Web design help needed

Mark · 12-12-2009, 00:01

I know there are some web design types around these parts (either amateur or professional). I'm a code monkey, not a designer, so while I have ideas, I'd probably make a hash of it. Just to make things clear up front I'm doing this on a voluntary basis (no charge).

The project is to build a new web site for my local church. The old site is horrible and not fit for purpose (those involved know and admit to this). The old site is here: http://www.shawchurch.org.uk/

I want to bring it up-to-date (style wise), make it much easier to update (e.g. adding details of upcoming services, events, and so forth - preferably without my intervention), Above all I don't want to end up in a situation where I spend all my time maintaining it.

Here's a (much better) site for another church in the parish: http://www.st-nicolas-newbury.org/

Something like that would be great, but I fear for how much of my life it would take to do something like that. Also, St. Nicolas is the main church in the town, St Mary's is a smaller church (I'm sure there's a better way of describing that).

Any help gratefully received. I'm very happy to take on the coding work of course.

PS - I can't offer significant sums of money for this, but I can certainly offer donations to beer funds.

divine · 12-12-2009, 01:05

Easiest way to make it 'user' updateable would be to make it a Wordpress job, give the relevant people author accounts and they'll be on their way...

Mark · 12-12-2009, 02:05

You're not the first to suggest that, but I could write all I know about Wordpess on a post-it note. Most uses of Wordpress I've seen have involved blogs, which isn't what I'm after.

divine · 12-12-2009, 11:55

Well, you can add plenty of static pages and then just have the 'blog' posts for events?

Mark · 12-12-2009, 14:29

True - that's one approach. Not one I envisaged but still.

Right now I'd like to concentrate on the site itself rather than the live bits - they need to be there but I don't want to get 'hung up' over them - indeed a simple web form would probably suffice (yes, that is a change of direction - I was originally thinking full-blown CMS, but I think that's overkill).

Edit - the alternative (and, to be honest with myself better option) is to get some professional help involved (and pay for it, obviously), but I've no idea about the costs of that. I'd get the basics done (design, layout, graphics) and then take it from there myself to save money.

12-12-2009, 00:01	#1
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Web design help needed I know there are some web design types around these parts (either amateur or professional). I'm a code monkey, not a designer, so while I have ideas, I'd probably make a hash of it. Just to make things clear up front I'm doing this on a voluntary basis (no charge). The project is to build a new web site for my local church. The old site is horrible and not fit for purpose (those involved know and admit to this). The old site is here: http://www.shawchurch.org.uk/ I want to bring it up-to-date (style wise), make it much easier to update (e.g. adding details of upcoming services, events, and so forth - preferably without my intervention), Above all I don't want to end up in a situation where I spend all my time maintaining it. Here's a (much better) site for another church in the parish: http://www.st-nicolas-newbury.org/ Something like that would be great, but I fear for how much of my life it would take to do something like that. Also, St. Nicolas is the main church in the town, St Mary's is a smaller church (I'm sure there's a better way of describing that). Any help gratefully received. I'm very happy to take on the coding work of course. PS - I can't offer significant sums of money for this, but I can certainly offer donations to beer funds.

12-12-2009, 01:05	#2
divine Moonshine Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Southampton Posts: 3,201	Easiest way to make it 'user' updateable would be to make it a Wordpress job, give the relevant people author accounts and they'll be on their way... __________________

12-12-2009, 02:05	#3
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	You're not the first to suggest that, but I could write all I know about Wordpess on a post-it note. Most uses of Wordpress I've seen have involved blogs, which isn't what I'm after. Last edited by Mark; 12-12-2009 at 02:08.

12-12-2009, 11:55	#4
divine Moonshine Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Southampton Posts: 3,201	Well, you can add plenty of static pages and then just have the 'blog' posts for events? __________________

12-12-2009, 14:29	#5
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	True - that's one approach. Not one I envisaged but still. Right now I'd like to concentrate on the site itself rather than the live bits - they need to be there but I don't want to get 'hung up' over them - indeed a simple web form would probably suffice (yes, that is a change of direction - I was originally thinking full-blown CMS, but I think that's overkill). Edit - the alternative (and, to be honest with myself better option) is to get some professional help involved (and pay for it, obviously), but I've no idea about the costs of that. I'd get the basics done (design, layout, graphics) and then take it from there myself to save money. Last edited by Mark; 12-12-2009 at 14:44.