Inspiration

[carbonize]

I'm in the process of making a new site. I have all the database coding worked out, I know what the content is going to be, I just can't come up with an idea for the design. The last three sites I have built, including my own site, were loosely based on templates I found while trawling through some template sites, but I'd rather that this site was all my own.

So my question is simple, where do you draw your inspiration for your web sites design from?

[matauri]

Its a tricky one Carbonize, because it also depends how contempary & conservative you are. Some will say that a professional site should look 'conservatively professional'. I disagree, I believe you can look professional while having an artistic flavour.

If your going conservative, think about what their objectives are for the site & go from there. Most times I have noticed the site design is geared around the clients artwork & preferences for colour etc. So all you are basically doing is designing it around that theme.

But, if you want to present a new concept... close your eyes, think about what the client is about & what audience it might attract, then equate that with your impressions of how best to sell it. If nothing comes to mind...read a magazine. You will often find that advertizing concepts can inspire you along many lines.

You dont want to know where my inspiration comes from ;-)


Cindy

[carbonize]

But, if you want to present a new concept... close your eyes, think about what the client is about & what audience it might attract, then equate that with your impressions of how best to sell it. If nothing comes to mind...read a magazine. You will often find that advertizing concepts can inspire you along many lines.

You dont want to know where my inspiration comes from ;-)


Cindy

I'm the client which is kind of the problem. If I based it on the magazines I read it would need an 18 rating >:)

[matauri]

I'm the client which is kind of the problem. If I based it on the magazines I read it would need an 18 rating >:)

OK...so maybe that wasn't the greatest idea...LOL

So we'll try another avenue :-)

1. Logo - whats the one thing that people say reminds them of you? (please dont say sex! :-) )(I'm fascinated by crop circles & collect pics of them..I'm a little renound for them...so crop circles it became)
2. Slogan/Catch phrase - integrate the above with what your site offers. Combine the 2. (crop circles are unique by design..which all fits in with what I have to offer)
3. Site design - build around your logo or catch phrase. (I chose the word 'unique' & decided to flow with it)

Pour yourself onto the canvas...then come back & professionalise it. Keep showing your work to someone, because they can see things, that could be what gels it together.

And if all else fails, try a bottle of wine ;-)


Cindy

[vwebworld]

View this for some "inspirational sites":
http://www.total-impact.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2456

I go there to get some ideas... not to copy
but to jump start some creativity.

~Roland

[mikmik]

I'm so bad at forcing things that I want to happen that I end up creating pressure and stress, and I start to wonder what is wrong and get frustrated and disillusioned. Then I'm really lost.
I've begun to realize that my ideas don't happen regularily or predictibley, and not much I can do about it.
When I'm stuck, I just give it up - it ain't gonna happen right now anyways, so what else have I been looking forward to doing but haven't tried, or gotten to yet?
That's when I will decide to do abit of research and experimenting on streaming media, for example. Next thing I know, I'm totally absorbed in a NEW form of creative process, and without expecting it, suddenly things will fall into place.
I get what seems like about 90% of my good ideas (beauty is in the eye, alright? LOL)or work to happen during probably only 20 % of the time I spend developing a site. I feel comfortable with that reality now, it might not always be, but that's the facts Jack!
It is also a fact that I get good stuff done when I have to. I start having to work fast and efficiently, that gets absorbing and I forget to worry(!) and it just starts to flow.
I feel a lot more comfortable now because I hear other people express the same thing all the time.
Really hope this provides another angle, at least you might learn something new!

[carju1]

Carbonize,

Unless you are a genius it's almost impossible to create a site from a completely blank sheet.

I work on a 3 step principle.

1. Define the basic colour palette that is to be used. This is often decieded by the client based on corporate colours.
2. Decied on the basic style type for the site. Will it be modern, traditional, frames, high tech, flashly or artistic. Again the client has the decision here
3. Having got 1 & 2 sorted you still need inspiration fot the design. Just scrible down a lot of different ideas and versions. Do a quick build of any that look promising. Eventually you will end up with 3 or 4 rough ideas for the desing. Present these to the client then work a full mock up of their 2 favourites.

I know in this case you are the client, but you have to be split personallity here and define you client options 1 & 2 before the web designer part of you can take over and do 3.

Julian

[freelancemom]

Start keeping a folder in your faves Carbonize. As you surf save things you like to the folder.

I actually name what I like about them, example - "left menu idea", "navigation", "nice testimonials", "neat rollover"... I just save things that I don't want to forget about so that I can derive inspiration from them again when it is time to design something.

Another thing I do is save color schemes or page designs I like from catalogs and magazines. Its fun to go back through them when I need some inspiration.

Keep a wordpad document for inspirations 'on the fly'.

Can't wait to see what you come up with! :)

Lori

[SyrenSong]

If you're looking for different color schemes, try this topic (http://www.webproworld.com/viewtopic.php?t=3329).

But if you're looking for design inspiration, there are several ways to go.

