I just last week finished reading this great book on web site design. The author, Patcik McNeil does a great job helping creatives understand how the web works. He seeks to educate designers and this digital medium by clearly explaining the various aspects of a web site that help the designer with conderations for great design as well as usability throughout the life cycle of the web site.  If you are relativly new to web site design, or maybe want to refresh.. this is a great resource.
The Designer’s Web Handbook by Patrick McNeil.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In this book I found several great links to sites he uses as examples to illustrate various web features and tools. I particularly love the sites he recommends for regular following for great web design.

 

 

 

www.awwwards.com

The site is cool to look at and incredibly easy to surf (wonder why?) and overflowing with links to other amazing sites showcasing top notch web design & usability.  Web sites can be submitted to this site by anyone for voting by members and the jury. Each site goes through a jury process for potential wins in three categories of awards: Site of the Day (SOTD); Site of the week (SOTW); Site of the Month (SOTM) plus there are Honorable Mentions. The Jury Process is based on four key criteria for measuring talent.  50% – Design, 25% – Creativity, 15% – Usability and 10% – Content. The judges who appear to run the site are web designers themselves and are based in the five continents of the globe.  Tres cooel.

You can sign up for free which gives you a page where you can begin to collect your favourite  sites found on Awwwards.com plus you get to vote, and follow other members.  A great resource for connecting with designers who are at the leading edge of web design and technologies.  I love it!  Though it might take some time, I am going to be working hard to land one of Rural Studio’s web sites up there!