Custom design or templates?
Saturday June 21, 2008
That is the question that Foamers.net asks. Is it better to build your own custom design or use a template? Personally, I would have to give the wishy-washy answer of "it depends". If you're a good or great designer, then using a template wouldn't make sense. But what if you only have a few hours to get a site up and live? Using a pre-built template might make sense even for a pro designer in that case. Or if you're just starting out, using a template that you're allowed to modify might be a great way to learn Web design and new techniques that you weren't familiar with. But taking the time to build a site from scratch and doing all the testing is one of the best ways to learn HTML, CSS, and Web design.
Comments
I never liked templates. I think that web designers always have to do custom designs for their clients. They have to explain the role of custom web design and the time for making it.
Your right
It’s all down to productivity and client requirements. If you’re client is a startup business with no brand identity and no funds to go through the whole process, why not use a good quality tempalte that includes a licence fir customisation? Give them the option and be upfront about it. Let the client make the final choice after you’ve gone through teh pros and cons with them. If you’re a great designer, a small startup probably can’t afford to go through your whole design process… If your client has the funds, give them a custom design every time.
The main area where ‘customised templates’ can be a great tool for any designer are in the CMS market. Buy a good quality template, customise the typography and some of the images and you’ve got a high quality personal product for your client in much less time than building from scratch. Better for your client (they get the site more quickly) better for you (more profit and a shortly turn around time).
Now I’m off to design a custom website for a client