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Pros & Cons of Templates for Web Design
Pros & Cons of Templates When looking at a web designer's portfolio, once in a while you may notice some designs are not very unique, or that a few of them look similar. This can happen when the designer just happens to keep landing the same types of projects! It can also happen in the case where the designer is one who chooses to stick to tried-and-true layouts that are seen across the web. This can be a good idea when when the designer knows what works for a particular web site, or if it's simply what their customer wanted. It's also possible that the designer is limited in their ability to create designs that are very unique because of his range of design skill. Which is okay, too. However, when you've seen too many sites that seem sort of 'cookie-cutter', chances may sometimes be, that the designer has used a template. Websites-by-number?
When I was little I often got those kiddie painting kits they called, "Paint By Number". The concept was that the black and white drawing on the canvas had each section marked with a number, which related to a color. A template is basically sort of like a "Paint By Number" for the web, because it's all mapped out, and already to just plug in your text and change the slogan, and title. Sometimes the colors can also be changed in some templates. They are available all over the Internet and can often be sort of not very unique looking but sometimes there are some skilled artists out there who, for their means of making a living, create and sell beautifully designed templates, which can be very lucrative for those who find the right market. Template dealers often sell to customers who want a quick method of getting something online, usually to tide them over with at at least a 'presence' online until they can learn to create their own web site, or while they take time to hire a professional. Also templates are used by professionals in business who are not very design-savvy. Templates are the answer here because they provide a fast solution and something that's easy to update without having to hire a designer every time there is a change to make. Why I try not to use templates
There are cases when customers have purchased a template or built one on their own, and would like a designer to use it, when developing their site for them. It hasn't happened yet to me, but of course I try to respect all the wishes of my clients. I guess that is what sets me apart from other designers. My portfolio of past work is not full of look-alike sites, mainly because I don't use templates, but more importantly, because the customer wanted the site to look precisely that way. I don't think it's fair to hand over a web site that hasn't been 100% developed by me. If I ever find a need to get outside help, I ask the customer's permission first. If a customer wants me to implement something I don't do, such as a Flash header, I ask them if it is alright if I outsource that aspect of the job to another designer, and I provide them the contact info of that designer. If they decide the job isn't right for me, I can give them a few names of folks who can do it. So unless a customer has offered a template to be used for their web site (which they must own rights to, of course), I do not use them. So, when IS a good time to use templates? I have used templates as a reference for my own learning purposes. I occasionally stumble upon beautiful templates for sale to customers who wish to build their own web sites. I have looked at many of these templates and sometimes I will save a screen shot of them to my computer, for creative inspiration. I do not, however, use them for any purposes. I fail to see the reason behind using someone else's creative talent and design and pawn it off as my own. I believe in continuing education, no matter what industry one works in. So if ever I encounter a nicely laid out template, I'll often refer to it again and again, study the code, css layout, and try to understand the technique of how it was coded and how the graphics were put together. It helps me gain an appreciation for other designers' work but also sets a standard for how much better I want to get, at web design. Bobbi Jo Woods is a full time web designer & computer guru. For more articles like this and to see her work, you can visit www.bwoodsdesign.com. Bobbi Jo Woods, CEO/Fanatic
B. Woods Design - Steering Professional Managed Websites for Business © Bobbi Jo Woods - B. Woods Design |
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