What would you class as creating a website?

[Aruffell]

Was having a discussion with someone earlier in regards to creation, design, development.

The subject of websites came up.

Take overclockers for instance, it uses actinic shopping cart i believe. The forums use vbulletin.

I have designed a few websites over my time from my own portfolio, a review site, a recruitment site for my old company, a mechanic site, a car part site, an owners club forum and so on.

All of the sites use wordpress and vbulletin, the reason being, i could spend time learning how to develop a nice looking site with functionality and an easy to use backend. Wordpress and vbulletin have this already so why not use that as a base.

When it comes to the sites ive developed. I've normally shown some examples of themes that are available and what it could look like and spoke to the people im making it for to see what they wanted.

Normally they have said they like one but with a few changes which is where (after i've installed the software and theme) i have used the basic knowledge i know of php to adjust things and move things around and just give it the slight custom feel that they've wanted.

The themes are obviously free or some are paid for, for your use to use how you wish.

Would you class this as design and development as you are still making something for them, the recruitment site for instance took me weeks, due to my mate and old boss lee being the pickiest person in the world and wanting is "just" right.

What's your opinions on this

Andy

 

[Aruffell]

Depends how customized it is.

What about if nothing was customised?

I mean most people on here know how to build computers what if you don't? You'd get someone to build it or obviously buy one.

Some people wouldn't have a clue how to install wordpress, let alone how to set up web hosting, how to buy a domain, what mysql even is, let alone that wordpress uses it for a database. They wouldn't have a clue how to install a theme, or what a widget is or the different between a post or a page.

So wouldn't you see it more like offering a service like when we build computers for our friends who haven't got a clue?

Andy

 

[Aruffell]

Yeah, using your interior designer scenario, someone who guides you through what it could look like and then uses the tools that are available to them to make it happen.

That's basically what i have done with the sites i have created, but my mate thinks thats cheating and that i should have designed it all from scratch in notepad which i think is ridiculous, don't you agree?

I also see it as bit as development, as you are developing it into a site, you are getting the base, adding the theme, customizing it, making it "function" (key word) which i would class as you developing it into "something" that "functions" as the end user wants?

Andy

 

[Aruffell]

No it's cheating but if your getting away with it and making money who cares

Cheating how? Not making money. Just done it for fun to build up skills and a portfolio really as i might go to uni next year in graphic design possibly. Would love to get into this kind of job when im able to work again though.

Andy