Hi all,

The deadline for this is in two days...

Anyways, a new client would like me to essentially build a website based off a layout - in other words, they sent me a JPEG of a website they designed, and they want me to "bring it to life", fully functional menu, buttons, etc.

In example, say I present you with a photo/drawing like this:



How can I turn this into a website with full functionality?

Any help is greatly appreciated; if I can get this done satisfactory and on time, it'll really help a lot down the line with my income. Thanks!

I deleted my post

 

The name is 'Hoax' ?

Edited November 29, 20178 yr by TimW

Yes, Hoax is the handle that I use for this website. Does anyone have any advice? Is there some kind of way to merely make sections of the photo into click-able buttons, or do I have to build everything from scratch and try to make it as identical as possible?

That's a premade template - http://www.templateworld.com/html5-templates/architecture/50726/construction-company-responsive-website-template/ - why just not use that?

I was just using that picture as an example - Here's the actual layout of the site that the client wants to be made:

Hmm. I can't imagine that's what anyone will want the site to look like. Is it more to show features and functions? Looks like it requires:

• Drop down second level navigation, or is that displaying small ads by category?
• A form for emailing small ad text and images, plus some other forms.
• indexing of pdf print issues
• auto update of monthly deadlines

Sorry to say, if you don't know how to do it you aren't going to learn it in two days.

Yes, Hoax is the handle that I use for this website. Does anyone have any advice? Is there some kind of way to merely make sections of the photo into click-able buttons, or do I have to build everything from scratch and try to make it as identical as possible?

 

Why are you taking on work like this if you don't know how to build it?

Have you tried using WordPress or dare I say it, Wix to create this website?

 

It will take you more than 2 days to learn how to create a website using HTML/CSS. It may be worth going back your client letting them know that you are not going to be able to build the website in that time frame and will need more time.

I know how to use Wordpress and build websites just fine - I've never been presented with a layout to copy onto Wordpress down to every last detail before. Usually I just get a basic outline of how the website should look like, and the rest is up to my design.

I created this thread in hopes of receiving advice on how to create a website identical to the photo, and would greatly appreciate some. I understand that it can't be done in 2 days time; I'll ask for an extension.

Edited November 29, 20178 yr by Hoax

Look at the positives, the client is giving you an idea of how they want their website to look and function, it will save you having to keep making changes. It may not look as nice and flashy as you would like, but this is what the client wants, they are the ones paying for it.

 

Being that you are familiar with creating websites in WordPress, this would be a quick and easy option for you.

Look at the positives, the client is giving you an idea of how they want their website to look and function, it will save you having to keep making changes. It may not look as nice and flashy as you would like, but this is what the client wants, they are the ones paying for it.

 

Being that you are familiar with creating websites in WordPress, this would be a quick and easy option for you.

It definitely saves on exerting any creative effort on my part - I essentially have to colour in the picture. Are there any themes in particular that you'd recommend? Any plug-ins? I'm trying to put everything together in-between typing this, any suggestions are greatly appreciated

I don’t know how to use WordPress, so I can’t help you with plug-ins and themes.

 

It maybe worth you going back to your client, ask do they want a website that looks like the JPEG they gave you, or are they showing you the colours to use along with the functionally they are after. They may have letter heads or society colours that they would like you to use.

 

You could throw some ideas to them with some examples which would help you to design something a bit more creative. You need to end up with a clear brief of what they what the website to look like and function like.

 

I’m sure there are people on the forum that use WordPress and will be able to help you will creating pull-down boxes, contact forms, etc.

 

Good luck, it would be great to hear how you get on.

^^

Thanks for the advice; really appreciate you trying to help, even if Wordpress isn't your forte.

Does anyone know of any themes that would be able to replicate the layout?

Better yet, does anyone know of how I can customize my own Wordpress theme in accordance with the JPEG?

You could build a theme from scratch. It's really very simple if you know wordpress (which you say you do).

 

But if that's the only image they have given you then any developer would struggle.

 

And as it looks like some sort of classifieds site there is a whole chunk of code needs writing - unless they are using a pluign for this in which case the layout will be constrained by the plugin.

