Pittsburgh’s 2007 Web Standards Initiative

We all know how much press and attention that web accessibility has gotten over the last few months. Validated design, whether it be XHTML, CSS or just well formed semantic code is at the forefront of today’s web technology. Some ask why even bother, just as long as it looks good who cares about whether the code validates or not. Sure the website might work for some of it’s visitors, but what about for ALL of it’s visitors? Accessibility is important and it is about time that most true professional designers start adhering to the web standards. More information on web standards is available on the WaSP website. Who else cares? Check out these refresh resources: Refresh Pittsburgh & Standards Reboot,

It’s Pittsburgh’s Turn

Here comes the kicker. We here at Pittsburgh Designers want to reward those local designers who design according to The Web Standards Project. That said, we will issue a report card mid-year (around June 30th) detailing who does and does not design according to web standards. We will measure each listed designer on the following objective qualities:

  1. If the site validates on any level (XHTML 1.0 Transitional or HTML 4.01 Transitional) via the W3C validation service.
  2. If the site uses CSS and if it does, does it validate via the W3C validation service.
  3. BONUS POINTS: If the designer has at least one portfolio site that uses valid CSS & HTML supplied on it’s “profile page” here (not counting their own website).

The Meaning of all This

As a client, this report card can mean everything or it can mean nothing at all to you. Web standards should be an important part of choosing a designer for your business but by no means should it be the only factor.

It is also the same circumstance for a professional web designer that’s listed here. Valid and semantic markup should be at the forefront of your abilities as a professional web designer. We understand that this is not something that is easily mastered or achieved in every project so we are giving ample notice of this impending Report Card. This page has been posted very early (6 months early in fact) in order to be able to give all our local designers the ability to learn, master and update your site(s) to match the new web standards set forth by the W3C.