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This presentation was given to students at Boston University's Center for Digital Imaging Arts in Waltham, MA.
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VISUAL DESIGN For Content Management Systems
WHAT IS A CMS?
What is a CMS? • Database-driven framework for creating dynamic websites • Allows clients to edit their own content • Saves time on site edits and updates post-launch • Many options available:
• Wordpress • Drupal • Expression Engine • Joomla • …?
Which CMS to choose? • Wordpress
• Good for basic promotional sites and blogs; can be expanded with custom code
• Drupal • More flexible & secure than Wordpress, but more complex to get up
and running • Good for sites that require distinct “sections” of content that have
different display requirements
• Expression Engine • More flexible than both Wordpress and Drupal, but requires
extensive customization • Not open source; requires a license fee
AESTHETIC ELEMENTS OF DESIGN
Aesthetic Elements of Design • Type • Color • Line • Shape • Pattern/Texture • Size/Proportion • Value/Tone
Type • Web fonts: Typekit.com, Google Fonts, FontSquirrel.com • Focus on readability in body copy; visual interest in
headers
http://www.thedesigncubicle.com/
http://styletil.es/
http://fourkitchens.com/
http://dribbble.com/
http://thesquaregrid.com/
http://markboultondesign.com/
http://cssgrid.net/
TECHNICAL ELEMENTS OF DESIGN
Technical Elements of Design • Content and Content Types • Page Templates • CSS Grid Systems • Stylesheets • Web Fonts
Know your content types • Start with a few examples of real content:
• Blog posts • Projects • Image Galleries • News Items • Events
• Each will have its own needs for formatting and display
Working with page templates • Average CMS will have 1-3 page templates MAX • Code in template pulls content from database to create
HTML pages • Goal: 1 page template that outputs clean, semantic code • Let CMS handle element positioning • Let stylesheets handle text formats, background images,
etc.
Why use a grid? • Simplify major layout decisions to focus on details • Prevents accidental misalignment of page elements • Faster coding and iteration • Some grid systems are set up for responsive design
patterns: • http://cssgrid.net/ • http://unsemantic.com/ • http://goldengridsystem.com/
Working with Stylesheets • Separate content from presentation • Can add effects like borders, drop shadow, transparency
and round corners with CSS3 • Think global (body type, lists, callouts) to local (page-
specific elements)
Web fonts! • No need to stick with Helvetica and Georgia • Focus on readability for body copy; add visual interest in
branding, site header, etc. • May require special code in page templates or CSS • Resources:
• Typekit.com • Google Fonts • FontSquirrel • League of Movable Type
Additional Resources • A List Apart, Strategic Content Management:
http://www.alistapart.com/articles/strategic-content-management/
• CMS Myth, Responsive Design and Content Management Systems: http://www.cmsmyth.com/2012/03/content-on-all-the-things-responsive-design-and-content-management-systems/
• Smashing Magazine, Designing for Content Management Systems: http://coding.smashingmagazine.com/2010/11/22/designing-for-content-management-systems/
Additional Resources • FontSquirrel.com – free web fonts with @font-face-kit
downloads • Typekit.com – fonts hosted by Typekit (less code) • Google Fonts • LeagueofMovableType.com – free and beautiful fonts • 0to255.com – find hex value of multiple colors • Kuler.adobe.com – find color palette inspiration by
keyword or color • Lorempixel.com – generate placeholder images for design
comps and layouts
QUESTIONS?