TOMG's Blog

ASP-Yeah, web design used to be geeky

So, for our latest uni assignment, we’re being coerced into using ASP.Net. For those of you who don’t know, ASP.Net is a web based programming language that was introduced by Microsoft in 2002, as a method for coders who we’re used to the .Net language, to easily convert those skills to be able to create websites.

However, my dear Hallam University (and Microsoft, for that matter), theres one tiny thing you overlooked in this decision.

We’re programmers. We don’t know shit about design.

Seriously

And of course, you have to also contend with the fact that we ALL think we do know about design. Which only adds to the complication.

What does this result in? Well, it results in either one of two different scenarios. Either

1. Half of the sutdents completely ignore the design. You end up with a site that works, but has absolutely ZERO design. We’re talking text boxes, labels, buttons and absolutely NO colour. All tables, no CSS. All function, no style. All “Well, at least it works”, and actually quite a lot of “I wont lose marks for it all being white, will I guys? Guys?..”
2. The other half are the litteral opposite. They spend all day trying to make the site look “Tottally rad, man!” You end up with this beautiful table based layout (due to them not ACTUALLY knowing any CSS, or what is is), with lots of navigation tabs, plenty of gradients, perhaps even an “About” page. Absolutely no functionality what-so-ever.

What is the moral of this story? You don’t set a bunch of programmers a god damn assignment to make a god damn website. God damn.

And yes, I fall into the first group.

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