1. Take a walk through a museum and look at the work of different artists and sculptors.

2. Take a walk outside and look at nature. That can be really inspirational for both layout and color schemes.

3. Look at magazines and books (not just the adult ones either). ;) See how they're laid out. Look at the different techniques they use for whitespace, image placement, font styles used, etc. Oh, and you don't have to buy 'em. Try the magazine racks at supermarkets and bookstores. ;)

4. Got kids? Take a look at things the way a child would look at them. They've got a unique way of perceiving the world around them. It can be really inspirational!

5. Just try putting things together in different combinations and see how they look. Then walk away from the designs for a while. Then come back several hours (or even days) later and take the parts you like and play with them some more.

6. (continuation of 5.) Take the stuff that looks like junk from the above exercise and play with it some more. You may find that you like it better than you think. You just needed to combine it differently.

7. Chocolate. Lots of folks find inspiration in eating chocolate. ;)

8. Don't think in terms of just a flat, visual layout. Remember that textures can work well for a design, too.

9. Go to a playground and look at the jungle gym, the seesaw, the merry-go-round. See how colors and shapes are used together.

10. Look at a geometry book. Again, pay attention to the different shapes and think about how they can be combined together.

11. Look in a clothing store for different combinations of colors, textures and patterns.

There are lots more like this, but maybe that'll help you get started. ;)

[carbonize]

Pah I have writers block :|

Got four pages made, all valid XHTML 1.1 with valid CSS and all AAA rated for accessibility. The site is plain but "professional looking" according to someone I asked to review it. But I've hit a brick wall trying to wrote my Introduction to CSS and my Introduction to XHTML. Think I'll find a corner to cry in. Either that or start work on the database for the other parts of the site I have planned.

http://www.sites-designed.com/html.php just to let you see what I have. Also because I'm after bug reports on the PHP script I'm using for the browser/OS script at the bottom. The CSS link is a 404 at present and the XHTML page is only the start. Ignore the border around the metatag generator as I'm going to remove that, maybe, possibly.

[Tubby]

i use a simple system. I simply place everything I nedd to place on the page, on to the page - I shrink all the pictures untill they are just big enough to be able to see. . Then I shuffle it all around until it all fits. Then I usually leave a gap or two for things I never thought off.

of course most of my pages look a total mess, but traffic keeps increasing so I shall stay with it.

Tubby

[seaflex]

I think that each designer finds a different way to gain inspiration - since its a creative process, everyones different. Its nailing down what works for you that is the predicament.

The way I work is that quite often I look into what the client is all about - say for example they make airplane parts, I might look at airplane books or websites - the smallest shape or colour can lead to some of the best ideas for interface shapes or colour schemes.

Also, I find myself making sketches whenever I see something that might spark an idea. As mikmik said - it is difficult to force ideas - so to have a few tucked away may be helpful.

Also, when I do a second meeting with a client, I usually try and take three prototypes with me, one safe and conservative, one a bit more creative and a third that is quite edgey. What I have found from doing this is that I now have quite a few prototypes which can easily be developed or changed to suit a different client, so again I have a few extra ideas in my pocket if i cant force out a wholly new idea.

This is what works for me - hope it is some help.

Phil

Pah I have writers block :|

Got four pages made, all valid XHTML 1.1 with valid CSS and all AAA rated for accessibility. The site is plain but "professional looking" according to someone I asked to review it. But I've hit a brick wall trying to wrote my Introduction to CSS and my Introduction to XHTML. Think I'll find a corner to cry in. Either that or start work on the database for the other parts of the site I have planned.


Hey there across the pond! I found this thread most interesting, mate!
I needed to chime in as you have been given so many great ideas already.
However sometimes it's really easier for me to draw something out than to explain it verbally so here's the visual which goes w/ this post:

http://webpageturner.com/sites_designed.php

Hey plain & professional like you say is great so go for it>>>the only thing I did was replace your xlm header w/ the Flash ...staying w/ your black band banner-header theme. The Flash header is only 8kb big too

I looked at your CARBONIZE website and well I was just very impressed w/ all your tech accolades! Since this thread is about design inspiration what inspired me was your technical apptitude/ application writing abilities, sheer amount of programming related stuff, etc....so your banner has a stark, technically advanced (the "language" is a Russsian influenced symbolic) feel w/ day, date & time & a loop of random numbers to nth powers every 30 miliseconds.....just to "look like it's doing some real advanced mathematical computations" lol

Additionally, I LOVE your "Sites Designed" logo (I think it's the images/wallpaper.jpg..the one I saw on your .css sheet for background url....
WHy hide it and tile it at a 3% opacity? I would not have even noticed it if I didn't see it on your .css

What I did was work with you logo a bit (please remember everything here is a rush job I was just trying to show you what could be done)

ANd bring it out w/ color & highlights like so......

there is room still for other elements too but I also like the stark tech look as your new site is hard-core information no bull this is the real deal type of thing....

Now your logo, off set to left , has a presence that's just artistic enough to give the page some emotional color w/ out overshadowing its content/purpose...

OK this was just my two cents worth......you can totally have/copy the flash if U wish no prob (for free of course) or you can through it out in the rubbish container lol...

OOOps I also just noticed that I made the swf at 725 pixels wide when your xlm banner was originally 760.......my mistake ---it still looks cool though you get the idea/visual I was trying to explain....

Good Luck w/ your new site mate!


DAREN>
http://WebPageTurner.com