web design 101

Ooh, that's a tough question. It's hard to explain how all the different aspects of a design come together. I think there are two things that come together in the early stages: first, a wireframe and grid. What content do you need to present, how are you going to do that? Where should the information be placed? Then secondly, what is the visual concept? Colours, design patterns, typography etc. What kind of a look and feel do you want? What is appropriate for the topic? Where can you go for ideas on how that might look?

The ability to do this well comes from skill and practice. Study graphic design. Practice making designs, even if they never get used. Lately I've been spending evenings doing quick design concepts. Come up with an idea and play build it up towards a mock-up. If it never becomes a real design, that's fine - skill comes from practice. You wouldn't expect to become a great musician without practice - web design is the same way.

I'd love to hear others' ideas on this topic! Great question

I'm not sure I understand the question.

how do you guys conceptualize your web design so you can call it unique?

Are you asking how develop our own unique style? If so, I would advise you not to worry about that, concentrate on learning design, how you differentiate yourself will come naturally, once you have mastered the principles of good design.

Hello HA HA

I suggest that you think about your question by considering an analogy. How is the process of designing something else undertaken? A piece of furniture. A special meal. Whatever you would like.

That analogy makes itplain that you must begin with 'purpose'. Why do we want this thing?

Usually you are asked by a business owner to construct a site for them. But it is not for them, it is for their web site visitors. What do these visitors want/ How will they use it?

Or, for the crafty designer, what can you incite the visitors to do that will satisfy the business goals fo the business owner?

Often, and too easily, the designer is seduced or distracted by consideration of technicalities - just how do I achieve this effect in javascript or css - without appropriate focus on the goals for the site.

A long time ago I worked with a young Alan Cooper - now of cooper.com. I would recommend looking at his site, subscribing to his newsletters, perhaps attending his courses, definitely reading 'The Inmates are Running the Asylum', less confident to recommend 'About Face 3' until you have some experience.

And consider the design guru's own site. What do you think? Tons of cutting edge stuff but it is quite hard to see how to use it until you have learnt how to use it. But you don't need any training to use it. As you use it you come to understand how to do it. That is an example of an intuitive design.

But probably too cutting edge for what you want to do.

What do you actually want to do? Design is an applied science or art - it does not really exist unless you want to do something specific.

Tony

Hi HA HA,

I have written many sites, but I still don't think I am anywhere near being a website. I think the best thing is to first consider what you are trying to achieve.

Then consider what you must have to achieve this. Then from this you should be able to draw a simple sitemap.

The structure of your site will drive how you will design your site, as you want your users to be able to use your functionality .

Then I like to draw how I want the front page of the website to appear where should the logo be, what kind of logo. Where should then menu go. The contents, should it be in columns or one big area. Colors of the different areas, links, fonts etc.

Try to look at other sites for inspiration perhaps mix in some of these ideas. Then evolve your ideas go away do something else, have a think about it and keep on changing and improving your work.

Think about the different scenarios your design will need to cope with, how would it handle showing a forum etc, forward planning can save you a lot of hassle later on.

Good luck

What we design is unique in its own way. But if you really want for it to be unique then first off you should design at a piece of paper what your layout should be. Then try finding a color that you think would suit your visitors.

I am agree with you Megan it's really hard to say about web designing in a short definition. It contain so many things. Yes but I would like to say that for better designing it require vision power as well as visual ability for particular creation.

First step is to draw it on a paper and then do it.You can make changes as you start your designing.