Currently, I am diving into my most ambitious website project yet. It's worth mentioning that I'm utilizing ASP.NET MVC 2 and the Microsoft stack.
I value design and aesthetics greatly, knowing they can make or break the success of this endeavor. While I believe I have a decent grasp on basic usability principles, my skills in design and visuals are severely lacking.
As a programmer, there is still much for me to learn, especially when it comes to design patterns, best practices, and architectural considerations. Delving into CSS and design at this point might be too overwhelming for me.
That's why, for the time being, I plan to focus on functionality over design. Eventually, I may invest in outsourced design services to enhance the overall look and feel of the website.
The website solution I'm currently using includes the Blue Print CSS framework. However, after hearing differing opinions about CSS frameworks, I'm questioning whether this choice is truly beneficial.
In order to make the transition smoother for a future designer, how should I structure the View/Template code (HTML)? Should I utilize div tags? Is adding class names to content necessary? Would giving elements meaningful class names or IDs based on their content help or hinder the design process? Can I tackle these "design" considerations without a solid understanding of CSS? Should I stick to plain HTML without any styling or classes?
Quick edit: Just to clarify, I intend to leave the CSS duties to a professional. I don't mind if the site looks very basic until a designer adds their touch.
I hope this isn't too vague. Any advice, tips, or guidelines would be incredibly helpful. Thank you in advance.