How do you begin?

That's a tough one. I don't know if I have ever came up with a design that I was entirely satisfied with. I usually go through several revisions before I get a result I want. I usually stop when I am about 90% satisfied with it. It helps to put your site up for review here in the Critique area to see what others think.

I doubt anyone really pulls one out of the hat first pop that they are 100% happy with and wont change, I'm working on a layout now (and its only one page) but am up to my 3rd version, but working up to the final version is not only great experience, but if you save them can give you ideas for other ones (cross and match kinda). also if you keep them long enough (few years) you can look back and think, wow, I've come a long way lol - good luck

And Welcome to TWF

I'm like that too. For one of my sites I actually had 7 mock-ups before I was finally able to settle on one, and did some revisions from there. It does help to get advice from others - especially people who will be in your target audience. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet, stop fiddle-farting around and go with something. Make sure that you use includes or something to make future changes easier.

that's exactly what is holding me up. thanks for clearing that up for me Megan!

Don't keep redesigning. Move on, design fast, and if your three designs are completely different then save one for another project. Sound like you like all of your designs!

Well, per natcat's suggestion, I just did it. I would like some guidance as far as the graphics go...

I thought of creating one header graphic for each page. You can see what I mean by going to my main page and this one.

I do not think I'll be coming up with a logo anytime soon. Considering this, will keeping the color scheme and layout consistent be enough to create a sense of familiarity to the user? You know, so they know they are in my site while they are in my site?

Thanks everybody. I only wish I had discovered this place a long time ago. It's gotten my creative juices flowing again.

[EDIT: removed URL links as they are not relevant at this time]

Come on, stop fiddle farting around and come up with that logo!

The site doesn't look too bad but as you said, I would recommend coming up with some sort of header for each page. If you need some logo ideas, I would check out coolhomepages.com, as I believe they have a section devoted to that. Good luck!

hahaha Oh i know exactly what you mean
My site (which is currently up but going down again)
has been getting designed for a few months now
its taken me months to come up with something i actually
like and now im board with it and find it too restricting
so im coming up with something else hahha and now i cant get another design i like..

but i find that doing something and spending some time on a design (Like not a few hours but a few days) usually works a treat and you come up with some real good things

the design im working on now has been going for about 4 days (a total of about 21 hours work on it) But i tell you this now (couse i know my self well) i will get to the end then that will it i wont like the resualt anywho

I'll save it all then start again.. and then prolly do that about 9 times more and see which one i like best and what parts of each i like best and see how i can incorperat that into the one design (but thats about 3 weeks away) but you should try that.. it works really well (one warning the design which is up now is just a day job nothing speciall very simple.. it wasnt designed like the rest of my sites.. and that could be the reason why..)

Think, Attempt, Trash, repeate step 1.

That's my basic pattern. Don't worry if you can't get a look you like. Trial and error. Keep at it and you'll come up with something you like

For one of my sites I think I spent a week on the interface, must have trashed 10

-Kev

Personally I find if I work on the logo and navigation first and try to get that right, then the rest is easy.

Probably most people, over time will work out a method that works for them. With a little help from people on forums like this.