[UPHPU] html design templates

[cole at colejoplin.com]

Hi Guys,

Couldn't help but add my opinion here (because I care).

>>> 2) Use a design tool that has a bunch of pre made stuff like buttons, menus

Ouch! Please, no buttons. They are so 90's. Retread buttons scream  
"I'm cheap."

>>> I guess Dreamweaver does this but since we are on linux that
>>> doesn't work.  Or is Dreamweaver that good that and we should go buy a
>>> Macbook to run it on ? (we have no desire to use Windows).

While I love Dreamweaver (Win & Mac), I never use their  
button-making/design features. Illustrator is a real design tool. You  
wanted this to look nice, right? I wouldn't spend money on machines  
and software. I'd spend it on a GD that can give you the design and  
images you need.

>> hiring a GD is probably not in the cards

How much is a web presence worth? How much is a company logo worth? My  
personal opinion is that you can't afford not to have a GD involved,  
or at least someone with some design experience. I've seen it go both  
ways, with very predictable results. If $1000 is in the cards, I'd  
want to spend it on a simple original design.

In the immortal words of Andre Agassi, "Image is everything." Please  
don't slap a bunch of pieces together. Get a real design. I just can't  
see it as an optional item to a web site. I think it's required. Just  
my opinion.

-- Cole