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Published Thursday December 20, 2007 at 5:54 am
By Thord Daniel Hedengren
Break Your Design Mold
Designers can easily get stuck in the same old tracks. Be it rounded corners (which I bashed on Wisdump by the way), gradients everywhere, or just an overall style that could do with some fresh input.
A friend of mine reminded me of trying to do different things design-wise, every now and then.
A friend of mine reminded me of trying to do different things design-wise, every now and then. I’ve been too absorbed by everything else, so I just haven’t pushed myself forward as a designer. To do that, you need time to experiment, and you need energy to put into it. Two things that doesn’t come a-plenty, I’m afraid.
So here’s a thought for all the designers out there. Break your own mold on your next project. Do it in a different way, even if it doesn’t turn out just right, you’re bound to pick something up along the process.
Here are some suggestions on things you could do to break your mold:
- Rethink font usage. We all got our favorites, now try something different.
- Web 2.0 i very fresh and clean. Well, screw it - let’s do something dark and musty! Or the other way around, if you usually do dark designs.
- Are you a blog designer? Then change the composition of your next blog design. Do a one column theme (you know I like ‘em), do something nifty with the sidebar, do a different navigation, just do something that isn’t so much Blog by You.
- Change your use of images in your next design. Heavy users go light, and vice versa.
- Use colors you normally wouldn’t! Try new blends and schemes. Or do it just in black and white, whatever differs from what you normally do.
Just a few pointers on the way, I know. What you can do to change your design mold is entirely up to you, and your style of course.
Me, I’ve already mapped out a design for a client, going with dark backgrounds and a powerful header/top, rather than the white fresh European thing I usually end up in. I’m confident it will turn out OK, I can see that already, and just by thinking along these lines I’ve come up with other things I want to try.
So go on, break your design mold. I dare you.
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Go on, do a table-based design then, I double-dare you
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This is absolutely that everyone needs to be reminded of every now and then. I can spot designs made by a few people I know without them telling me they made it, since they’re so knee-deep into their old habits and preferences.
This last year I’ve tried a lot of different styles, instead of just going with what I know works. But thanks for the reminder, before I end up in the same old pattern again!
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Great advise. I definitely get into design ruts I can’t seem to get out of. In this business, though, you can’t stay in any rut for very long or you’ll be antiquated before you know it.
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Ha Ha “..do something dark and musty!”. All designers fall into ruts. I really think that in order for you to grow as a designer you have to try new things. Now I am off to create some musty designs!
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Let’s not get all crazy here, Chris!
Thanks for the comments, guys.
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just one point of interest!
web 2.0 is not a design style but rather a phase of the web…
Apart from that I agree that you should be different in your design and style, there is nothing worse than going through someones portfolio and its the same, boring!!
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lol @ Chris! Nice one.
Good post, Thord. I haven’t done enough ‘jobs’ to reveal a rut as yet, but, I’ll be sure to remember your advice when I realise I’m in one.
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Funny reading this having just finished my first-ever Wordpress theme for my girlfriend’s new blog at http://www.mmorpg-info.org/.
By strange coincidence, I’ve done pretty much all of the things you suggested, as well as a flowing layout that degradates cleanly when viewed at a restricted width. I have to say I’m quite pleased with the result but would appreciated your and your readers’ opinions on it.
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I liked a few other designs you had implemented over here at devlounge. I was a fan of your previous layout more then the current. BUT this one is nice also.
Give me feed back on what you think about my front page layout for my website at:
http://www.yaitsfree.com
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Isn’t this a site for and by designers? Designers don’t arbitrarily make design decisions to please themselves. This is what artists do. Design is calculated before it is creative. I believe in getting out of your style is a good idea, but only in a way that improves the effectiveness of your designs.
Could be a sound idea, unless what you know is the best choice for the given task. I don’t like the idea of rethinking, though. Type choices should always be thought of early on in the process. A lot of times though, an experienced designer will instantly know the right choice of type.
A really stupid idea if, say, your target audience is middle-aged females with little-to-no experience using the Internet.
I pity the client whose designer takes this direction on her next design before reviewing the site’s goals.
Or, use colors effectively to communicate with your site users, while maintaining visual brand identity.
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i totally agree with Colin
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I totally think Colin is a jackass.
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Colin, you’re missing the point of this article completely. The whole idea is to grow as a designer, and you won’t be doing that unless you challenge yourself.
Would I do client work dark and musty when the target audience are Totally Spies-crazed 14 year olds? Of course not…
Read it again if you will. As I said, you’ve missed the point here…
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I guess Colin is one of the people your talking about!!
I wrote something similar late last year as well (http://germworks.net/blog/2007/12/20/state-of-web-2007/) and one of the points I raised was that you need to get inspired from other NON-WEB sources.