Professional Web Design: The Best of Smashing Magazine

Create Fantastic Web Sites with Advice From Some of the Best in the Industry

Professional Web Design presents guidelines for professional Web development, including communicating with clients, creating a road map to a successful portfolio, rules for professional networking, and tips on designing user interfaces for business Web applications. Inside youll find some of the best of Smashing Magazines coverage of professional Web design and the business side of Web development, with advice from trusted experts who will help you learn how to respond effectively to design criticism, use storytelling for a better user experience, and apply color theory to your professional designs.

Topics covered include:

• Harsh Truths about Corporate Web Site Paul Boag
• Portofolio Design Study: Design Patterns Vitaly Friedman
• Creating a Successful Online Portfolio Sean Hodge
• Better User Experience with Storytelling Francisco Inchauste
• Designing User Interfaces for Business Web Applications Janko Jovanovic
• Progressive Enhancement and Standards Do Not Limit Web Design Christian Heilmann
• Color Theory for Professional Designers Cameron Chapman
• Is John the Client Dense or Are You Failing Him? Paul Boag
• How to Identify and Deal with Different Types of Clients Robert Bowen
• How to Respond Effectively to Design Criticism Andrew Follett
• Web Designers Guide to Professional Networking Steven Snell
• Expert Advice for New Web Designers Various

Proving clear, concise advice from industry experts, Professional Web Design will help you get started on creating fantastic Web sites with top tips and advice from some of the best in the industry.

Smashing Magazine (smashingmagazine.con) is one of the worlds most popular Web-design online magazines. True to the Smashing mission, the Smashing Magazine book series delivers useful and innovative information to Web designers and developers.

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Chapter 1: Harsh Truths about Corporate Websites.

You Need a Separate Web Division.

Managing Your Website Is a Full-Time Job.

Periodic Redesign Is Not Enough.

Your Website Cannot Appeal to Everyone.

You Are Wasting Money on Social Networking.

Your Website Is Not All about You.

You're Not Getting Value from Your Web Team.

Design by Committee Brings Death.

A CMS Is Not a Silver Bullet.

You Have Too Much Content.

Conclusions.

Chapter 2: Portfolio Design Study: Design Patterns and Current Practices.

Light vs. Dark Design.

How Many Columns?

Introductory Block on Top?

Layout Alignment.

Navigation Alignment.

Search Box Design.

Flash Elements.

Where to Put Contact Information?

"About Us" Page.

Client Page.

Services Page.

Portfolio Page.

Workflow Page.

Contact Page.

Specials and Extras.

Other Findings.

Summary.

Chapter 3: Creating a Successful Online Portfolio.

Pitfall #1: Obfuscating.

Pitfall #2: Cramming Information.

Pitfall #3: Overdoing It.

Pitfall #4: Unusual Navigation.

Pitfall #5: Visual Clutter.

Principles of Effective Portfolio Design.

Define Your Criteria and Strategies for Success.

Consider Multiple Portfolios.

Target Your Market.

Prioritize Usability.

Use the Right Technology.

Plan the Project.

Limit the Scope and Type of Work You Promote.

Provide Adequate Contact Information, Documentation, and Explanations.

Present Your Work in the Context of Your Goals.

Infuse Your Personality in the Design.

Promote and Leverage Your Work.

Develop Long-Term Goals.

Chapter 4: Better User Experience with Storytelling.

It Begins with a Story.

Revealing the Design in Stories.

The Power of Emotion.

The Basics of Storytelling for User Experience.

Bringing Teams Together.

Pursuing a User-Centered Goal.

Defining the User.

The Benefits.

Happily Ever After: The Reality.

A Few Modern-Day Storytellers.

Dorelle Rabinowitz.

Curt Cloninger.

Christian Saylor.

Cindy Chastain.

The Storytelling Experiences Around Us.

In Packaging: Apple.

In Marketing: Six Scents Perfume.

In Architecture: HBO Store.

In Data: Taxi 07: Roads Forward.

The End Is the Beginning of This Story.

Chapter 5: Designing User Interfaces for Business Web Applications.

Websites vs. Web Applications.

Different Types of Web Applications.

First, Know Your Users.

How to Identify Users.

Design Process.

Sketching.

Prototyping.

Testing.

Design Principles.

No One Likes Surprises.

Users Should Be Able to Be Efficient.

Help!

Can't Get No Satisfaction.

Essential Components of Web Applications.

Web Forms.

Master-Detail Views.

Dashboards.

Heavy Use of Tables.

Reports.

Don't Forget UI Design Patterns.

Case Study: Online Banking Application.

Final Thoughts.

Chapter 6: Progressive Enhancement and Standards Do Not Limit Web Design.

Shiny New Technologies vs. Outdated Best Practices.

The Mess That ...

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