I've tried a number of different methods for building Web sites, but here's the process I've found works best for me:
1. Imagine a basic site layout in my head - if it's really complex I might draw a wireframe on paper, but usually not.
2. Determine the basic site layout elements, and put them in as DIVs. I edit in HomeSite.
3. Write the CSS to generate the layout I'm looking for, again in HomeSite, but sometimes with help from TopStyle Pro.
4. Add some content so that I can determine where I should replace the divs. For example, if the header div is just an image with text, I might change that to <h1>
5. Convert the navigation to an unordered list and style that.
6. Test the initial design with my friends. They will generally hate it, but be too kind to tell me. So I like to show it to them when I can see their faces. Ie, I don't send them a URL to look at, but force them to look at my design when they are coming over for dinner or something. heh!
7. Throw it all out and start over at 1.
Once I've iterated through 3-5 designs, I usually find some that I don't hate and my friends don't cringe when they look at them. Then I take it to the customer. And start over from 1. :-) |