If you have done any kind of research about finding a good web designer, no doubt you will have seen the expression "standards" used with respect to Website design.  Now, as a user of a site and not its designer, why are 'standards' important to you?  All you want is a site, does it really matter that it meets some 'arbitrary' set of standards?

The real answer is, it depends.  It depends on whether or not you want a site that will function in all situations across all browsers.  It depends on whether or not you want a site that, as it continually grows, continues to provide a good user experience.  It depends on whether or not you want a site that, one day, because you asked for such and such, it will require a complete make-over just because standards weren't adhered to.  Yes, if you want quality out of your site, it's best to build that quality in from the ground up.  In some industries, you hear people talking about quality built in, not slapped on.  That holds true for website design as well.

It takes good craftsmanship and quality tools to build quality into a design.  It also takes a particular attention to detail.  As well, it takes a bit more time to do the job right, from the very beginning.  It's also true that a good quality job will stand the test of time.

So, when you're looking for a web designer, look for one whose ethics and behavior bespeak of quality from the start, and one who adheres to high standards in this industry.  As the owner of a quality website, you will be glad you did.

I can see some of you scratching your head and asking, "What does he mean by 'equal'"?  You have probably browsed hundreds if not thousands of sites.  You may be looking for something particular, or maybe not.  How often do you leave a site thinking, "Gee, that was difficult to navigate", or "Wow, I could never find what I was looking for there".  Or, perhaps you thought, "Gosh, what a well-designed site -- everything was right at my finger-tips!".

Now, you can understand when I write, "equal".  If all sites were created 'equal', there would be no variability in ease of navigation, quality of presentation, and quickly finding what you're looking for.  The only issues separating the plethora of designers in the marketplace would be cost and the working relationship.  Unfortunately, this is not so.  Well, then, what makes some sites 'more equal' than others?

Equality amongst websites stems from these four points:

• a site that will attract and keep visitors
• a site that will communicate your message to your audience
• a site that is easy to navigate
• a site in which the user can easily find what they are looking for

As your designer, I am committed to working with you on each of these points above.  A key component to a successful site is quality communication between the designer and the client.  You know your business.  I listen carefully to how you describe your business, and what you want to communicate to your audience.  We explore in depth who your audience is and what you believe they expect from you.  When you give your potential clientele what they desire, you have a captive audience.

Now that you have their attention -- by attracting them and by communicating effectively with them, you want to keep them coming back.  You do this not only by the content you provide, but by the ease of use of the site.  Two key components are navigation and locating relevant content.  Navigation can be smooth and intuitive, or it can be mysterious and daunting.  As you look around at websites, you are sure to have thought to yourself about how easy or how hard it was to navigate or find what you were looking for.  My goal is to take your ideas, content, and the relatedness of the components and to meld then into a cohesive whole that put a smile on the faces of your visitors.

These are the key areas of good website design.  I welcome your queries and look forward to helping you build your window to the world.