For people who want to produce outstanding websites but don’t know how.

We’ve been designing websites for small & medium businesses and large corporations for over 10 years now, in previous employment and for our own agency. Things have changed significantly from the first brochure sites we were commissioned to design pre the dotcom boom but one thing that remains constant is that many people we engage with find the whole process of designing and building a website difficult to understand.

Here are a few thoughts about some of the knowledge we’ve gathered on our journey that hopefully will help make web design and build a bit easier.

I came across an article in Design Week on 11th Dec 2008 regarding the new BSI draft standard on web design and accessibility. What was interesting was a reference to a microsite design for Save the Children which couldn’t be made completely accessible because “the client wanted a design that conveyed its message powerfully, rather than a completely accessible one”. And the Strategy Director at the agency responsible was also quoted saying how restrictive accessibility guidelines are from a design point of view.

Having had a look at the microsite what seems clear is that the one of the biggest problems with designing accessible websites are the agencies & designers working on these projects.