| Web site design crosses multiple disciplines of | | | | fixed width design prefer precise control over the |
| information systems, information technology and | | | | layout of a site and the precision placement of |
| communication design. The web site is an information | | | | objects on the page. Other designers choose a liquid |
| system whose components are sometimes classified | | | | design. A liquid design is one where the web designing |
| as front-end and back-end. The observable content | | | | moves to flow content into the whole screen, or a |
| (e.g. page layout, user interface, graphics, text and | | | | portion of the screen, no matter what the size of |
| audio) is known as the front-end. The back-end | | | | the browser window. Proponents of liquid design |
| comprises the organization and efficiency of the | | | | prefe greater compatibility and using the screen |
| source code, invisible scripted functions, and the | | | | space available. Liquid design can be achieved through |
| server-side components that process the output | | | | the use of CSS, by avoiding styling the page |
| from the front-end. Depending on the size of a Web | | | | altogether, or by using HTML tables (or more |
| development project, it may be carried out by a | | | | semantic divs) set to a percentage of the page. Both |
| multi-skilled individual (sometimes called a web | | | | liquid and fixed design developers must make |
| master), or a project manager may oversee | | | | decisions about how the design should degrade on |
| collaborative design between group members with | | | | higher and lower screen resolutions. Sometimes the |
| specialized skills. | | | | pragmatic choice is made to flow the web designing |
| Multidisciplinary requirements: | | | | between a minimum and a maximum width. This |
| Issues: As in collaborative designs, there are conflicts | | | | allows the designer to avoid coding for the browser |
| between differing goals and methods of web site | | | | choices making up The Long Tail, while still using all |
| designs. These are a few of the ongoing ones. | | | | available screen space. Depending on the purpose of |
| 1. Lack of collaboration in designIn the early stages of | | | | the content, a web designer may decide to use |
| the web, there wasn't as much collaboration between | | | | either fixed or liquid layouts on a case-by-case basis. |
| web designing and larger advertising campaigns, | | | | Similar to liquid layout is the optional fit to window |
| customer transactions, social networking, intranets | | | | feature with Adobe Flash content. This is a fixed |
| and extranets as there is now. Web pages were | | | | layout that optimally scales the content of the page |
| mainly static online brochures disconnected from the | | | | without changing the arrangement or text wrapping |
| larger projects. Many web pages are still disconnected | | | | when the browser is resized. |
| from larger projects. Special design considerations are | | | | 3. Flash.Adobe Flash (formerly Macromedia Flash) is a |
| necessary for use within these larger projects. These | | | | proprietary, robust graphics animation or application |
| design considerations are often overlooked, especially | | | | development program used to create and deliver |
| in cases where there is a lack of leadership, lack of | | | | dynamic content, media (such as sound and video), |
| understanding of why and technical knowledge of | | | | and interactive applications over the web via the |
| how to integrate, or lack of concern for the larger | | | | browser. Adobe Flash is today widely used in Web |
| project in order to facilitate collaboration. This often | | | | Designing. Flash is not a standard produced by a |
| results in unhealthy competition or compromise | | | | vendor-neutral standards organization like most of |
| between departments, and less than optimal use of | | | | the core protocols and formats on the Internet. Flash |
| web pages. | | | | is much more restrictive than the open HTML format, |
| 2. Liquid versus fixed layoutsOn the web the designer | | | | though, requiring a proprietary plug-in to be seen, and |
| has no control over several factors, including the size | | | | it does not integrate with most web browser UI |
| of the browser window, the web browser used, the | | | | features like the "Back" button.According to a study, |
| input devices used (mouse, touch screen, voice | | | | [1] 98% of US Web users have the Flash Player |
| command, text, cell phone number pad, etc.) and the | | | | installed. [2] Numbers vary depending on the |
| size and characteristics of available fonts. Some | | | | detection scheme and research demographics. [3] |
| designers choose to control the appearance of the | | | | Many graphic artists use Flash because it gives them |
| elements on the screen by using specific width | | | | exact control over every part of the design, and |
| designations. This control may be achieved through | | | | anything can be animated and generally "jazzed up". |
| the use of a HTML table-based design or a more | | | | Some application designers enjoy Flash because it lets |
| semantic div-based design through the use of CSS. | | | | them create applications that do not have to be |
| Whenever the text, images, and layout of a design | | | | refreshed or go to a new web page every time an |
| do not change as the browser changes, this is | | | | action occurs. |
| referred to as a fixed width design. Proponents of | | | | |