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Stuff & Nonsense product and website design

If only I knew then what I know now

Coming back to a site made a while ago, it can be common to scratch your head and wonder how (and why) you made certain decisions. Coming back to a site that you made six years ago can be enough to make you break down and sob like a little girl.

(sob)

Coming back to a site made a while ago, it can be common to scratch your head and wonder how (and why) you made certain decisions. Coming back to a site that you made six years ago can be enough to make you break down and sob like a little girl.

My crime

Here is an extract of some of my vintage code from 2000, stored underground and in oak barrels, it seems to have turned to vinegar rather than fine wine.

<table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" 
cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="600" align="center">
<tr> 
<td><img src="shim.gif" width="163" height="1" border="0"></td>
<td><img src="shim.gif" width="102" height="1" border="0"></td>
<td><img src="shim.gif" width="90" height="1" border="0"></td>
<td><img src="shim.gif" width="95" height="1" border="0"></td>
<td><img src="shim.gif" width="72" height="1" border="0"></td>
<td><img src="shim.gif" width="78" height="1" border="0"></td>
<td><img src="shim.gif" width="1" height="1" border="0"></td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top"> 
<td colspan="5">
<img src="header.gif" width="522" height="38" border="0"></td>
<td><img src="logo.gif" width="78" height="38" border="0"></td>
<td><img src="shim.gif" width="1" height="38" border="0"></td>
</tr> 
<tr valign="top"> 
<td><a href="#" target="_top">
<img src="info.gif" width="163" height="22" border="0"></a></td>
<td><a href="#" target="_top">
<img src="catalogue.gif" width="102" height="22" border="0"></a></td>
<td><a href="#" target="_top">
<img src="contact.gif" width="90" height="22" border="0"></a></td>
<td><a href="#" target="_top">
<img  src="register.gif" width="95" height="22" border="0"></a></td>
<td><a href="#" target="_top">
<img  src="news.gif" width="95" height="22" border="0"></a></td>
<td><a href="#" target="_top">
<img  src="support.gif" width="78" height="22" border="0"></a></td>
<td><img src="shim.gif" width="1" height="22" border="0"></td>
</tr>
</table>

A table, spacer images and other presentational horrors. The graphic buttons even embedded Arial as their typeface: yeah, like no one ever had Arial on their system, right? If only I knew then what I know now.

<h1>Site name</h1>
<ul id="nav_main">
<li><a href="#">About us</a></li>
<li><a href="#">Catalogue</a></li>
<li><a href="#">Contact</a></li>
<li><a href="#">Register</a></li>
<li><a href="#">News</a></li>
<li><a href="#">Support</a></li>
</ul>

(sob) I'm sorry, I so need a hug right now. ;)


November 23, 2006 • Andy Clarke • developmenttypography