About Handcoded

My interest in computers began back in 1995 when my parents purchased a PC to help my brother with his course work at School but it ended up in my bedroom and was starting to collect dust. I started playing with it and was soon captivated.

I would mess about on the Internet and was curious as to how it worked. From experimenting at home I was lucky enough to get a job as a Web Designer where I started to specialise in E-commerce. After learning all that I could I setup my own web design business.

As the Internet has grown so has my knowledge of it from the early days of Oscommerce through to Zen Cart and now Open Cart or Magento.

So what is Web Design exactly ?

Web Design is the process of planning and creating a website.

Text, images, digital media and interactive elements are used by Web Designers to produce the page(s) seen on the web browser.

Web Designers utilise markup language, most notably HTML for structure and CSS for presentation as well as Javascript to add interactivity to develop pages that are accessible to everyone.

Server side scripting can also be used where data is accessed from a database for example.

The design process explained

Firstly we need to ascertain the purpose of the website. Does it need to sell products, advertise a service, be a meeting place for like minded individuals etc,etc. Once I know what is required we need to figure out what the key message and features of the website will be and whether an off the shelf solution exists that can be tailored to meet all of the necessary requirements and hopefully be within budget.


It should be clear to all website visitors what it is that you offer or sell. The website should be well structured and easy to use to maximise conversions and this should help to achieve a better position on Googles search engine index. A good domain name is important as is a reliable web host.

The look of the website should be modern but not over the top. Visitors may not love the design but they should not hate it either. Try to resist the temptation to over personalise the website and remember it is there to do a job. Have a look around the web for inspiration from existing websites and see what other companies in your field are doing.

Once I have gathered enough information about the purpose and functionality of the website I can begin mocking up designs based on your criteria. Once a mock up has been chosen it is then broken down and used as the basis for the website. The website will then be submitted to the major search engines.

What can Handcoded do for me ?

My primary aim is to keep my customers happy by working quickly and efficiently. I take pride in my work and am prepared to go that little bit extra to make things perfect. New customers are either recommended by my existing customers or find this web site and appreciate the lack of confusing computer jargon and an honest approach to business.

Where as my competitors may offer a bespoke service I tend to cater for people who would benefit from a tried and tested solution. Utilising modern open source software I can develop websites both quickly and cheaply. With no initial software costs up front I am able to demonstrate what is possible in order for you to make an informed decision as to the best setup for your business.

With an experienced, fair and honest Web Designer at your disposal you will be guided along avoiding the many pitfalls that can plague a new or any online business saving you both time and money. This allows you to invest in ideas that should offer the best return on investment.