Blogs

Every now and then, as a web or graphic designer, you hit a low point or slump in your creativity. A stage where you start to question yourself and sometimes question your skills.

The slump can bring about frustration about a project, and now, with quite a number of years in the web design game, I thought I would share my experiences with slumps and techniques I use to overcome them.

remember the good times

I think all designers feel that energy and buzz when we crack that bit of code, get that mark-up to validate or finish a mock-up for a client. It really is a buzz to enjoy your work and get paid for doing this... life is pretty spectacular!

sleep on it

It honestly is that simple sometimes. Just go to bed and try and forget about it. Have a good sleep and believe it or not, nine times out of ten the solution will wake up with you. I have done this loads of times, I have also not done this loads of times and sat there until the early hours of the morning sipping coffee and eating to keep myself awake hoping that my worn out mind and tired body can muster a solution.

look for inspiration

I guess this is the proactive way of dealing with the web/graphic design slump and probably one of the best ways to find a new idea. I am not talking about website galleries - they have their uses.

But I prefer looking away from the web, maybe a magazine or book related to the subject. Photography and art galleries will have you brimming with ideas but I personally find a non-visual inspiration the most effective. Sit down with your eyes closed and listen to a good album. I have done this many a time and found that the music somehow has colors and patterns associated with it.

For instance, I make very different websites when I listen to John Mayer then when I listen to Led Zepplin and sometimes I end up going in a completley different direction due to a song I have listened to and will revise my design.

plan your time

I think a big part of losing your creativity is often worrying that your not going to meet a deadline or your nerves kick in about the end product not being good enough. I have found that the best way to combat this is to plan your time.

Then take this target date and list all the tasks that have to be completed to enable that task to be achieved. Split those tasks up over the days you have until your design target date and presto... you have a plan. Once you have completed your tasks for the day, you must stop. By ticking a task off throughout your day, you will feel like you are making progress.

Hope this helps...

One of the hardest parts of graphic design whilst creating a website is the logo design. It is often very hard to create an image that truly represents a company, but if we keep certain factors in mind graphic designers can normally create a suitable design.

Symbolism: Is there a symbol that represents the companies core trade? Like a house for real estate agents or a flower for a florists?

Abstraction: An abstract shape could represent the companies core trade. Like a real estate agent could use a block shape to signal stability or a florist could use a circular shape that represents a friendlier signal.

Colour: Colours can be used to signal emotional responses. For instance, the colour red is associated with fertility, birth, danger, strengh, love and passion. The colour green is asociated with nature, health, cheerfulness, environment, money. Lighter shades of colours can be used to draw the eye away and brighter colours to draw the eye in.

Minimalism: Less is most certainly more when designing a logo as the most successful logos are simple and, most importantly, easy to remember. Think of Nike, McDonald's, Coca-Cola.

Typography: The fonts used for any lettering should also represent the brand. For instance, serif fonts signal a more traditional feel, whilst san serif fonts have a modern feel. A unique font can also make you stand out from the crowd. For instance, the Coca Cola font or IBM.

Texture: Add some dynamism by adding a texture. For instance, a wood grain for a health product or a scratched and rough stone effect for a builder. Adding another dimension to your logo can give it an edge and bring it out of the web page, a 3d edge adds an angle and is often used to infuse a modern connatation.

With the festive season around the corner, direct research of KayWeb clients has shown increased activity in ecommerce websites, particularly those offering gift options like digital goods, fragrances, clothes and hardware.

This may seem only logical with Christmas around the corner, however a deeper analysis shows that the economic doom and gloom has made people realise that online is the best place to find a bargain.

Shopping in malls and shopping centres is very time consuming and tiring. The thought of going to your nearest Westfield includes:

• Driving to the shopping centre
  
• Trying to find parking
• Walking a distance to get into the shopping centre
• Walking a distance from the shopping centre entrance to the shop you seek
• Seeing people you do not want to see
• Looking for the exact product that may or may not be on the shelf
• Looking for your make and size
• Walking to the next shop to compare prices
• Walking back to negotiate a better price from store 1
• Purchasing your product, knowing it may be cheaper in a shopping centre in another suburb
• Repeating the buying process for each individual product
  
• Repeating the walks, 'hopefully' with heavy bags in hand
  
• Being offered a new credit card by some exchange student
• Finding your car
• Loading your car
• Driving home

Putting these steps into text is hard enough... performing them, as most would know, is infinitely tougher.

Enter the convenience of online shopping.

• Jump on the web
• Google for your desired product, being as specific as model number if you wish
• Click the first few options to compare prices
• Pay securely
• Have it delivered

While Google is no doubt great, there is now even better options when browsing online. Websites such as shopping.com and Get Price do the hard work for you.

• eBusinesses list their products and prices on these websites
• You jump on this website and search for a brand of digital camera or fragrance
• It lists for you the prices from cheapest to most expensive
• You click on the cheapest; it takes you directly to that product on the said website
• You pay securely
• Have it delivered

The online option of shopping is no doubt the best option for today's time-poor class of human. This was proven with the advent of ecommerce.

But now, with the economy treading such uncertain waters, the online option of shopping has proven itself as the best option for those seeking a bargain!