Any drawback in using OpenDesigns?

[DBMark]

As an IT developer I'm well aware of my limitations in the web design area. The themes available at http://www.opendesigns.org/view-designs/ seem to be a great alternative to forking out for a design, and so long as you leave a mention of the designer, are free. It's also a good way to learn from the html/css code I feel.

What are the drawbacks of using theme templates from a site like this?

 

[Paul_Rosser]

If you are going to use them for clients you just need to be aware of the different licences (Creative Commons, BSD, GPL, LPGL, MIT or Licence Free) and ensure you stick within the rules.

 

[Faevilangel]

There are many drawbacks including:

- Licenses - Make sure you know the license for each template, as the last thing you want is a legal writ for using the template outside it's license.
- Clients - If you're using this for clients sites, be 100% upfront and say you will just be amending existing designs. You don't want a client to find your design for free online and go mental at you.
- Clients #2 - How many clients could you potentially lose if you tell them you just edit free themes available on the net. Most clients go to a web guy as they want a custom site for their business.

Personally speaking, if you don't have the necessary experience, don't get involved. A website is a lot more than just a good design and if you are just editing free themes, then there is a high percentage that the website could be a load of poo in converting sales etc.

I went down the route and learnt everything I can and now charge for my skills, but it's a long road and your constantly learning.

My personal opinion is, if you don't know what you're doing then let someone else do the job by outsourcing it. You give the job to a web developer and you would charge on top of their costs for your management of the project, and they would work under you so the client only deals with you. It leaves you to concentrate on what you're good at and make money from that.

I help people to get into the industry with advice but you need to put in the man hours to know your stuff as clients will ask questions, which you will need to be able to answer.

 

[DBMark]

Personally speaking, if you don't have the necessary experience, don't get involved. A website is a lot more than just a good design and if you are just editing free themes, then there is a high percentage that the website could be a load of poo in converting sales etc.

As an IT developer with many years experience I know this already. I am just acknowledging that the design side is a different set of skills entirely - I'm fine with the rest of it.

 

[Faevilangel]

As an IT developer with many years experience I know this already. I am just acknowledging that the design side is a different set of skills entirely - I'm fine with the rest of it.

There are numerous websites where you can find designers to buy designs off (themeforest.net PSD Category) or even using a local freelancer.

I do the above myself, all of my designs are outsourced to a local designer, I am a coder and hate the design part so pay someone to do it better than I could, and then I just add the cost onto the invoice.

Clients get the right product, at the right price but I am working only on what I want to do than what I don't.

 

[DBMark]

Clients get the right product, at the right price but I am working only on what I want to do than what I don't.

I'd prefer to describe it as maximising skills in the areas you're good at, and outsourcing in areas that you're not so good in.
I wouldn't expect a designer to know much about relational integrity, indexing optimisation or user authentification (although I'm sure some have studied this area). I may know how to create html mark-ups with css sheets, but that doesn't mean I have visual design skills.
Designing and developing are two huge areas, that are constantly changing and developing. To use an analogy, an interior designer can be worth their weight in gold, and really add value to a property. But I wouldn't employ them to do plumbing work or re-wire a place. Equally I wouldn't employ a brickie to do the decorating (unless he also had skills in that area).