designing clean websites that still make a big impact, by using simple layout, beautiful typography and striking photography.

The first is Common Sense Tips for Creating Web Design Layouts, and it’s so rich in information and resources that you might not want to plan on digesting it in one sitting. Here’s one excerpt – there’s an embarassment of riches here – lots and lots of good material to choose from.

Prioritize top to bottom

There only so much content you can squeeze above the fold (although I’m not a big fan of the stereotype), so you have to prioritize. Sure, color, font size and other tricks will help you organize things later on, but first you need to determine what your layout looks like from top (important) to bottom (less important).

Use grid based design

Once you have the major vertical blocks in place, it’s time to think about how you will structure the content horizontally. In some cases you might want to use the full page width (header) or split the block into two columns (content + side panel) or even three columns (showcase work, services, etc. on the homepage).

Resources:

When it comes to prioritizing, grids, columns and wireframing, there’s just one article out there that you need to read: Redesigning the ExpressionEngine Site. Period! That’s all you need to know! If you don’t suddenly feel enlightened, with a big grin on your face after reading this article, then maybe you’re in the wrong business, my friend.

We will note that if you look at Adrian’s “About” page, there’s a picture of Adrian – and a partially obscured image of his dog, Tony.

We’ve noted elsewhere the suspicious coincidences of brilliant website designers, whose dogs seem to have a mysterious relationship with content development and design – but don’t seem to be publicly credited – and the dogs are never available for telephone interviews. (The most notorious example, of course: the two brilliant sites Subtraction, purportedly written by the man, and MisterPresident, purportedly writen by the man about the dog).

Eventually people are going to have to come clean when they use their dogs for uncredited creative work. In the meantime, we hope they’re at least getting lots of walks and belly rubs.

In the meantime – dog or man Rubiqube is a great resource.

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