For a Web design and development agency, the most challenging project is the site that supports the firm itself. We laughed, we cried, we worked really hard, and it will never be finished.
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Web sites should evolve, not make sudden leaps at random intervals. Of course, from the outside looking in it may seem that's exactly what they do.
From personal sites to the largest Web properties, passing a noticeable visual threshold is about all that gets the attention of casual visitors – even if the site changes daily. In the visual timeline to the right, note big changes over the decade for PINT.com – from a thematic presence complete with atmospheric effects to a newspaper style, to a portal GUI style, a corporate style and now to today's content-focused site. Beyond these obvious visual shifts, an ongoing evolution occurs daily, well beyond what meets the eye .
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Design should be a holistic pursuit. The form of the site should support its function – but it should do so with passion, conviction, pizazz, and humor when appropriate.
The emphasis on content and ease of use should be quite evident in the PINT and customer sites of recent years. In the latest iteration of our own site, we strived to make navigation subtle and out of the way so content could shine, though users will note small organic touches that show the designer's eye throughout all aspects of execution.
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We strive for technical excellence in Web development at PINT. With our own site, we don't just talk the talk, we walk the walk.
Semantic markup, tableless CSS design, font replacement with sIFR, plenty of Flash, tons of JavaScript including Ajax, advanced search, a sophisticated back-end – and much more – power the new PINT.com. Did you notice? Should you notice? Come explore some of the interesting points in execution, then learn the lessons we learned along the way.
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Make Time
Good Web sites take time. The Web medium supports change, and even thrives on it – but changes take time. Without careful planning, the time needed to realize the site will increase.
Avoid Tool Trouble
Use the right tool for the job. Some tasks are easier with one technology than another, but be careful not to fall into the next rule....
Divvy the Load
Don't create artificial bottlenecks in your site-building process by relying too much on certain team members – share the load with the whole group, and things will go smoother.
Technology, Not Religion
There are many ways to do the same thing. If you think users are happy your site is built in Ruby and not Java, you are sadly mistaken.
Kill Your Prototypes Early
Like the UI experts say, if the prototype isn't right, it's time to let it go by the wayside. It is too easy for anyone to fall in love with their own creation.
Test Don't Guess
Put in tracking scripts, run tests, share designs and ideas with others outside the project team – and keep an open mind about the results.
Content is King
Nothing slows a Web project like a lack of content. Content takes time, and good content takes even longer. We wish we had more time.
Evolution Continues
We started with evolution – we end with the same point. Very soon we'll look back on this site as an archaic beauty. Everything moves on.