Drawar

Yes I have. But back when I started to give web designing a go. A learning process. I used to grab some web templates from Open Web Design and check out their coding styles. Found it an easy way to learn standards based xhtml/css.

But for actual projects? Never...

Not really, I'm a control freak so I always do everything from scratch. However, much of my code is inspired by templates/articles I suppose, such as code from Dan Cederholm's book - Bulletproof Web Design. I would consider that teaching myself best practice rather than using templates though.

No, I do not think that any serious designer should ever touch a template. Templates completely demean what we do for a number of reasons.

1. They focus completely on aesthetic and almost all have almost no underlying concept
2. They do not uniquely solve a communication problem raised by the client
3. They are usually created by someone with less training and education, hoping to make a quick buck.

While I agree with #1 and 2, I have to seriously disagree with you on #3.

While it is the case in many situations, I know people who are SERIOUS designers who make a living off of template sales to people who simply need a look and don't really care about the rest. Just because a lot of templates are simple and non-specific, doesn't mean the person behind them is an uneducated spinster looking for quick cash.

@ RightOn

This is just my mentality, I do not like to work in the lower end segment of design. I agree that there are people out there who are just searching for a website and do not have the money to put behind a fully developed marketing system.

I however would never want to see my client's money go to waste because someone else has the exact same looking site... i.e. a porn site buys the same template and then all of a sudden they "appear" to be part of the same company.
This could take form in a number of different ways...

Design is design dude... if you're designing the next MacBook or laying out the art for a matchbook... you're designing. There is no "lower end segment" of design.

I however would never want to see my client's money go to waste because someone else has the exact same looking site...

That would be YOUR job as their project manager or hired designer to impart upon them. If you can't convince them NOT to use a template then something isn't working on YOUR end, not the template designers end.

I would never suggest a template in the first place is what I am getting at. That is just work that I would not waste my time taking on. There are bigger and better jobs out there, and my time is a limited commodity. Its the truth of design, you offer a service and it goes to the people who offer the most rewarding work. Rewarding can be, type of project, money, or even artistic freedom.

1) My first post on 9rules
2) In the wrong fishbowl, so I tread lightly :-)
3) Guilty as charged, I have one in the works.

Be gentle

As a photographer, there is a parallel in our universe with stock images selling for 5$.

Bad images excluded, there are a lot of very good, zero wait time and no rights required images out there. Temptation is high for the quick fix buy our clients, the designers (//hold//dodge bullet here//resume). Rewind a touch and imagine in your first few weeks as a designer, on that first contract that you were doing, if the 7K a day photographer had a 500$ solution for you.

In agreement with ajzinni, preference is for the high end custom, but in reality sometimes even the best intentioned client will have a low or no budget project. Do not forget there is always the start up, or micro business who may want to keep some cash for a chair.

Faced with the dilemma, could a pro designer take the base of a template and make it beautiful ? Best guess it would be a site that works to the clients needs (he chose it it the first place) and looks good (you would be surprised what I can do with a "point and shoot". Client is happy and will possibly return for a more top end custom site when budget allows.

On that no budget note, I hand you my 2 cents worth. Off to my own fishbowl, you all are welcome for a swim.

p.s. If any of you want to test out the customized by a designer option.. you know where to find me ;-)