Over the course of a year you learn a lot about what works, and what doesn’t work, with an ever expanding website such as The Meliorist. Also, my own knowledge of web design/development has grown with every new project since I started.

I tackled the issues with version 1.0 of the website. Issues such as readability, organization, graphic use, and usability. They result was an entirely redesigned and restructured website.

Haven’t had the opportunity to do many three column or staggered layout designs lately, thought I would take a run at it. A slight bit of form styling for a smoother integration. Any comments and critiques on my work are more then welcome.

If you’d like to take a look at the Photoshop mockup or css & xhtml a little closer, please feel free to download the package here. Not for commercial distribution, educational purposes only.

Bottomless cups of coffee and late nights spent gazing into soft glow of your monitor. You cruise the internet filling your brain with dreams of world wide grandeur. After mulling over endless possibilities you decide it’s time to take the leap. You line up your sights on a designer knowing exactly what you want; a fantastic website.

Back it up. Slow down. Put on a pot of tea. Before you should even consider seeking out a company or designer to build your online dream there is only one thing you should be focused on; Content.

Didn’t your mom ever tell you?
“Don’t judge a book by it’s cover but of the contents inside.”

Even the most beautiful, jaw dropping websites can’t hold their own without great content to back it all up. Much like the failure of Hollywood films these days, they should have concentrated more on the script and less on the big explosions.

So now that I’ve put a wrench in your dreams of jumping into the world wide web head first, you ask;
How should I get started?

Ask yourself one question. What would you like to achieve with an online presence?

Map it out

Grab a pencil and piece of paper, jotting down a site map is a great way to discover exactly where to start. List out all the main pages of your website (eg: Home, About Us, Products, Contact, etc). Keeping things simple will yield much friendlier results.

The Big “C”

You know what I’m talking about, the things dreams are made of; content. The site map is your official guide to an effective website, use it wisely. Now it’s a matter of going through the map page by page and making decisions on what you want to achieve with each. Be clear and concise. Having notes for each page is all well and good but having your content written out verbatim is even better.

It’s easy to get caught up in great ideas without thinking things through. To have a final product that you are truly excited and happy about you have to know what you’re working with. Taking the time to refine and polish your content in the beginning goes a long way in the end.

**As a side note. Some people might opt to hire a copy writer or marketing professional to assist them in developing their content. This is a great option for busy companies.

Due to obvious pressure from American lawmakers and entertainment companies Canada has decided to update it’s aging Copyright Act of Canada. Last updated in 1997, in the prehistoric times of file sharing, it was a little out of date. So what did our government do?

Downloaded a copy of the American Copyright Law, added and erased a few lines then called it their own.

If this Bill passes the Canadian Parliament, what does that mean for you?

• Your PVR is basically useless. You won’t be able to record shows flagged as “No Copy” without incurring further costs. Of course every show worth recording will be flagged.
• Watching out-of-region-coded DVDs
• Ripping a DVD to a computer, ipod, or other media device.
• Modifying game machines (XBOX, Playstation) to install third party software.
• Unlocking a service provider locked cell phone. With the recent release of the iPhone in Canada, people all over will be unlocking their new toy for use with third party apps and other service providers. Illegal!
• Ripping CDs (which will increasing be sold with digital locks)
• Keeping a library of recorded TV shows. There are time limits on how long you can keep a recorded copy of television media.

This is only the tip of the iceberg that could sink our Canadian freedoms. The bill goes on to discriminate against the blind, educators, and puts our rights in the hands of entertainment companies.

Send a letter to your government representative:
MP letter alert.

Michael Geist has a great website that keeps current with the DMCA bill.

While I do love the rock blaring in the background, I’m not the diving type. Sometimes it takes a bit for me to get the creative juices flowing. The web is a fantastic way to gather ideas from a wide range of sources. Inspiration doesn’t have to be specific to your project medium so don’t be afraid to look in some unlikely places.

There are plenty of “Inspiration Lists” on the internet, this is just a list of my favorites.

Galleries

Design galleries and showcases are a great places to research design trends in a variety of online industries. Be warned, sometimes it can be inspiration overload. Keep focused and don’t let all the flashy lights distract you.

http://www.cssmania.com
http://www.unmatchedstyle.com/
http://www.stylegala.com/
http://www.cssbeauty.com/
http://cssremix.com/

Coding & Development

Inspiration isn’t just for the visual medium, sometimes we need creative solutions for what holds it all together.

http://www.alistapart.com
http://www.w3.org/
http://www.hackwordpress.com
http://nettuts.com/

Magazines, Internet Publications & Tutorials

Great tips and tricks for the design process. Showcases some great work.

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/
http://www.layersmagazine.com/
http://psdtuts.com/

Color

Need some color in your life?

http://www.colourlovers.com/
http://www.visibone.com/colorlab/

If all else fails, go for a walk. Nothing is more inspiring then the world around you.