For webdesign, should one focus on functionality before going into the design aspect?

I think it's the otherway around. Get your mockup/ design out of the way then add functions as you go along.

Here is what I am doing when creating a new site:

-Define functions of your website and write that down on a piece of paper (not the actual script, but the ideas. For instance: drop-down navigation, scrollable content, fixed footer etc.)

-create a first draft of the website on a piece of paper (for all possibly situations: you create a draft for the home page, a draft for the home page with menu opened, a draft for the subpages etc.).

-now when you are happy with it, you start creating a template for each page and situation (again: home page, sub-pages, pages with menus open/close etc.) in Photoshop of Fireworks or another graphic program.

-when you are satisfied with the looks, you can start creating the actual page: write the basic html markup, slice the graphics, create the css etc.

-once the website in the browser looks like your image, you can start writing the actual functions (be it javascript functions or something similar).

-finally write the server-side codes (php, asp or w/e)

-last but probably most important: start testing and debugging to find possible errors or security holes.

form follows function.. .that is a dictum in the architectural world.. .but i guess, you can also apply it in designing websites.. .the goal is to make it as simple and direct as possible.. .to make it user-friendly and at the same time graphical.. .good luck.. .