With multiple click and drag web design platforms popping up left and right. It is no reason why more businesses (start up or pre-existing) are using these platforms to create blog sites, professional websites, and even now business websites. These platforms though are not made for professional use. The themes, page transitions, and other options have a feel of cheap, generic, and bring thoughts back to flash websites. That is why even with all these platforms HTML 5 and WordPress still are used more than these other platforms.
HTML 5: oldest but never will die
HTML has been around since the beginning of web design. It is still the default go to create a website. Unlike platforms such as Wix and Square space, you will not need to wait for HTML to update to get new features. Since it has had years to grow and mature there is an abundance of learning materials, source code, and tools to create whatever you many have in mind for an HTML site. Now it is easier to create an HTML site and create mobile/tablet versions of websites. Alone HTML is a great platform but with the additions of CSS, JQUERY, and other code formats will push a website even further. The only real big issue with HTML is the learn curve of the code itself. Still learning all the code itself can take an up to a couple weeks or couple months depending on the person’s learning curve and determination.
Adobe Muse: a choice with no code
A new way of designing HTML sites is a new Adobe program; Adobe Muse. Even though this program uses similar elements as drag and drop web clients, it actually is a graphic designer’s best friend. Adobe Muse uses an interface similar to Adobe Indesign but allows you to use zero code knowledge to freely design a site. This program is perfect for graphic designers who do not want to learn or deal with code. The thing that differs this program from drag and drop platforms mostly is that the style, graphics, fonts, everything is up to the designer. Also unlike other drag and drop plat forms Adobe Muse has a community based market place. Meaning that widgets that are created by people can be freely downloaded or paid for to give websites an even more functions. The down side of Adobe Muse is the fact that it is still such a young platform. This may scare some people off, but if you can look past that Adobe Muse seems easily that it may take Adobe Dreamwear’s place as the go to Adobe web program.
WordPress: new rising star
WordPress is a relatively new platform compared to some other ways of creating a website. WordPress started off as a blogging platform similar to Blogger and Tumblr, but has now become a platform to create responsive websites. Even though the code for WordPress itself is PHP (a cousin to HTML) you do not even need to know code to work with it. WordPress uses a dashboard style for creating pages, blog posts, and any other changes you may want to make. If you want to add more features or change the look of your site it is easy as Apple’s app store. To give you’re WordPress new features such as ecommerce, private pages, or anything you can think of you will need to go to the plugins and find what plugin will suit your needs. WordPress uses templates as a way to give the entire website a uniform look. These templates can be free or paid for, free seems like the go to option for most people starting off. There is nothing wrong with these themes just they may be limited, not bug tested, and may not update themselves. While paid themes will have more options, pre installed plugins, and will update automatically. The downfall of WordPress is the dashboard and the time it takes to get use to using its interface.
What should you take from this
- Drag and drop platforms can give off an unprofessional appearance
- HTML is still relevant and a go to for websites
- Adobe Muse Though young is still a great program for non friendly designers to use for HTML based sites
- WordPress has an infinite possibilities for what a website can do
