Web Design for the No-talent Artist

Almost everyone enjoyed art class, but let’s be honest–there was probably only one kid in each classroom with actual talent. Such is the case with true Web design. So you may not be a brilliant artist, but you can probably create a credible Web site design that serves the purpose of attracting attention. If your graphic art talent is limited to stick figures and cartoon landscapes, well then, this article may be for you.

Know Your Limitations

Honestly judge your own abilities. You know the level of artistic talent you possess, so operate within your limits. If you can’t draw two straight lines, stick to computer-generated graphics. If you don’t know the difference between a pixel and a palette, perhaps you’re better off with text effects. If art is important to your Web site’s business, don’t be afraid to consider hiring a professional.

Know Your Tools

If you expect to create professional-caliber graphics with Adobe Photoshop the first time you boot up the software, then you’re in for a surprise. Chances are you’ll either create a big mess or get frustrated pretty quickly. If you’ve never used any kind of graphics-editor before, give yourself time to learn. Find software that has a number of creative built-in special effects and makes your first-time images look better than average.

Familiarize yourself with dingbats–these are little pieces of icon art that a talented illustrator has developed and turned into a font. There are thousands of them available for download on the Internet for free or a small fee. Each letter corresponds with a graphic; for instance, type the letter A, and you’ll have a beautiful coat of arms. Dingbats come in all shapes and sizes and can look like buttons, arrows or caricatures.

If you aren’t a whiz at HTML, consider a WYSIWYG (What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get) layout editor like FrontPage or WebSite Creator by CM4all. This type of site-editor makes it easy to envision your final Web pages–the changes you make in your template will be reflected nearly identically on your Web site.

If you do know a little something about programming and Web page design, consider building your site with external, included files. One of the most important rules of good Web design is a consistent look and feel, starting with the navigation. The navigation should look and operate the same on every page. If you construct your navigation within an external file that is included at page load, you can save yourself tons of repetitive efforts.

If you want to add a new section, instead changing the navigation on hundreds of pages, you merely change the included file and you’ve added more functionality. There are probably other pieces of your site that will appear on every page. If so, put them in external files–you’ll be glad you did.

Plan Ahead

This step is essential from the most gifted professional to the earliest beginner. Even if you can’t draw or program, you can visualize. Spend a lot of pre-computer time conjuring images in your head. Try to transform those images to paper so you’ll remember what you had in mind.

Use Photographs

For the no-talent artist, photography becomes the ultimate substitute for computer-generated art. Buy a digital camera or a scanner. If you need a graphic that looks like a pumpkin patch, take a picture of one. Want to create that perfect background scene to set the mood? There’s no better realization than the actual thing. Props in photography can serve an equally compelling purpose as that omni-filtered vector you spent days developing. If you don’t have the money or inclination to do digital photography, there are plenty of stock catalogs available for a reasonable fee.

In summary, why make it harder on yourself than it needs to be? If you get intimidated by the marvelous professional artists out there, you’ll never give yourself a chance. Some of the most enjoyable sites on the Web are created by people who wouldn’t be able to dAZzle anyone with their artistic skills–but understand how to use the tools and techniques that are available to every Web designer.