Web Design Inspriations
Web Design Inspriations
Written by craig coffman
Yesterday a colleague of mine asked me what sites I liked. At first I told him google and all music guide. My answer was based on sites that I think are useful and return information I am interested in without really mucking-up the works. But this was not the question he meant.
He then asked from a design point-of-view, which sites do I like. Offhandedly I said my site (this referes to a previous design). Then I thought about it. I could not really think of a site that I like the aesthetic of. Scary thought for a web designer. Or is it?
I think there are too many sites out there that are just ripping-off the same ideas. I know I am opening myself up as a big target for people to show me comparisons of design to my own site. But that is not what I mean. There are a deluge of blog sites out there with the same look and feel, just switching up the colors. It seems that someone will create a 'Site of the Day' somewhere and then, presto! other sites sprout-up with the same features, design, and motif.
I understand that emulating is the highest form of flattery, but in this case I think it can be an undermining effort. Think of trying to get clients to try something new. The typical response is skepticism. Their competition is not doing it. Or take Flash. Flash has been maligned for a long time because designers did not know how to best use it. They took the obvious and blew it out of proportion with ridiculous Flash openings and inros. I even had a client request a Flash opening for her site, which was only an 8k site! The opening she wanted weighed in at 24k.
Back to my point. I think that all the copying is the biggest hurdle we face as designers. People see 'looks' homogenized out there and want that too. Sure, it is easier for designers because they only have to mess with detail and not the big picture, but this leads to lazy design. With the ability to reach anywhere connected, I think we should try to push layout and design further. Let it express our own, or at least our clients individuality.
Granted, there are only so many places we can put information (barring Flash) with the limitations of xHTML, but maybe use some absolute positioning. That opens up overlay possibility which can break out of the grid (although I love the grid). Look for different places to put the information. Use graphics more interestingly than only in the header. Be creative! You can do more with design to make your work standout and still be light weight, compliant, and modern.
The best way to get to this place of design enlightenment (okay, a bit over-the-top there) is to get away from your computer. Yup. You do not even have to turn it off, just move away from it. Get outside and experience things for yourself and in the real world. Notice patterns of buildings. Study shadows. Look at nature for goodness sake. There are an infinite number of color palettes there and Mother Nature does all the proper complimentary colors for you. Or if this is too radical of a first step, stay inside and read a book. NOT a design or technical book, but that novel someone suggested to you. Or, if you have to read a design book make sure it is from a different field. Architecture comes in nicely. Maps are good for 'seeing' IA concepts.
Please understand that I am not holding myself or my site up as some beacon of creativity. I am just voicing how I approach web design and some of the problems I see out there currently. The web is still so young and constantly (to the point of pain) evolving. Why should we stunt our visual creative growth so early? Let's push. Maybe soon, when a colleague asks you what a 'good looking' site is you will be stumped. Or at least you will not just rattle off sites of the week.