do website developers use free online templates ...

[vijaygpt]

Hi guys,

Please let me know that whether website developers company uses free online templates to create website for clients or do they create totally new websites.

B'Rgds
Vjay

[gep13]

Hello,

That really depends on the client requirements. A client may already have a very fixed idea on how their site should "look and feel", and as such, it would be created from scratch. Other things to consider is that the website developer, might not be the same person as the website designer. These two roles are very different, i.e. functionality over aesthetics.

Personally, I have used online templates before, but that is mainly because I am not a designer, I am a developer.

Gary

[techgnome]

Same here... often I'll find a template that has the layout... then swap out all the colors and images and maybe even move a few things around, effectively creating a new template. But then, most of the web dev I do is for me personally so I don't usually want to spend a lot of time on the front side and more often than not, I'm not really sure I know what I want (I'm a very difficult client... I've often thought about firing me). When I get like that, I rummage through Open Source Web Designs ... it is a great place to get ideas from. Most of the designs there are free and open source, they do have some that while are OS, are pay for templates, but you generally get a better quality that way. I've been using that site for years and even have a couple of designs of my own out there. Browsing their catalog could be a little better, but with the selection they have you have to be heard pressed to find nothing.

-tg

[sapator]

Not trying to promote dreamweaver but it help a lot.
Although asp.net is not fully supported in the latest version and although it may create bumpy html-asp markup i found it useful on creating the skeleton of a site.
Of course you have to buy it but i have it for free(through a company license).

[vijaygpt]

Hello,

That really depends on the client requirements. A client may already have a very fixed idea on how their site should "look and feel", and as such, it would be created from scratch. Other things to consider is that the website developer, might not be the same person as the website designer. These two roles are very different, i.e. functionality over aesthetics.

Personally, I have used online templates before, but that is mainly because I am not a designer, I am a developer.

Gary

Hi Gary,

Me too website developer, now need to do best look n feel design for one of my client. m Confused whether to use online template or should i start changing design using css for front module which will really take long time for us. Client is not computer savvy, He don't have much idea, its upto we to design. So my question was, can website developer company uses online templates? is there any disadvantage of it ?

[gep13]

Hello,

Certainly, there is nothing to stop you using an online template. Given that this sounds like it is for commercial purposes, you want to make sure that the template that you use is not "owned" by someone. The site that tg linked you to is a good place to start though. Pick one that you and your client are happy with, and work from there.

Gary

[techgnome]

Yeah, look through that site.... look a the sites of competitors to your client... visit other sites similar but may not be direct competitors... pick out elements that seem to work, what looks good... avoid the elements that look bad or are poor performers.

-tg

[jakkjakk]

Yeah, trying to get the right look is a tough one. Probably tougher than writing the code for the site. It takes a lot of creativity to make it look, feel and work the way you want it to.

[brin351]

A "website developement company" would most likely not use templates they would either do it in house or contract the graphic design out.

Your client needs to know your company does not specailize in website GUI or graphic design. If they still insist you do the graphic design then the advice already given above is a perfectly acceptable approach under the circumstances.

As a developer it's important to have a firm grasp on html and css but it's not appropiate to ask a developer to become a graphic designer or vice versa, the two professions are entirely different.

Of course this is just my opinion

[sapator]

As a developer it's important to have a firm grasp on html and css but it's not appropiate to ask a developer to become a graphic designer or vice versa, the two professions are entirely different.

Of course this is just my opinion

Well they are asking me the exact thing.Photoshop,GUI, the lot.Appropriate or not i have to do it so it's better to have it in mind.
Of course i could just refuse and loose the contract
(thankfully i do have a grasp in Photoshop)

[gep13]

Personally, I am quite happy with the default template that ships right out of Visual Studio 2010. No frills, but it does exactly what it is meant to

(Did I mention I am not a Web Designer )

Gary

[sagarpassion]

wat i do as developer in designing:
Picking free online template complete requirement development then apply msn,yahoo or any other website's css make the combination of all and create my own. may be copycat but it looks good.
Suggest you to avoid using exact images, logo's.
Once we complete the development part we automatically moves to change color look n feel.

[brin351]

I've put together web GUI as well, at some point we all do. Now I make it quite clear I'm not a designer, I don't want to be one and do you the client want someone like me to design for you.

Oh yes I hear the client say I know exacly what I want...... Obviously it's something average if they want me to do it.

[gep13]

..... Obviously it's something average if they want me to do it.

Ha ha