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48 Comments
- miles01110, on 10/11/2007, -0/+18http://kuler.adobe.com/
Good color matching site. - bfaulk04, on 10/11/2007, -1/+17the tips are not valuable only if the author wrote them... the fact that the author compiled a huge list and organized them for everyone is the value of the post. if you really want to google every topic the author listed, be my guest... me personally, i'd rather just use the list he compiled for me.
- arnar, on 10/11/2007, -0/+16Design has _always_ been about copying. Ask any designer.
- se7en11, on 10/11/2007, -0/+13I'm guessing no one got the joke above. I'm a web designer and if people find these free tools, then I'll be SOL. It's a joke. You can laugh now...
- MikeonTV, on 10/11/2007, -0/+11I spent 5 years figuring this stuff out for myself and this guy is just giving it away???
sheesh - ripstuntz, on 10/11/2007, -0/+9Wonderful collection! Being an aspiring CSS'er myself, this should help a lot!
Thanks! - arnar, on 10/11/2007, -4/+12Again? I really don't get how people can compile lists of 100 items and expect us to believe they are screened and/or evaluated in any useful way. I don't have the time to go through 100 websites - I don't even have time for 20.
I'd much rather see a carefully selected list of 5-10 links with some real value and reviewed by the list compiler.
Anyone can dump their bookmarks file on a blog - makes a great digg story to get some people clickn' those ads. - chris9902, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6I used to think like that until I get out into the real world where clients talk to you with respect and you have the option of walking away.
tip for noobs: stand up for yourself. If you think you're being ***** walk away or you'll be a door mat for years. And never do anything for free. Free is *****. - cyberchucktx, on 10/11/2007, -2/+8Excelllent collection of links and tutorials!
- BlackCow, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5Dear Dampkring04:
STFU
Scenceirly,
BlackCow - DonCarcharo, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5I think these free web design resources are great as long as they're used properly. Although I do my own custom design I do offer free templates for customers on small budgets. They're also great for those learning CSS and wanting to use free resources as a basis for starting out. The important point here is that the customer should be aware of when they're getting completely template-based work. What I disagree with is using these free resources and passing them off as custom design. I know more than a handful of web designers doing this, sometimes for big budget projects.
Again there's nothing wrong with using templates as long as the client is aware of it or you've changed enough on the template to claim some sort of ownership of the design. But passing off templates as custom work just seems wrong to me.
Custom designed website:
http://www.hazletoncity.org/
And now the template:
http://template.joomlart.com/ja_zibal/index.php?jos_change_template=ja_zibal_trans - DonCarcharo, on 10/11/2007, -1/+6I've been a web designer for 7 years, a print designer before that, I taught design, I've been to conferences, etc. I've put a lot into my trade and enjoy my job. So like yourself nothing bothers me more than competing head to head with high school students for jobs. And so for a long time I've argued the same point as you. If you don't use a professional, you don't get professional work.
Here's he problem, the argument no longer holds water. Just about anyone can grab a copy of Wordpress and a free theme and build a full website in a about an hour. In many cases some of these designs rival professional work (heck many are professional) and the code is often more solid than what any programmer could provide within a normal timeline and budget.
You no longer need CS3. You don't need to know DreamWeaver. You don't need a custom programmer. All you need is a low-end image editor, a copy of Wordpress, an FTP app and (maybe) Notepad or Smultron. So like it or not these free resources have just lowered the bar significantly. What this means is that entry level web design is dying fast. I'm lucky to get $500 for a several page custom website these days. And so you need to adapt. Now I'm starting to build WordPress sites (using my own custom designs), I'm doing SEO, I'm doing consulting, etc. It's all about evolving to meet the needs of the market. Sitting back and complaining won't get you anywhere. - MikeonTV, on 10/11/2007, -3/+8BS. If someone has the time to figure it out for themselves then more power to them. What's it your problem what my site looks like anyway. log off.
- BlackCow, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5Good artists copy, great artists steal.
- armbar, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4@MikeonTV:
It's not his problem what your site looks like, but if you're serious about your business, you're probably going to make investments in things that cost a lot of money. At some point, a professionally-built website will be one of them. - braydonf, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4can we please not use the word freebie, kthx
- armbar, on 10/11/2007, -6/+9Seems pretty stupid. If you're a business owner, your time is far more valuably spent building your business and making sales rather than learning an entirely new skillset that takes years to master. There's enough stress in starting a business that spending $5-10K is well worth it to save the time and pressure.
