How to use Web Templates in Commercial Web Design
January 8, 2009
Hi,
I’ve been a advocate of website templates in commercial web design for years now, because it saves the designer a lot of time and in saves the clients a good chunk of cash.
… There are occasions where from-scratch custom design makes sense, but for most web design projects, templates are a great solution – especially with a little customization to make it look unique.
How to use Templates in the Web Design BUSINESS process?
I was recently asked by a web designer how I would show clients the templates that are out there? Do you send them to a template site (free or commercial) or do you do something else?
My suggestion is to meet with the client, figure out basically what kind of style their project needs, and then you as the web designer, go out there and take a bunch of screen captures of templates that you think could work. This way your client doesn’t have to sort through thousands of templates blindly – most clients don’t have much in the way of design skills …
Don’t show too many templates!
I would not show them more than say five templates. If you give them too many options, nothing will get done. You will find yourself in design-paralysis because the client will have a heck of a hard time making up their minds.
Stefan Mischook
www.killersites.com
