Bespoke Website Design
Sometimes a pre-designed theme is not the best way to go for your website. Read more about bespoke website design vs commercial theme's here (ha ha nothing to click on yet, I'm yet to write that post!).
Yes anyone can design a website just like anyone can take a photo but there is a big difference between an amateur designed website and a professionally designed one.
There is a lot involved and that is getting exponentially more so. Having studied Design for Industry at university for 4 years, I'm well suited to that task. In fact some say website designer from an industrial design training / background are indeed the ultimate website designers! ;)
I like to follow a few guidelines for my clients, this one is my favourite:
Form follows function
Whether it be the sweeping eagle in his flight, or the open apple-blossom, the toiling work-horse, the blithe swan, the branching oak, the winding stream at its base, the drifting clouds, over all the coursing sun, form ever follows function, and this is the law.
Most important website design obstacle to overcome...
One huge obstacle to overcome when involved in the design of a website is that it must be designed to achieve it's purpose and thus should be designed from the perspective of the people who will be using the site - not the person commissioning the website or the one designing it. It's a good thing to keep in mind!