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Web Design All-in-One for Dummies
All you need to know on web design in a thorough new edition If you want just one complete reference on web design, this book is it. The newest edition of this essential guide features 650+ pages on the latest tools and new web design standards, such as HTML5, CSS 3, and other core technologies and page-building strategies. Five minibooks provide deep essential pre-design considerations, how to establish the look of your site, building a site, how to test your site, and taking your site public. Design professional and author Sue Jenkins understands what designers need and gives you the answers. If you're looking for an in-depth reference on all aspects of designing and building a site and taking it live, Web Design All-in-One For Dummies, 2nd Edition is the book.
666 pages, Paperback
First published April 20, 2009
35 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 5, 2011
A simple, visual reference for beginning web designers. Five books in one, covering many areas related to web design, including planning, designing, graphics, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, web standards, testing, hosting, and search engine optimization.
In her examples, the author uses Dreamweaver for web design and Photoshop for graphic design, but the lessons apply regardless of the tools you use. I especially liked business tips that appear throughout the book, regarding contracts, pricing, project management, and customer relations. These topics are more important for the self-employed web designer than a web designer within a company.
I was bored by the extended coverage of tables. There were many good examples of CSS. The chapter on SEO was my favorite, as it debunked myths and explained what actually works.
Web project phases
Planning: define goals, content, requirements
Contract: create signed document specifying payment, deadlines, deliverables
Design: understand target audience; mock up layout
Building: create functional site with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, etc.
Testing: test with popular operating systems and browsers; validate code
Launch: register domain; buy hosting; publish site
Maintenance: add and update content and design
Contracts
Create a contract similar to the Premium Web Development contract.
Get a 25% deposit before starting the job.
Include a revision clause in the contract, stating the number of included revisions. Bill for additional revisions.
Get written approval for the sitemap, mockup, and final site.
Have the client review the test site and sign off before going live.
Stipulate that the client is responsible for the accuracy and substance of content.
Web standards and testing
Follow accessibility guidelines to make the site more usable to disabled people and search engines.
Validate links, HTML/XHTML, and CSS.
Test in major browsers and operating systems (OSs).
SEO (search engine optimization)
Unethical and/or useless SEO techniques
keyword padding
keyword listing
tag padding
image padding
hidden text
oversubmitting to search engines
duplicate page submissions
SEO techniques
Include keywords in text.
Link keywords to other pages in the site.
Stress keywords with headings, bold, and italics.
Use keywords in title and alt tags.
Use meta tags, especially Description. Keywords isn't used by most engines.
Make page titles complete, informative, keyword-rich sentences.
Create a sitemap and link to it from the footer and head of HTML.
Add a Google Custom Search Engine to the site.
Add breadcrumb navigation.
Additional notes
The site should explain the benefits of the client's products or services to their ideal visitor.
The client isn't always right. If they make unreasonable requests, explain why the idea is bad, then offer alternatives.
Make images as small as possible (10 KB or less, or 30 KB for larger graphics).
The author recommends Lunarpages for domain registration and hosting.
Designate a day for site updates. Have clients send a list of all updates at once, rather than sending as they think of them.
In her examples, the author uses Dreamweaver for web design and Photoshop for graphic design, but the lessons apply regardless of the tools you use. I especially liked business tips that appear throughout the book, regarding contracts, pricing, project management, and customer relations. These topics are more important for the self-employed web designer than a web designer within a company.
I was bored by the extended coverage of tables. There were many good examples of CSS. The chapter on SEO was my favorite, as it debunked myths and explained what actually works.
Web project phases
Planning: define goals, content, requirements
Contract: create signed document specifying payment, deadlines, deliverables
Design: understand target audience; mock up layout
Building: create functional site with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, etc.
Testing: test with popular operating systems and browsers; validate code
Launch: register domain; buy hosting; publish site
Maintenance: add and update content and design
Contracts
Create a contract similar to the Premium Web Development contract.
Get a 25% deposit before starting the job.
Include a revision clause in the contract, stating the number of included revisions. Bill for additional revisions.
Get written approval for the sitemap, mockup, and final site.
Have the client review the test site and sign off before going live.
Stipulate that the client is responsible for the accuracy and substance of content.
Web standards and testing
Follow accessibility guidelines to make the site more usable to disabled people and search engines.
Validate links, HTML/XHTML, and CSS.
Test in major browsers and operating systems (OSs).
SEO (search engine optimization)
Unethical and/or useless SEO techniques
keyword padding
keyword listing
tag padding
image padding
hidden text
oversubmitting to search engines
duplicate page submissions
SEO techniques
Include keywords in text.
Link keywords to other pages in the site.
Stress keywords with headings, bold, and italics.
Use keywords in title and alt tags.
Use meta tags, especially Description. Keywords isn't used by most engines.
Make page titles complete, informative, keyword-rich sentences.
Create a sitemap and link to it from the footer and head of HTML.
Add a Google Custom Search Engine to the site.
Add breadcrumb navigation.
Additional notes
The site should explain the benefits of the client's products or services to their ideal visitor.
The client isn't always right. If they make unreasonable requests, explain why the idea is bad, then offer alternatives.
Make images as small as possible (10 KB or less, or 30 KB for larger graphics).
The author recommends Lunarpages for domain registration and hosting.
Designate a day for site updates. Have clients send a list of all updates at once, rather than sending as they think of them.
July 21, 2012
I liked it. The book teaches very basic but essential HTML and CSS if you wish to start and design a basic website. It also includes basic design standards when designing websites for other people. For example, you learn to create a design mock-up which includes colour pallet, the company name and logo, font etc. for potential clients to see. I reference it here and there and don't regret buying it. I found that some information you can easily find on the web, however something about a physical book in front of me helps to re-enforce information better. I didn't like the books assumption that the reader owned Adobe Dreamweaver CS4 since some of the tutorials incorporated it's use. But MS notepad or a free code viewing software is just fine if you don't own Dreamweaver. Be aware that this book is definitely for amateurs and I wouldn't recommend it for professionals since basic html, css and webdesign standards are things they would (or should) already know. Overall, I recommend this book to amateurs looking for basic knowledge in html, css and design basics.
May 7, 2022
I quite enjoyed this book.
As a web developer, web design comes with the territory.
You need to keep up-to-date on new technologies or you quickly get left behind.
This was a fair book on teaching some web design principles. A lot I already knew, of course!
3.8/5
As a web developer, web design comes with the territory.
You need to keep up-to-date on new technologies or you quickly get left behind.
This was a fair book on teaching some web design principles. A lot I already knew, of course!
3.8/5
March 1, 2014
Good introduction to HTML + CSS. The 'for Dummies' books have this image like they're written for complete computer illiterates but they're just good for anyone seeking to learn a particular skill.
September 7, 2012
it just gives a helicopter view
May 31, 2013
Great starting point to learn web design.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews