Hi Everyone – I am a Web Design student. I have published two sites, and for a beginner I did a great job. The things I need to work on are valid code (can be frustrating as I use Dreamweaver), and being more daring with my layouts. Here is my question:
Is it bad to use templates from sites like template monster and customize them for my clients? I am not trying to take the easy way out – please keep these things in mind:
1) I am a NEW design student, in fact I have not even gotten to any Web Design classes
2) I charge my clients VERY LITTLE – so I would like to make the most of that with my time, etc.
I really appreciate feedback from those of you who are more experienced. I certainly want to develop a good reputation as I progress in my designs.
Is It Bad To Use A Template For Web Design As A Foundation For My Clients?
November 20th, 2009 by CTO WebOjO.com website designers Lahore Pakistan Leave a reply »
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there’s no restriction untill you put Template composer’s name/website name in a comment . like in javascript:
// This Script was downloaded from http://www.kwawa1000.com and
// This Script was made by S.V. Raman
like in HTML :
Its not compulsory.
Using templates / designs of other is good but, you’ve to edit it much more, so that you start thinking Eh ! why didn’t i created this script on my own. Editing work is Ok. But as u know, Web Programming is not for us. This is for world. so you need testing/using of the pages/script you made. TESTING PROCESS IS VERY TIRESOME WHEN YOU EDIT & THEN CHECK THAT web page is working properly and is offering the thing the user want.
So, I don’t recommend using templates. But i Recommend merging
HTML / Javascript downloaded in our own-created webpage.
I’ve also not gone to any web-design classes, but surfing the net for more than 8 years , i’ve built up myself as Middle level Web designer plus Ajax Beginner.
Thanks 4 reading,
Byee
It is ok to use as long you are not selling it to customers , then it is better to design templates yourself.
An old adage, you get what you pay for. I think you’re on the right track towards being a so-so designer..Templates are nice to use..and nice for your clients if you can give them a basic layout that can be modified. Using templates is fine, so long as you’re not just ripping someone else’s code without their permission (Template Monster is fine).
A lot of designers/coders etc… use stuff from other people/places and modify it as they need. And as you progress in the field, you’ll have probably thousands if not millions of little snippets or graphic chunks of your own that you save and use over and over..It’s one of the tricks of the trade, don’t re-invent the wheel.
I’m personally more of a coder myself and not all that graphically inclined, so I rely on a lot of ready-made stuff as well from the graphical standpoint.
So long as you charge for the work you are doing, you’ll do fine. Be fair, be honest. A typically non-scripted website designer goes about $15.00/hr for their work. So it really depends on how much time you spend doing something. While you’re a student and still learning things (like how to not use Dreamweaver…) factor in a lower per hour rate as you are learning how to do things so it’s naturally going to take you longer than it would someone who knows how to do it.
It can certainly help to kickstart a project where a clients design spec is simply, “We want a website”. Showing them free sample templates or other existing websites can often inspite them into making a decision and saying, “Yes! That is what I want.”
The only real question here is whether the ‘free’ templates include a license agreement that forbids selling derivatives for a profit.
As far as I can see from Template Monster dot com, the only real option is a developers license which allows packaging of a purchased template along with a developed web application as a framework for delivery, but precludes selling the template itself.
Other template sources may have different licenses.