Website Design
At Eighth Dragon, we've been designing websites for nearly a decade. We've tried a lot of different things in our time, and used a lot of different programs, but we've come to the conclusion that the best websites are those done by hand. We work with only the raw code, and bypass programs like Microsoft Frontpage or Macromedia Dreamweaver that can add unnecessary and inefficient code. Our goal is to make our sites accessible to as many people as possible, so we avoid proprietary coding or plug-ins. We do our best to meet the standards set down by the World Wide Web Consortium, the creators of HTML. We want our sites to look and work the same on all modern, popular browsers, on any platform, and to not punish people on slow dial-up connections by using too many graphics or slow-loading plug-ins.

The right logo, layout and color scheme are vital to a successful online business. We're not only coders, but artists as well; we understand artistic principals like color balance, composition and contrast. Though quick-loading, efficient websites are our main priority, we don't believe in completely sacrificing visual quality. To strike a balance between fast, compliant and artistic is always our goal.

We don't have to create something from scratch either. If you have someone else handling the code for your site, or if you already have a blog or website but you would like an original layout, we can help. You don't have to resort to using tired old templates! We can create entire sets of graphics and CSS style sheets for use on your website, or art and design elements for use in printed material. We also provide consulting about practical design, navigation, accessibility and more, so don't hesitate to ask questions.

Our Standards
Validated HTML / XHTML
HTML is slowly being phased out in favor for XHTML, a language that makes websites more compatible with XML and other upcoming web technologies. We try to design our sites using strict XHTML standards, ensuring that they won't be left behind.

CSS and DHTML
Cascading Style Sheets, or CSS, is what gives our websites their color and design. By separating the layout and design elements from the raw content, it's easily to make massive, site-wide changes or to easily style complex elements without adding any extra code to the raw document. Dynamic HTML, or DHTML is the practice of combining CSS with a bit of Javascript, and it can be used to accomplish things most people would think only Flash, Shockwave or other plug-ins could do.

Design Packages
Website Design: Basic $70
Examples: No More Abuse
Includes:
+ Simple, customized layout
+ Up to five separate HTML pages.
+ Three images, including a logo.
+ One small script, such as a counter.

Website Design: Advanced $150
Examples: Worldweave
Includes:
+ Customized, complex layout
+ Up to twenty separate HTML pages.
+ Ten images, including a logo.
+ Dynamic CSS menus
+ A simple forum OR built-in blog
+ Unlimited other small scripts, such as a counters or guestbooks.

Website Design: Self-Published Author $50
Examples: No More Abuse
Includes:
+ Simple, customized layout
+ Up to ten separate HTML pages.
+ Five images, including a logo.
+ A simple forum OR built-in blog
+ Integration with Lulu storefront or other storefront.
+ Must be marketing a self-published or small-press book.

Website Design: Commercial $300
Examples: Dragonwood Books
Includes:
+ Customized, complex layout
+ Unlimited number of HTML pages
+ Unlimited number of images, including a logo
+ Dynamic CSS menus
+ As many scripts as you want

Website Creation &
Management
For information on hosting and content management, see the hosting packages page.

Design and Hosting: Basic $40 initial setup fee / $10 a month
+ Includes Basic Design package
+ Includes Basic Hosting package
+ Includes domain hosting and purchasing
+ Includes up to 5 updates a month

Design and Hosting: Advanced $70 initial setup fee / $15 a month
+ Includes Advanced Design package
+ Includes Basic Hosting package
+ Includes domain hosting and purchasing
+ Includes up to 20 updates a month

Design and Hosting: Self-Published Author $30 initial setup fee / $5 a month
+ Includes Self-Published Author Design package
+ Includes Self-Published Author Hosting package
+ Includes domain hosting and purchasing
+ Includes up to 10 updates a month
+ Must be marketing a self-published or small-press book.

Design and Hosting: Commercial $300 initial setup fee / $50 a month
Includes:
+ Includes Commercial Design package
+ Includes Commercial Hosting package
+ Includes domain hosting and purchasing
+ Includes unlimited updates per month