So what's the concensus on using a web template?

[QueHuong]

I just found this really nice looking template online and I feel a little guilty using it. But other than that, I pretty much have to since I have to whip up a web page for my college club pretty soon, and I'm not all that creative...so I can make it either ugly and original or pretty and unoriginal. As for the coding, I code by hand, trying my best to follow W3C's standards including using CSS and XHTML as opposed to deprecated and browser specific tags. It's the latter side I'm gonna be happy with the result in; it's the former unartistic side that I won't be able to brag about.

The template I'm using is here:

http://www.ossoba.com/free_business.html

As you can see, it's nothing too exotic that would constitute as being truly extraordinary - it's simple and elegant, which is what I value. Of course, I'm not going to use the graphics, but I'm gonna swipe the layout (with slight changes) and other minor details. So how many here used a template or heavily borrowed ideas from another site design (for whatever reaons - lack of creativity, time, etc)? And what's the general feeling on using such a template?

Regardless of opinion, I'm still gonna use this template, but I would like to know if people tend to value the coding of the document more (making sure it's compatible in all browsers, coding efficiently that saves time when making changes, using javascript/client/server side programming to make a robust web page, etc) or the visual aspect more (making a site that's pretty and original; intuitive navigation, awesome photoshop skills, etc).

 

[NoReMoRsE]

Hey! That's my template!















j/k

 

[notfred]

You're going to either pay the $10 or keep the "Designed by Ossoba Studio" text on your site, right?

Personally I have nothing against template use, as long as they're freely available tempaltes and not stolen, but seeing basically the same design repeatedly gets boring.

As far as the final question: the msot important thing is usability, regardless of what the page looks like or what the code looks like. Really, if your code works, I don't care how ugly it is. And if I can't find me way around your site, I don't care how pretty it is.

 

[Trygve]

Originally posted by: MindStorm

I would like to know if people tend to value the coding of the document more (making sure it's compatible in all browsers, coding efficiently that saves time when making changes, using javascript/client/server side programming to make a robust web page, etc) or the visual aspect more (making a site that's pretty and original; intuitive navigation, awesome photoshop skills, etc).

Yes.

That's a little bit like asking whether I think a working engine or a working steering wheel is more important in a car. Both have to be there in order for it to serve its purpose.

However, if I were hiring web designers, I'd go with the one who can code efficient, universally compatible webpages. Creating a new design or layout is easy; finding someone who can do a competent job of turning out well-coded pages is a lot harder.