Why I Make Websites

April 04, 2009 | David Raffauf

The web is full of bad website designs, confusing jargon and overcomplicated navigation.  Most web design isn’t nearly as good as it could be.  I want to breathe life into your site, cut through the jargon and help you reach customers.  Your website doesn’t have to be the awkward nerd at the party, with lots of interesting ideas but no way to get anyone’s attention.

With the rise of some traditional print design principles on the web we’re seeing a lot more elegance and style that’s typically reserved for magazines and annual reports.  But it’s not all rainbows and unicorns.  We’ve lost some of the energy and wonder we had in the pioneering days of the internet.  With the rise of print techniques online we’ve lost sight of the fact that this is a different medium than print.  We’re losing some of the innovation.

Of course we all have to work within our limitations, and there are certainly enough to cripple innovation on any website: tight budgets, short timelines and the impenetrable nature of Flash to most search engines.  But we can work within these constraints to make amazing experiences.  Evocative stories, colorful characters, artistic style and simplicity are silver bullets in the world of constraints.  We see this all the time in movies, music and video games; and it works just as well online.

The web is an inherently techie place but it doesn’t have to feel that way.  I want to make websites that capture visitors’ imaginations and stand the test of time.

The internet has become a million cafes, college dorms, lecture halls and special interest clubs all rolled up into one convenient location.  Telling your story, providing a useful service or making people’s lives easier through your website is your way to reach people in this new marketplace.  I can help.