Getting Unstuck in Web Design

Have you found yourself staring at the computer screen wondering what to do next? You’ve already chosen your free Flash template and your content is all arranged and ready in front of you but you simply can’t figure out what to do next. Well, sometimes following an artificial set of rules can help you get your creativity unstuck and flowing.

1. Inside Out. Have you started your design by placing the header and titles? It seems like the logical starting point but really, it often causes trouble. Work with something more concrete, particularly if you already have it ready. Add the content that belongs on the page, such as pictures, videos or readymade texts and work from there. Work from the inside out and not the other way around. Once you see everything arranged on the page the ideas will start flowing on their own.

2. Create a Draft. I want you to use a pencil and eraser. Don’t look at me that way, I’m sure you still have a pencil thrown around the house somewhere. Sometimes it’s easier to create when you don’t feel like everything you do is final and irrevocable. Use a pencil to start sketching ideas. Erasing is good, it means you’re working, don’t surrender to fast. After a while you’ll find yourself getting stuck on certain ideas and letting others go. This is the natural creative process. After about ten, twenty times I’m sure you’ll see you’ve found the way back into your design process.

3. Look for Inspiration Elsewhere. Don’t live in a vacuum. Step away from your computer and start looking around. Ideas come in the most unexpected moments but you have to open yourself up to them. Go to an art gallery, go drink a beer, come back, browse a few other websites from the same field of interest as yours. Don’t steal, but let your mojo loose for a little, you’ll be surprised how much you can accomplish when you’re not even really working.

4. Absorb. As you walk around and look at other works of art/web designs, make a point of being observant. If you see something you like, put your thoughts into words. What exactly do you like about this or that design? What do you dislike? How are certain effects being achieved? Learn

5. Learn to Let Go. You’ve just designed the perfect button, you’ve spent hours perfecting the shadow in the corner of the button and positioning it on your page, but you have this nagging feeling that it has nothing to do with the rest of your web design. That’s unfortunate but you never know when it will come in handy. For now, you need to let it go. Breath in. Breath out. Let it go.

6. Walk Away. Web design takes time, a lot of time. Once you’ve finished your first good draft walk away, give it a break. There’s a certain point when no matter how good you are you’re going to suck. You begin to second guess yourself on everything and you’re not doing anything that is actually improving your web design. Take a break. Let your mind rest on other subjects and when you’re feeling refreshed come back and get back to work. You’ll be doing yourself and your website a favor.

7. Stay Open and Creative. Just because you know how to draw a perfect square doesn’t mean it’s the only thing you should be drawing. If you practice you could probably draw a circle too, and then what a wonder your paintings could be. Web design is the same. Also, what was inspired the first time is just lame after you’ve repeated yourself 10-20 times.

8. Ask Others What They Think. Don’t override other people’s opinions even if they’re not professionals. Remember, the people who will be visiting your website won’t all be web designers either and you probably want and expect them to enjoy your website. Listen to your pals, they probably want what’s best for you anyway. You don’t have to agree with everything everyone says, but stay open to some constructive criticism. Maybe you should avoid your mother though. She won’t tell you the truth anyway.

9. “May the force be with you” ! good luck