Am I just not right for web design?

Hi, I've tried and tried to make websites via Dreamweaver. I know how to do it I just can't create anything that looks any good. Do I just not have the artistic skills to create websites?x

Thanks, Misha

 

Practice makes perfect, keep trying. and search for some tutorials online! Remember if you give up you will never know how good you COULD have been!

 

Yes, I've tried tutorials and I can make the websites but thats just following instructions.

 

Totally right! Practice, practice, practice! When I started I probably made a hundred sites - all done in notepad and paint shop pro. None were for money (not that you could really do any IM stuff back then) and it was all learning. It takes a while to get an idea of what you want to do and what you're good.

 

Theres two fundamental aspects to making any web page esthetically appealing: layout, and graphics. I really feel strongly that tutorials will help you in the layout aspect, even if you are just following instructions. As for your artistc skills, I would suggest playing around with photoshop. It will help you become more artistically oriented and will help you with the graphics aspect of web design.

Most importantly, don't give up. Practice makes perfect

 

Maybe you should trying customizing some templates availible for free online first. Then after you get good at it, you can start building websites from scratch.

 

Try getting a base or template and try to change a bit. Use NVU whihc is simpler and free compared to Dreamweaver. And its also free. Download it her http://nvudev.com
Goodluck.

 

if you're like me and can't design for crap. Learn to code. Learn to code really well, and you'll be making money rather quickly.

 

I'd say forget dreamweaver and use plain old notepad.

It takes a while to get good. I consider myself alright, not really good, and I've been doing it for years.

 

keep using dreamweaver. just never go into the design section and keep messing around with code. keep looking at different websites and ask yourself how did they do that? what can be improved? look at their code. dont copy it though. just keep at it

 

If you are not good at HTML coding then you should use design view in DW.
Before you can do that, you must have the design template in your head.
Try to get the idea by applying from free downloaded web template. Remix them to be your own design.
And then start from basic in DW.

 

I think you are comparing your design with the other good designed sites (which has been designed by masters having YEARS of experience)..
Your first design cannot be the best in the industry.. keep trying and you will be there very soon in the list of Masters... Good Luck

 

When I start making websites, I draw them in a desktop publisher (serif page plus x2). This allows me to see everything that is going on, and to be able to easily drag and drop things, and just play around.

I can even take a screen print of a menu that I like, then crop, and position it where I want.

Once I am done, I then know exactily how I want the final result to look, and I can start coding it.

I use intype but if you are not very good with html syntax then use dramweaver.

I also use page plus to make all of my headers, buttons, and graphics. Just select the objects that you need and click export.

I hope this helps

Joel

 

No, I really disagree! START in notepad. Learn the basics. You can use dreamweaver later on if you so wish, but it'll save you hours and hours problem solving in the long term if you understand the basics!

 

I can't get on with Dreamweaver. I recommend MS Expression Web and Adobe Photoshop for the graphics.

 

Before starting to create a website, have a theme in your mind. Then try to construct the layout according to the theme in your mind.

 

Thanks for all of the posts guys!
I like the idea of doing tutorials and customizing them.
I know basic HTML but I don't really know enough to create good pages. Thats why I stick to Dreamweaver.
And since I'm quite young (still in highschool ) I've got years and years to practice.

Misha

 

Keep trying. Every web designer and developer has their own style and how they create things. Its up to YOU to find this style and then utilize it and make it as unique as possible. Good luck and keep trying, don't give up!

 

Just takes a lot of time and patience to learn. Some people are gifted with talent to make amazing websites and others it takes longer. I remember when I made such lousy websites and barly knew how to code but now after a few years of following tutorials and just from learning I can make great looking sites and how to code all the basics there are. Just keep tryin you'll get it.

 

No, it will cause more problems, particularly with page validity and cross browser compatibility.