Striving to be better

I agree, and I am guilty of being one that does not put very much effort in, I will admit. I’ve had a website since 1999, and up until 2005 I was really good about making everything look good (although, in the atrocious style that involved celebrity photos and horrible coding, which was the mode du jour). But when I hit eleventh grade, other things seemed to enter my life, and I just ran out of time. Typically, this was the time everyone started using PHP, and worrying about accessibility. If I had been around, I would have gone along with them! But as it is, I am now a few steps behind, and although I would like to catch up, it can be a bit frustrating trying to catch up with all the amazing designers out there! So, yes, I will try to soldier on, and learn as I go. And maybe hope that nobody looks at my website and goes “Oh, why isn’t this girl even TRYING!” Because I am! I promise! I just seem to be a step behind everyone else! :P

Oh I’ve felt the same way you do so many times. But I’m always worried too that others see me the same way. Because I know I’m always trying to brush up my skills too. x_x (Even though they’re mostly in the coding arena so it’s background work no one can see and appreciate. :( )

I tend to despair of my graphical skills. People tend to tell me, I can do better, because I obviously did better layouts (looking at my past screenshots), but then I had pretty harsh criticism for those “better” layouts…

As for coding… well it’s my ob, so of course I try to get better =P. I guess, it all depends on what you need your website for. Some just want o showcase their offline work/life… others (like you) consider the website so much more.

I don’t think actually “being better” at web design/coding is the important part, but rather the trying. You can copy and paste valid syntax, you can pretend you have an ounce of talent in photoshop all you like - these things take seconds to demonstrate. It’s the actual getting up, having a go, changing your code, trying out new stuff - all of that matters, whether or not the person “fails” in the end.

Personal sites and blogs have been playgrounds for their owners since I’ve been on the web. We use them to store all our crap, play around with new effects/etc. Where has this gone to? Why aren’t people doing this anymore; sticking with premade WP themes and no content? It sucks all of the life out of personal sites.

Agree with Jem on this one. Some people only bother about blogging, whilst layouts aren’t important. I think the way a webmaster presents himself is very important, and that includes a layout.

Sometimes though, it’s a bit hard to let go on your old habits and try something new, like in my case, it takes me ages to decide to try a new navigation style.

Sometimes the changes are really about your mark up and coding skills, and like Rilla said, it goes almost unnoticed.

All in all, we have to strive to be better, and that implies every aspect of our website and life.

Have a nice day :)

I agree - I just don’t see the point to it. If I was the same as I was four years ago I’d still be using Microsoft Frontpage and Tahoma size 8pt.

Change… change is good.

I don’t really put in that much effort to improve. I just let things sink in when I’m checking out someone’s theme’s coding.
I would like to improve, but sometimes I get so disspirited looking at some amazing themes and I just think “I could never do that.”
And then bam, I’m not motivated so my layout stays the same forever.

After reading your post I’ve decided I probably should try to learn a little more about themes.

Thanks :)

I know what you mean. I don’t profess to own a fantastic site at all, but at least it’s better than it was when I started it!

I agree. Well obviously, people can do whatever the heck they want. But as you said, how the heck can one NOT improve?

I mean back when I made layouts and websites and shit (yes believe it or not I.. I even had a domain! Haha) it was always the game to make better layouts.

I mean if you never improve, it is simply logical that one would get tired and bored of it!

oh well.

I disagree.  I don’t believe you need to “improve” your skills to enjoy designing.  Some people believe they have reached their peek in design and don’t want to bother furthering their knowledge in HTML and CSS.  Of course, I have learned my fair share over time, but some people don’t feel the need to, nor do they have the time (in some situations).

It all falls back on doing what you enjoy.

I think I always try to improve, but the effort and even success aren’t always obvious. But as long as I know that I’m doing my best, then I’m satisfied :)

I’d like to see some of your old designs or content!

I agree with Brandi on this one. I could do better. I could spend hours trying to validate my coding and what not. But it seems my patience has gone out the window these days. I refuse to resort to using premade layouts though. But whether or not I improve or not, making a layout in Photoshop, and blogging, are things I enjoy doing.

“Some people believe they have reached their peek in design”
I would love to see that. Someone who believes they couldn’t possibly get any better? How arrogant.

Jem - I don’t think Brandi meant that they “couldn’t get any better.” I think she meant that they are just content with where they are at. *shrug*

Thank you, Britney :)

That was EXACTLY what I meant.  My point was, that they feel they don’t NEED to learn more or maybe they feel it is unnecessary, because THEY themselves feel comfortable with with what they already know :)

I get what you mean, and while I don’t put in as much effort as I could (recently I have been more interested in writing good blogs than in the design aspect), but I definitely have grown.  What I hate is people too stubborn to grow and realize that what they are doing is kind of obsolete for a reason.  Example:  Tiny text layouts.  It is especially annoying when people are all stuck-up over their outdated sites.  To me, the best part about web design is when you make something better than you ever thought you could and realize how much you’ve learned.

I try and ensure that my blog is accessible but that’s as far as things go; I’m a blogger. Nothing more, nothing less. The coding and design aspect just isn’t for me—I learn enough to make everything function properly and not make people’s eyes bleed. :P

Ummm… can we say, “hobby.” For some people, like me, that is all web design is: it’s a hobby.  I do it for fun, and I would rather not have other web designers breathing down my necks because my website isn’t 2.0 or some crap like that.  It’s just something I do for fun.  I also have a life beyond the web: jewelry, scrapbooking, reading, dungeons and dragons, warhammer 40k, video games, school, work, etc.  So if I don’t spend all of my free time on my website, you’ll have to forgive me, nor do I want your pity.  Quite frankly, I don’t care about how a site looks as long as it is readable, navigable, and has quality content that I enjoy reading.

But since you want your website to stand as it’s best: here’s a fantastic web design tip.  Make your comment text box the same width as the actual posted comment.  This way people don’t need to use the preview button, not that it works anyway.

Hey Kimmie, how about you relax and sit the fuck down. Also, what does the preview button have to do with the textarea being the same width as the comment? gtfo.

I am, by no means, a “webmaster”, and I’m very new to designing/coding for websites [I was stuck in the myspace hype for quite sometime]. Though, I agree with your post. As someone who is practically brand new to it, I am constantly trying to learn anything I possibly can. I became interested in coding and webdesign not more than 6 months ago, it’s not my job, it’s a hobby. I do it as a means to unwind once I get my kids in bed at night. There may come a time when I change my opinion, though.

In the end, so long as I can read the text comfortably,
and the images on the sites don’t kill my computer when loading, I don’t mind if their site could need updating.