- Meep3D, on 10/11/2007, -2/+5What is it with people thinking they can become 'professional' at anything (let alone web design) simply by reading a few tutorials and warezing a copy of CS3? As with anything non-trivial it requires a massive amount of practice and experience to get to a point where your work will be any good. If you just want an average site on the cheap where quality isn't of huge importance, and/or you are interested in web design then sure, why not, but unless you devote a large chunk of your life to it then your not going to create anything that could be considered 'professional'.
It's the bedroom coders that give web designers such a bad name. I don't know how many clients I have lost due to the 'my friends son can do it for half your price' factor. Sure they get it for half the price, but what they do get is usually so bad I'll end up redesigning it in end anyway. Most of my business actually comes from people who have been burned in the past who want someone who actually knows what they are doing to it.
Oh, and web design is 50% graphic design (that's 'art' btw). No amount of programming skills will create a good website (and vice versa). I don't want to discourage anyone, but selling your services unless you actually know what your doing is dishonest and on a par with the 419 email fraudsters. Would you let someone with a scalpel and a medical book perform surgery on you? Didn't think so.
Otherwise, carry on.
/rant - Dhalgren, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3It's missing http://www.oswd.org
Also, it's down right now, but http://www.openclipart.org is another great resource. - slapthemonkey, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2great help
- hifiDesign, on 10/11/2007, -5/+7Dugg down because of the headline...
If you're a young high school or college student with your sights set on a future in design, use these resources. If you want to *maintain* your site as a business owner, *perhaps* you should use resources like this. But if you're a layman, and want a professional site to be built from the ground up, pony up to have it designed by someone who is trained and experienced. The "my brother can do it for cheaper" and "business owner turned DIY web designer" syndromes have persisted long enough... If you want something done right, sometimes the smartest thing is to NOT try to do it yourself. Leave it to the pros... - inactive, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2"Ive been a professional designer for *insert years* and some kid with photoshop and a CSS tutorial could cost me money"
LOL. You must be ***** designer if a client cant tell the difference in function between some kids CSS open-source knock-off and these custom crafted "piece's of art" you assure us you can create. FAIL - AvengeX, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2I use warez programs, I've been teaching myself to design and web develop for four years. I've just left high school and I'm now going into college. I guess you'll still want to ridicule people like me who don't have the money (£1000+) for Photoshop, Dreamweaver and all the rest. If this is indeed the case, how shallow can you be?
I've also been approached by people who wanted me to do gigantic jobs for them for trivial amounts of money. I've turned them away and told them to go to people like yourself (supposedly) who do it "professionally". In the end, my opinion is this: professional dictates what you output, not the input or your lifestyle, or your age.
When clients come to you asking for stupidly high amounts of work, of course you're going to tell them to get lost.. in my opinion it's the only difference between $500 and $5000. - Subterfug, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2I always liked/use http://www.spoono.com
Some of the tutorials are old, but still valuable. - cspecht, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2good information within link and comments...mucho gracious
- CatalogFalls, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Just what I was looking for. Thank You!
- inactive, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3Free stuff?! LETS BITCH ABOUT IT! RABBLE RABBLE!
@CLERIC85: How about growing a brain / learning to read instead? - inactive, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Good list, though one of the best template sites out there right now is not included: http://opendesigns.org. Much better community and design quality than Open Web Design.
- MikeonTV, on 10/11/2007, -2/+3@armbar
I took offense to hifiDesign being so #000 and #FFF about who should be making websites and who shouldn't. I make money building sites and I never worked for a firm or went to school for it. I just learned with open source, ctrl+U for 10 years of having patiences. - mahdaeng, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1"mucho gracious"
huh? - DonCarcharo, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Maybe you can browse through an array of Joomla sites and pick out the "some kids CSS open-source knock-off" ones verses the custom designed ones but the truth is most people can't. You've got to have a decent eye and even then it usually involves looking at the source code or at the very least, being familiar with the CMS system. Especially since most of those themes were designed by professionals to begin with.
I mean if I walked into a meeting with a Realtor and demo'd a site only to have the client say, "Wait a minute, this is just Joomla with the RokWebify theme from RocketTheme.com." I'd be quite impressed to say the least. The average customer can't tell the difference. Heck, the average customer can't even pronounce Joomla.
So odds are you have lost a job to someone using a templated-solution. You probably just didn't realize it. - Iolite, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Thanks for this. I'm starting to learn about CSS and this is very helpful. :)
- onkelcommy, on 10/11/2007, -2/+2Another free source for design inspiration is http://www.screenalicio.us with more than 8700 screen-shots at the moment!
