![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Branding n'stuff
Apr. 15th, 2010 10:02 pmIt's never a good idea to give me something new to twiddle with. Bad things happen. I must begin to know ALL about it. I don't go by halves. It isn't my fault, it's genetic.
(Case in point: conversation with Dad this afternoon, wherein I explain that I can handle CSS and XHTML, but I don't know PHP. And currently I'm having trouble and can't figure out the issue. Meaning I'm going to go dig around some PHP tutorials. Could I fix it another way? Likely. But I don't like using something if I don't know HOW it works. I won't be able to leave it alone. Dad responds: "Bwahahahahahahaaa!")
And, I've learned a few new things. Jen Kramer has yet another fab video on lynda.com. I therefore have learned a lot about using graphics in web design. And that there is one plug-in I need for GIMP, and that I've switched from Coffee Cup to KompoZer. Wheee!! And open source WYSIWIG editor with a CSS module. Though I'm glad I learned CSS first, or I'd not be able to restyle the silly thing AFTER uploading the template.
So, On To The Question at Hand:
How important is "branding" to independent websites that are really just there to present information? How much do you "prejudge" the author or what is presented based on the quality of the presentation?
Example A: I use Drea Leed's site quite a bit for reference for this or that. I know what it looks like, I know when I'm there - even if I came there via another route. I associate that look and feel with her book and her research, and therefore I trust it to a fairly high degree.
Example B: I've hit many a local group site or event site that's badly styled, poorly written, or full of circa 1994 animated gifs. I cringe. And I usually assume the event is pretty minor, the group is relatively poorly organized, or other negative associations. (I'm coming to the conclusion that the Kingdom website ought to go either Joomla! or Drupal based - on the grounds that it would be much easier to find people capable of managing that than it is those who can code. And code well. Every yahoo in the SCA thinks he's a web designer and codes. Very. Badly. Blech. Plus, hard-coded HTML is a bugger and a half to update - so it doesn't get updated)
I think when I get my legs under me with GIMP, I'll post some possibilities for my template design for general commentary.
BUT - before I do... how important do YOU think it is?
(Case in point: conversation with Dad this afternoon, wherein I explain that I can handle CSS and XHTML, but I don't know PHP. And currently I'm having trouble and can't figure out the issue. Meaning I'm going to go dig around some PHP tutorials. Could I fix it another way? Likely. But I don't like using something if I don't know HOW it works. I won't be able to leave it alone. Dad responds: "Bwahahahahahahaaa!")
And, I've learned a few new things. Jen Kramer has yet another fab video on lynda.com. I therefore have learned a lot about using graphics in web design. And that there is one plug-in I need for GIMP, and that I've switched from Coffee Cup to KompoZer. Wheee!! And open source WYSIWIG editor with a CSS module. Though I'm glad I learned CSS first, or I'd not be able to restyle the silly thing AFTER uploading the template.
So, On To The Question at Hand:
How important is "branding" to independent websites that are really just there to present information? How much do you "prejudge" the author or what is presented based on the quality of the presentation?
Example A: I use Drea Leed's site quite a bit for reference for this or that. I know what it looks like, I know when I'm there - even if I came there via another route. I associate that look and feel with her book and her research, and therefore I trust it to a fairly high degree.
Example B: I've hit many a local group site or event site that's badly styled, poorly written, or full of circa 1994 animated gifs. I cringe. And I usually assume the event is pretty minor, the group is relatively poorly organized, or other negative associations. (I'm coming to the conclusion that the Kingdom website ought to go either Joomla! or Drupal based - on the grounds that it would be much easier to find people capable of managing that than it is those who can code. And code well. Every yahoo in the SCA thinks he's a web designer and codes. Very. Badly. Blech. Plus, hard-coded HTML is a bugger and a half to update - so it doesn't get updated)
I think when I get my legs under me with GIMP, I'll post some possibilities for my template design for general commentary.
BUT - before I do... how important do YOU think it is?
