Browsers will display your web pages differently — there’s just no way around it. Text will wrap differently, images will align differently — everything will be different. And sometimes, the difference will be significant.

For example, Mozilla will read the default for horizontal alignment of a cell as “left” while IE will read the default for horizontal alignment as “center,” unless you set it specifically to “left.” This will mean a HUGE difference in the way the text displays within the cell.

Subtle things, like the look of a border that has been coded in your style sheet, will look different, depending on the browser. At least once a week, I run into something new that I have never seen before — and the list changes as new releases of the browsers come out.

I had one client come to me because their cascading menu javascript would no longer display the main navigation structure with the newest release of IE — essentially rendering their web site completely useless. It’s surprising what one small difference can make when it comes to html.

Always, always, always check your developing website under various conditions to ensure functionality.

It’s a common mistake for Web designers who are starting out to become too preoccupied with making a “perfect picture” on the Web page, without understanding how important it is to develop a user-friendly Web site that is easy for the first-time user to navigate.

Beginners in Web design might find the tips at:

Web Design Do’s and Don’ts

and

What Makes for Good Common Sense Web Design

to be useful.

A good web designer always keeps an eye toward the future — always anticipating even before the client does what components the client is likely to need as time goes on.

It’s very easy to become trapped by thinking too much about the visual impact of the site without regard for the practical matters involved in creating a site that will be able to change with the times. A Web design should be able to “breathe” — and not be too confined by any one visual element to the point where changes and updates cannot be made without disturbing the overall design.

I provide initial consultations free of charge to evaluate your present Web site. If you would like to make an appointment, please don’t hesitate to contact Christopher Merrill.