- DonCarcharo, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1@Dampkring04
I agree with you 100%, but not many people will. You'd be surprised just how many people really don't design these days. It's becoming a lost art (so to speak). The thing is, like programming, design is heading open source too. Is it really copying if you're allowed to copy? Think about it. No one seems to care except for the designers trying to make a living at their trade.
Here's a great example. I recently lost a long time customer to another design company. I was a bit curious so I followed the development of the new project. The entire thirty page site was built in four days by one guy. That's custom design, custom programming, etc. How did he do it? It was built using Joomla and a free theme. The interesting part? The client found out _and didn't care_. Actually they were very happy and liked his solution much better than the site I originally provided them.
A design is a design, it doesn't matter who did it as long as it looks good. Same goes for programming. That's unfortunate, but it's also business. - jonmaclane, on 02/12/2009, -0/+0Your collention of links and tutorials is excellent.Thanks for sharing the information
http://www.netronage.com - sofkins, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0I love free stuff try http://mealticketonus.com
- rajab, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0ppl chk this out..
http://dowhatufear.wordpress.com/2007/05/22/css-directory/ - inactive, on 10/11/2007, -3/+2how come people think they can actually make a (good) website themselves? do you try and pour your own concrete driveway before you realize you suck and wasted all that time and money? seriously, if youre too cheap to pay for a site, them youll fail in the business world.
seems to be the same thing for interior design and home improvements these days as well. - MrDys, on 10/11/2007, -5/+4@se7en11
If someone can put you out of a job with these free tools, you aren't that great of a designer. - Dampkring04, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1since when do we call copying and color matching sites design?
don't you think that everything starts to look alike something else you know?
keep up creativity
&out - pglowiak, on 10/11/2007, -2/+0I agree, spend the money, it really pisses me off thinking that people expect me to do my designs for next to nothing. I will RUN away from people like that. Around where I live, everyone thinks they are a web designer because they are too cheap, and then they think with all the bouncing figures, java applets, streaming video and other assorted crap that it is a "professionally" done site. There are some days I think about getting a job at McDonalds so I get more respect.
OK, I'm done whining now....... - svivian, on 10/11/2007, -8/+6Most of the list is just links to other lists of tips/tutorials!
What is the deal with all these "100 tips/a million great resources" pages appearing recently? Very few are actually useful tips written by the author. None of them seem to have any real value...
Here is a great CSS resource: http://www.google.com - Dampkring04, on 10/11/2007, -2/+0@doncarcharo... thanks a lot. it's fact that most businessman have no idea where they want to place their company, no idea about visual communication, the message and especially the amount of work behind a good solution. when i go through all these pages that should inspire me i come to the conclusion that all these pages and logos start to look the same. i'm so happy to work in switzerland where the design studios have a flair for a good typography (and especially the tradition of swiss typography), appropriate solutions and innovative style. well thanks again for your comment.
keep burying my comments
&out - Dampkring04, on 10/11/2007, -3/+0keep burying my comments. of course u do cause you love all these free style patterns... have fun but please don't doubt what i just said about visual communication and a proper corporate id. i'm studying visual communication and i'd feel cheated if the stuff i learn is just fun because you can work as a designer by simply copying some styles from another graphic designer.
cheerio
and please bury my comment!
&out - Dampkring04, on 10/11/2007, -4/+1Design has_ always_been about innovation. Ask any designer...
well you won't ever be able to design a solid solution for a company hiring you, when you keep copying and never learn something about visual communication. you just can't use a design somebody used before and think it's appropriate. it has to match the companys philosophy and their situation in the market, their corporate identity, their idea etc... so forget about reaching anything in this business with just copying...
all in all it's just ***** sad showing somebody your designs when you didn't do it by yourself. and of course design has something to do with copying- but also with using something as a basis and improve/change the message...
sorry for my english. i'm swiss :)
cheerio
&out - se7en11, on 10/11/2007, -14/+11These resources are bad. Don't use them. Stay far away.
John
Web Designer - Scheissenegger, on 10/11/2007, -8/+3Though they forgot http://csseasy.com/?css, plain and simple CSS layouts, good for the beginner and if you don't want to type the smae lines over and over again when you start a new project.
- cleric85, on 10/11/2007, -6/+1Does anyone know how to get this stupid crap in my Digg filter so I don't see this stuff anymore. I keep thinking its Counter Strike Source. I do this monthly because some guy won't spell out what CSS stands for.
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