opening in new windows
What I want to do:
- Create a more "modern" website that's still me
- Have new images open in some really cool way
- Incorporating more Web 2.0 and even 3.0 ideas
- Launch the Skateboard company
- Optimize the site for 1024 x 768 screens
- Have the design work for larger browser windows
That's it for now. I want to start posting comps and the design, but I really want it to be more of a surprise when it's all done. I've never used a CMS system, but more and more it's not only becoming standard, but no one is exactly thrilled with having to pay someone to update their website for them. Content Management Systems act as the middle-man that allows people to do an otherwise complicated thing. In essence, it really is the next logical step.
Now, I don't want people to think I did it out of pressure; I was pumped when I did the original website, and now I'm still really proud of it. I'm doing the design because I want to start learning a lot more about current practices in web design, coding, and management. I've been doing this stuff since 2002... and I haven't exactly been happy about growing up.
So look for periodic posts this weekend.
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