 

Two day's isn't long enough for a project of this size.

If you don't know how to code a site to match a mockup you shouldn't take the job. There are plenty of "shortcuts" (site builders, frameworks, themes, plugins etc.) in the world of web development, but they will not be of any help if you don't know what you are doing.

I DO know how to use Wordpress - However, I've never had a job where I had to "match a mockup".

Yes, I am fully aware at this point that 2 days isn't enough time and that it's not wise to take on a task that I don't know how to do.
I'm going to ask for an extension, and I'm doing my best to learn on the field. I've had enough people tell me at this point that I need more time, and that I shouldn't take on something that I don't know how to do.

Now, if anyone has any advice or tips to offer on how to construct a custom template; thank you
I'm on the hunt for constructive advice, suggestions, plug-ins, softwares, etc

If you're on this thread just to tell me it can't be done, I'd appreciate it if you moved on from this thread - I've had enough people already post off-putting replies here.

1. That image cannot be a mockup. Nobody would be pleased with a site which looked like that. It looks like the kind of thing you make in Word as a very rough layout if you don't do graphics. Is that what it is? Surely it requires a little design and interpretation?
2. it isn't a website either. It looks like a homepage, has a lot of maybe links to other pages on it but no content, that must be on the other pages. How would you design a homepage without knowing anything about the rest of the site?
3. Are they links to other pages? Looks like a menu across the top, maybe, looks like a menu down the Right Hand Side, maybe, looks like another menu in the footer, maybe, but really we don't know. Not three menus?
4. Nobody makes a web page by starting with an image and then slicing it up to make a table layout anymore. That all finished about ten years ago. It is the wrong way to start.
5. The functionality which is suggested by your mockup - we don't know what it is

That might be why you haven't got the simple help you were hoping for.

Hi Hoax, I think that everybody here agrees that if your client gave you that as what they want you should ask them if they can tell you why and what they want to do with the site.

 

It is so simple like 1990´s text based internet, you should ask them to show you a site which can act as an example, ask them to go online and find something that looks like what they want because that image they send you is really really bad.... even the Jewish sites need to be of this century.

 

But anyway, you should start looking into making child themes, with your own "skeleton" child template you can produce websites in 1-2 days if they are this simple.

 

I do not think a template like that exists as it is not what a modern design looks like.

 

Good luck though, do not spend too much time on the project, fast turnover for a simple site.

 

Peter Hamilton.

Thanks for the advice, Peter.

As it turns out, I am going to instead create a website that uses the layout as a guideline for the overall design, as opposed to replicating a rough mock-up.

Also, as I've written before; I have more than 2 days to complete. Lastly, as stated earlier, I do know how to use Wordpress, but would not mind some more tips from a more experienced hand, primarily suggestions on what theme and plug-ins would be best to use, if I don't start from scratch.

I personally never really use any themes but only make child-themes so can not help with theme tips, plugins you will not need many to get the functionalities as presented on the sample image.

 

Unless they want you to make a full fledged membership site if people need to upload their barmitzva´s and images etc.
That will be a much more complicated website and I would suggest BBPress, Buddypress to start with as this creates a forum where you can make separate categories for these uploads.

When I think about it you should just install BBPress and Buddypress, making a forum gives you all the room they need for their site.

I do know how to use Wordpress, but would not mind some more tips from a more experienced hand, primarily suggestions on what theme and plug-ins would be best to use, if I don't start from scratch.

Without knowing more about what they want the site to do it's difficult to advise. It seems to be some sort of classified adverts thing - which means you need to find one of the many plugins that do just this. or code from scratch.

 

All the theme does is create a container for the content (in this case the custom post types). So you can use anyone you want.

 

There just isn't enough information from the client about what they want.

Hi Hoax,

 

Sorry i'm not into WordPress, but that said I thought I'd post a rejig to see if we can get answers to some of the components and what they do, it might also help others think of plugins for each bit. As many here have pointed out you'll need to interpret the design into components, if I was handed a mock-up of Googles home page it seems simple enough, but the question is always 'what happens when I press X', this is where the time can quickly disappear.