[ignitedcms]

Hi guys,

How do you go about developing great looking websites? Do you just dive straight into the coding (IMO should never do)

Or do you create a Photoshop template, meticulously planning the colour theme, padding, layout images and typography and then converting to web using perhaps a pre bought template or bootstrap framework.

IMO the second is the preferred.

What do you do?

[ivantcholakov]

The "greatness" shifted - from "visual design" towards "user experience"; from sites towards applications. Pages interact with a user with intense, it means a lot of front-end programming. This is what I would recommend:

1. Make your own CMS for starting project. Collect your permanent and tested solutions there.
2. Pick up a great CSS framework with tons of features, a big one, and really themeable. My personal choice is Semantic UI. It is practically impossible to make a complex responsive UI without adopting a prepared CSS framework.
3. Don't do everything alone, work together with a designer. It is not about the technical stuff that designers usually do, but for the sake of the artistic idea. For example, if I make a design, it becomes eventually, how to say, a "male" kind. This is why I design only the administration panels. But my designer which is female is capable to make front-end designs for any audience.

[ignitedcms]

Good points I really like this semantic UI I hadn't saw this before, to be honest I've just been using bootstrap with a few custom js libraries.

Good point about getting other designers involved, did she help you design your site:
http://hop-mebeli.com/

It looks really good. I would share some of my ideas but I'd have to kill you.

[ivantcholakov]

Yes, she did.
Edit: But this site is Bootstrap-based, before my migration.

[skunkbad]

I played around with Bootstrap for the first time this week:

suvovu dot com (I don't want any actual links to it, sorry).

I struggle with design, but it's functional (I think).

[ivantcholakov]

@skunkbad

If you prefer Bootstrap 3 for front-end, see https://github.com/dragdropsite/mPurpose It is not bad, only the slideshow is too old, but the Bootstrap's built-in slider could be used instead.

[skunkbad]

@skunkbad

If you prefer Bootstrap 3 for front-end, see https://github.com/dragdropsite/mPurpose It is not bad, only the slideshow is too old, but the Bootstrap's built-in slider could be used instead.

I've been using bootstrap 4

[itsmepuja17]

I have also been using that, love coding

[ignitedcms]

I think the advice I'd give is always, always start of with a photoshop template. Honestly, the time save with a solid static design is invaluable.

[ignitedcms]

In addition to having a solid PS design the following site is great when it comes to marketing.

http://www.goodui.org/