Q: Do you only design sites in monochrome?
A: No, I design sites of all colors, shapes and sizes.
Q: How experienced are you?
A: I am proficient in (X)HTML and CSS. I also know PHP, and this site uses a lot of it (it's parsed in the HTML files). That said, I neither have the capability nor the desire to design PHP applications from scratch (custom shopping carts, etc.), so if you require such work I can enlist the help of a programmer. As far as graphic design goes, I am very familiar with Adobe Photoshop, and can handle most requests. If you're not sure about a job, don't be afraid to ask about it.
Q: How much do you charge per hour/per site?
A: Each project is different. For a free quote, please drop me a line or two on the contact page with a specific description of the job you require. I try my best to answer all e-mails within 12 hours, and can almost guarantee a response within 24 hours.
Q: How do you accept payment?
A: All payments can be submitted with the speed and security of PayPal from the clients page. Clients first receive sample images with overlays to prevent theft. After payment is received, the "unbranded" files will be sent to the client via e-mail or FTP.
Please Note: eCHECK payments must clear before files can be sent.
Q: Do you require an initial deposit?
A: All projects up to $500 will require an initial deposit of 35%, which counts as a portion of the final payment. Projects greater than $500 will be split into segments of $500 or less, each treated as an individual project. The remaining balance on each segment will be due before work on the next segment is initiated, with the remaining balance on the final segment due before files are sent. Work split into multiple segments will be treated as multiple projects in accordance with the terms of use.
Q: What are your terms of use?
A: For information regarding legal rights to designs and design elements, please click here.
Q: How long do your services take?
A: How long does it take to build a house? Depends on what type of house you're building. The same goes with quality web design - it depends on what you want designed. That being said, I'm fairly flexible with deadlines, and I'm sure we can work something out.
Q: Do you make "Web 2.0" designs?
A: Taking a bad design and adding a highlight effect doesn't make it any better. It just makes it bad design 2.0. I aim for the best in all my work, but I try to avoid cliché effects and cheap solutions.
Q: Do you redesign existing sites or code existing designs?
A: Yes. I can redesign your current site, or I can convert any image (i.e. a .PSD file) into an (X)HTML/CSS, valid template.
Q: Will you decide on the content for my website (textual, etc.)?
A: No, I simply design the template. What goes on the site is your decision and your responsibility.
Q: What programs do you use?
A: Notepad and Photoshop. Some designers prefer WYSIWYG editors, but I like to "hand-code" so I know what each individual line of code does. Notepad makes that easy.
Q: Do your pages validate?
A: Yes, I code in valid (X)HTML and CSS, unless instructed otherwise by the client.
Q: What is validation? Why is it important?
A: The World Wide Web Consortium sets standards for internet content. While these are merely guidelines, and aren't enforceable, they ensure that content remains functional across different versions of different web browsers. If you own a site that isn't coded to these standards, chances are high that users of other web browsers will see malfunctioning content. Furthermore, sites that aren't coded according to W3C standards sometimes fail to survive browser updates, meaning they have to be redesigned. Essentially, validation saves you time and money in the long run.
Q: I found (X)HTML/CSS errors on a site you designed. Why?
A: I can only guarantee the quality of the code I personally write. More often than not, clients will modify their own sites, which sometimes results in the loss of validity.
Q: Are you available for employment (as part of a design team)?
A: No. Currently, I'm working alone and I'm not interested in joining any design groups/teams.
Was your question not answered here? Don't worry - simply submit it on the contact page and you will receive an answer via e-mail ASAP.
