Working With a Graphic Designer

[JP011]

Hello All,

I have some basic proficiency in making a web page (using WYSIYG Editors), but I'm starting up a bigger undertaking. I'm trying to create a very professional website for kids for this project- it will have a lot of content for kids and a products section.

I have a friend who is a talented graphic designer in a graduate program who has to do a large project having to do with kids for a class (nice coincidence eh?).

Anyways, I have all these big plans in my head, and she is going to create backgrounds, a logo, characters for the stories and products, buttons- the whole nine yards pretty much.

When we meet to lay out the ground work, I want to be prepared. What I need to know, is when working with a graphic designer like this case, what does am I resposible for (i.e. do I insert her designs into the editor, and add appropriate links?)

Additionally, I have kind of big plans for the web page, will it be appropriate to use an application to put this together (and what web editor is most reccomended?)

Sorry to go off topic- so my core question is what does a graphic designer expect me to bring to the table for her to put my ideas to life? And where does her responsibility stop and mine start?

Thanks for reading and for any responses!

 

[Xavier_3D]

WYSIYG Editors - Won't get you anywhere.

2 reasons for that:
1- SEOing will be very poor. You need to edit alot of places to make it successful.
2- Many things will not really be possible.

I still couldn't make out your role reading the whole abstract 3 times now. I seriously don't know what you are upto except for making a Website related to Kids Niche. I suggest you hire a Professional Programmer, that can like wise code the template as the graphic designer is making it. You can be the owner and can implement your ideas, because the graphic designer's images need to be sliced and properly placed, and no WYSIWYG editor in my knowledge is of that much level. There are automations, but putting singular graphics can be a hell lot difficult.

About your Core question. Just be straight forward with what you want, and like wise want her to design. Be sure to be clear on your expected audience, and their level of computer knowledge. Give her examples of sites you like and how you want it all to happen, but then again afterwards it will be a programmers job to actually make it a reality.

 

[weblord]

a kids site project. one person can work on what you need.
fireworks is to be used for the graphics and dreamweaver for the html layout.

 

[TeviH]

Starting with what the GD will bring to the table - is she proficient in creating layouts suitable for web? I remember one comical run in I had with a GD who was going to create all the layouts to the site... he gave me 8.5"x11" Illustrator files, with no navigation!! Needless to say, I was unprepared for this, as I had - very incorrectly - assumed he knew what he was doing. I of course had to completely redesign the whole site, and he was very mad because this adjusted the cost of the site. We were both annoyed and both had to eat certain expenses.

So - make sure she knows how to design for the web! And additionally knows how to deliver the files to you! If you are only expecting her to provide illustrations, and a general theme to the site, and you will create web-ready mockups of the individual pages, that's another story. You need to really work this out with her.

As far as what you'll be doing - you have to learn yourself some HTML/CSS muchos pronto! You might also need a programmer to help you code this properly. If it's an extensive site, you'll want includes, and possibly database support. Especially if you're selling stuff.

Good luck!

 

[JP011]

Thanks for the replies so far!

I understand what you're getting it with the programming skills. I wanted to see what the extent of the capabilities of editors like Dreamweaver are. I was of the understanding that with it, I can make the layout of the site and insert the pictures as needed and with some work be able to make a respectable site.

Then again, with the extent of the website, it would be difficult to make alterations in the future if there isn't clean code. I'm really bootstrapping it right now- I want to get a base of visitors that enjoys using the site and build some brand recognition and loyalty before I launch any products- that could easily be a year from now, so I have plenty of time to work on that side, but I intend to plan the layout so that I work on the product section continuously and add the section with as little interruption as possible

The person I'm working with does understand that her designs are going to be used for the implementation of a website, and has most of her experience in doing so- so hopefully that isn't a problem.

Xavier_3D: I see what you're getting at- My role is simply that I'm an entrepreneur with ideas. The graphic designer I'm friends with agreed to help out and put a lot of hours in to give me a chance to make a legitimate website with a web 2.0 feel and put some other things together to help me get started. (and because of her program she has to anyways)

I want to know if I can put in some hard work and become proficient with a certain editor, can I make this site into reality. I know some code, but I'm far from having the skill to program from scratch the kind of site I need. I understand that a talented programmer is the way to go, but that might not be an option.

Does that make more sense?

Sorry about this being long, I hope people are still reading.

I guess the next extension of this question is to explain a little more about what I'm doing and what I might need (which may I add isn't much)

The site will be meant to be entertaining and educational. I have some characters planned out and there are storylines for each. The site will have a number of contests for kids to submit their ideas to. There will be stories, a couple of basic games I will try to get made for me, coloring (I don't plan on the coloring being interactive right not, just printing out blck and white pics), and a number of other basic activities.

I need to set up a layout, and I can add the content myself. I feel like it wouldn't require a huge amount of hours for a talented programmer, but I will need to know more about the process to guide my friend who is designing the images.

Sorry if I lost anyone with the long post, but again, Thanks for the replies so far!

A little add-on:

I was looking around at "competitors" for my ideas, and I guess what I had envisioned would be done through what other sites accomplished using flash (which I don't want for my site). But there were some awesome sites with more of a table layout (and a lot of horrible sites mixed in). And looking through zengarden for a little while, you get a feel for the possibilities of CSS, even in a table sort of format.

Its a lot better seeing sites with examples like that with good clean code to get a feel for what they used.

 

[shockie]

the graphics designer should be responsible for the graphics and possibly where they show up on the website. if they're making a template then they could be responsible for slicing it. other than that, all the other responsibilities are yours.

also, learn xhtml and css. dreamweaver doesn't make websites for you, it is a tool for you to make a website. that should be the mentality you have and the fundamentals should be learned on your end (xhtml + css).

web designing without knowing those is like using a calculator but unable to do simple arithmetic in your head... jmho.

 

[JP011]

Shockie: Thanks, that's a good analogy to think about.

Like I said, I'm looking at CSS, and my next step now is to learn the basics of CSS and build on that.

I've been practicing the basics using FrontPage, working with some basic CSS code linked to HTML to start.

I have not gotten to the point yet where I'm using any graphics within the CSS, so I guess thats my next step. If the GD that I'm working with creates a number of backrounds for me, and fonts/color schemes, I can't quite grasp how that is going to be incorporated within the code.

I think I'll try to pull some code from one of the zengarden examples and highlight where I'm having trouble if I get a chance.

In the meantime, I appreciate any guidance/resources/tutorials/templates with good code, that are highly reccomended for me to learn CSS and to learn more about graphic designers so that I better understand where she is coming from.

Again, thanks for all the responses!