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Every College Student Can Build a Website

Posted by Tom on Sunday, January 07, 2007 to Web Design & Usability, Random Thoughts

I’m currently skimming this book for a project I’m working on. As far as the subject matter is concerned, I would recommend the book. Here is the rub. On page 78 the author states: “There are several ways to build a website. You can hire an individual, (college students can typically do it for $100 or so), or you can hire a web design company (they can be very expensive).” On the next page she goes on to say: “If you can navigate your way through a program such as Microsoft Word, then you can build your own website.”

Where does this notion come from that every teenage cousin or college student can build a website? Sure, technically almost anybody could cut & paste some HTML together and upload it to a web server. But will the outcome constitute a website, especially one used as a business tool? Most definitely not. I don’t pretend to be a writer (well, maybe a very little bit), a real estate agent or plumber. Why then do most people pretend to have under-age web designers in the family?

The book devotes one chapter each on the value of copy writing and the importance of taking professional pictures, which I guess will then be housed by a website build “for $100 or so.” Not in my book.


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Comments

Comment By Lisa on Thursday, August 28, 2008 at 8:59 AM

Hi there Tom --

I'm glad I found this blog! I've been working in DNN for a couple of years now, we need more designers talking about this CMS!

I'm a designer, I have a BFA with a concentration in Graphic Design and I graduated in 1996, so, I've been doing web design for quite a while. I feel your frustration with this book -- but -- if there is one thing that I have learned is that there are people who are always going to undervalue our profession. For every one of those there is someone who does see value in what we do.

You know, looking at the cover of that book, although its not my style it looks like they probably hired a professional to design it (well, probably the publishing company). You ought to ask the author how many copies he thinks he would sell by having his cousin's son on his mother's side design his cover.

Anyway -- thanks for the great site! Keep up the good work!

Lisa

Comment By Tom Kraak on Thursday, August 28, 2008 at 9:12 AM

Thanks Lisa. I never thought of that ... asking about the book's cover design would be a great way to confront the author :)

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