Designers: Tips For Achieving The Look That You Want

With most clients, there are weeks of planning and preparation that precedes the design phase. Here at dt, the first week or two (or three) is spent gathering as much information we can from our clients and transferring it into wireframes. Wireframes allow us to lay the framework for the pages that we will be designing. They include all of the key functionalities of each page and a basic page layout. We create our wireframes in product called axure that lets you set links from page to page and even generates an html prototype that can be posted online. This is awesome for us because it allows us to remotely click through use case scenarios with clients.

As a designer during these initial weeks, I begin to get ideas of how I want the site to look. Some of these ideas stem from sites that our client likes, others come from popular trends, sites I like (styles that I think would fit the site type) or any other source of inspiration.

So once I have a style in mind that I am excited about (this is very important!), how do I execute this style successfully? This is not always easily done. I’m sure every designer has had the experience where they have a vision in mind but they just can’t seem to bring it to life. Here are a few things that I have learned that help me achieve a desired look:

• Make sure you have the technical skills that the design requires.  Just because I can envision the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel does not mean that I can paint it. If your client wants a super grungy site, make sure that you are up to date on your grunge skills and the current techniques / uses.
• Have something visual to constantly refer to. I usually make a collection of sites that inspire me, surround myself with magazines, take screen shots of design elements, find inspiring art…whatever works. During the design process I constantly refer back to these as sources of inspiration
• Use placeholder content that accentuates the desired design style. Instead of using a grey rectangle for a photo placeholder, find a photo online that you love. Use profile pictures that match your color scheme. Use real ads that are designed well. Use actual text that matches the context. Not only do these things help inspire me, they give the client a better feel of what the page will actually look like.

These are just a few tips that I have learned over the past couple years. Designers out there feel free to chime in with tips of your own!