Clientside Creative Assistance within the Development Process

By Dave Roach on October 28, 2008 at 12:39 pm in Design, Development

Ultimately, in any project, we want the client to receive a website that not only works, but is easy to navigate and visually pleasing to them. So let’s say we did our research and cranked out the best design ever made, if the client doesn’t like it, then tons of time has been wasted and it’s back to the drawing board. Clients can help the designer more than they know when trying to research, conceptualize and eventually execute a website design.

First off, we need stuff. Pictures, logos, graphics, movies… anything that can help us in the design process, especially stuff that you want in the actual design. I have designed multiple websites where I didn’t even know what the logo of the company looked like until the design was finished, because the client did not provide it beforehand. Without those crucial elements, your design might not look like what you had in mind.

Another great thing clients can do to help is to let us know what you like. Give us the URL of other sites that you like. Don’t just pick some sites really quick, but actually look around and find out what you like and dislike and tell us. Don’t limit yourself to your field either, elements in different websites are not limited by field. Tell us what you like about them, color, navigation, layout, expandability, movement, theme, texture, mood, fonts…anything you like and even dislike. We can’t know what you want unless you tell us.

By doing these simple tasks, you can help out tremendously in the entire website development process. Take a little bit of time and thought, and we will be able to better understand what you want, allowing you to receive a website that we, and more importantly you, are happy with.

Design Inspiration

By Emily Spirek on August 22, 2008 at 6:30 am in Design, General

The process of designing is obviously different for everyone, and it’s also hard to reflect on your own method. I often find myself alternating between routines and never sticking with one in particular. One of the most important things for me to remember is the resources that are available to me. I would say my three primary outlets for design inspiration are subscriptions to blogs, design websites and magazines. Whenever I find myself in a rut, I realize that I haven’t resorted to these. It’s vital to constantly reach out to others’ work in order to improve your own style and make it as versatile as possible.

My number one inspirations include:

Blog: Just Creative Design http://justcreativedesign.com/

Design Web Site: Design Meltdown http://designmeltdown.com/

Magazines: HOW Magazine and Communication Arts http://www.howdesign.com/GeneralMenu/ http://www.commarts.com/