Unless you want to have a complete room devoted to your Web library, you can't buy every book that makes the market. But in this business you simply can't afford to let all the good books, and hence, techniques and technologies, pass you by. So what's a financially-challenged Web developer to do? Stick with the best, forget the rest. Invest your money (and time) into books like Web by Design, a book that covers it all--HTML design & layout, graphics, color, shape & space, typography and multimedia.
This book isn't another "buy the book and we give you a CD filled with software that will time out in a month" deal. In fact, there's no CD-ROM included with this volume, only facts, tips, instructions, tutorials and information that will help you to design and manage your Web site. The book focuses on the basics, but covers all the bases, including (if you'd like, you can see the Table of Contents):
What Every Web Designer Must Know
Designing for Success
Inner Space: Designing for the Screen
Total Control: Web Page Layout
Bright Sites: Designing with Color and Graphics
The Fine Art of Fonts: Web Typography
Dynamic Media: Multimedia and Web Programming
For those working with graphics, the book includes a 32-page Color Resource section, with 216 color swatches, complete with hexidecimal and RGB color codes. It also shows you hints about how to (and how not to) use colors for the greatest impact.
Although the book deals with concepts and techniques, there is a wealth of practical knowledge presented as well. From page layout, to positioning, to CSS, to information management and logistics, the book covers it all. Thinking of writing for the Web, versus writing for print? The book covers that as well. Trying to figure out how to design your site's navigation? Chapter 3, The Art of the Interface, covers navigation in detail.
While the book has enough information in it to be an encyclopedia of Web knowledge, it is written in a style that's meant to be read, and used. Too many developers just jump into the design of a site without giving the design a second thought. And then, a week later, they're back at it again, changing the design after they find that it is lacking in some manner. Web by Design: The Complete Guide will save you that hassle, as it will provide you with the knowledge that will enable you to design your site right the first time.
Buy this book and you'll soon have a 900-page dog-eared Web resource at your side. But don't loan it to anyone...you may have a hard time getting it back!
Dr. Website®
