Re: Honing Your Craft

First things first. If you drink booze, hot whiskey is one of the best things for a cold. It's boiling water, Irish whiskey, a slice of lemon with whole cloves stuck in it, and some sugar. It's amazing for a head cold and sore throat. It tastes amazing, it soothes your throat, it clears out your sinuses, and it leaves you feeling no pain :)

On to the design stuff.

Like everyone else, I use google and Pinterest and that sort of thing. But, more importantly for me, I read a lot of design books. Google definitely helps with the quick fix and "how do I do this thing that I know I can do in Photoshop BUT IT WON'T LET ME!" And Pinterest and Behance and Dribbble help with inspiration and with showing me all the things that CAN be done.

But I find reading design books helps me gain context and maintain (mental) perspective. I can learn how other people think through problems, how their minds work through a design. And I can take from that what will and won't work for me. Just following through someone else's intellectual process can help me create my own. I don't treat them as gospel, but I can evaluate them to see what I can incorporate in my own design work. I hope that makes sense.

I also work full-time (and have a part-time gig with a theater company). And try to have a social life. Sometimes, I really have to be conscientious about making time for reading. But I think it really does help me tremendously.

Additionally, I think that working outside the design field has some opportunities as well. We're surrounded by design. Library products and websites are some of the most poorly designed products out there. Studying what does or--perhaps more importantly--doesn't work in the design we see every day can significantly impact how we think about and execute our own designs. Artistic schadenfreude, in a sense, with a positive outcome.

Re: Honing Your Craft

What ways are you furthering your skills in your spare time?
I semi-recently took a design-a-day blog challenge (with which I no longer keep up), but I guess it's the thought that counts. I also like to draw in my spare time, which helps improve my illustration skills.

How has this benefited you as a designer?
While I was still doing it, it forced me to think of different design problems and how to solve them. It also allowed me to practice my illustration technique.

Are there any sites you visit that help you sharpen your skills and techniques?
Google is my friend. Also YouTube, and Pinterest often has a lot of inspiring images. Actually my usual technique is to hop on Google and beat it with a stick until it gives me what I want. It hasn't failed me yet! :D

Any secret cures for the common cold? :)
I'm sorry to hear about your cold. The only thing I can think of off the top of my head is my grandpa's strengthening soup (chicken soup with special herbs). I don't know which herbs he used to put in it, but I do know he always added wolfberries at the end (also called goji berries). Try cooking some in chicken broth, it can't hurt.

Honing Your Craft

Hello all,

Sorry for the delayed response; I have the pleasure of getting the wonderful sickness that's going around my office, so bear with me.

***

While I am working on finishing the Publications Design program and working a full-time job (a job unrelated to the field), I often wonder what I can be doing to sharpen my skills in different aspects of graphic design, including technique, process and creative brainstorming. In previous classes, we have discussed where we pull our creativity and how that helps to lead into a project, but what happens when you come across an idea that you want to recreate, but you just don’t have the skills to recreate it?

For me this happens often, and I feel that this not only holds me back, but it shows how much is out there that I should be aware of. When I find myself struggling with a technique, I try to find YouTube videos to help walk me through recreating a technique that I like or to touch up on a technique that I haven’t used in a while. I've found another site that has step-by-step tutorials to recreate different techniques that I think will be beneficial to the class:

http://abduzeedo.com/tags/illustrator

I also like to use a site called Illustration Friday, which provides a weekly prompt, and your objective is to basically create something based on the prompt. Sometimes I will attempt to advance my drawing skills, but most of the time, I will look to trying new techniques in Adobe, particularly Illustrator or Photoshop.

In this industry, and I’m sure it is the same in every other industry, it is the responsibility of the individual to know/learn the latest methods and techniques. So much questions for the class is:

1. What ways are you furthering your skills in your spare time?

2. How has this benefit you as a designer?

3. Are there any sites you visit that help you sharpen your skills and techniques?
4. Any secret cures for the common cold? :)

Freelancers Union

Hey all! I forgot to mention the Freelancers Union last night. They are a great resource for contracts, discounts, benefits, etc.

Happy Friday!

Biz Ladies

Here's the Design*Sponge column I was talking about last night:

http://www.designsponge.com/category/biz-ladies

Re: Choosing Type

Great post! I never realized how important choosing the correct type was until I enrolled in the Typography course at the beginning of the program. For one assignment, Allison had us pay special  attention to those ads and products that misuse type. IT WAS EVERYWHERE. Ever since then, I have paid special attention to the decisions that I make with regard to type and the message that it presents to my audience. That being said, I have answered the following questions regarding type and my choices:

How do you know how to choose the correct type to convey the feeling or message you are trying to get across?

I try to decide what message I am attempting to convey in prior to utilization--am I trying to make the reader happy, sad, convince them of something, etc? Once I've made that decision then I research successful examples.

If you are inspired by a piece that uses a type that you love, how do you find the name of the type if they don't provide it?

This has to be the hardest part in research. Most recently I fell in love with this script-like font that I had seen EVERYWHERE--ads, magazines, etc.--but could not find the name no matter how hard i searched. I ended up taking to Google and using my SEM skills to search phrases/words in order to find the name [new, bold script, etc.]. While that may not always work, it did the trick in that case and I don't neglect the option when searching.

Where do you find type for your projects, besides the lab?

I search free font sites for ideas to use, such as DaFont.com

Re: Choosing Type

Choosing type has to be my favorite part of the process although I am far from an expert so I will definitely go back to Jen's post. I agree with Katie in that you just get a good feeling when you have the right type. It's just like choosing the right color. I feel like what really makes or breaks the right type is how much time you've spent searching. Type studies are crucial because it allows you to compare until you've selected more than something that looks good, but a typeface that functions the best. I usually reference Myfont . I explore the sale section first and then browse by different characteristics like time periods, age related, script type, etc. It usually helps me to choose the type before an image so that I'm sure the words carry the weight of the delivery and the images are used to anchor the message.

I feel the best way to get to know type is simply through repetition. The more you use it, the more you'll recognize unique characteristics. It also helps to find a few typographers that you love and mimic their styles until you discover your own. Although not primarily typographer, I've grown to love the work of Paula Sher who is known for her work with Maps and

I don't have any new pointers that hasn't already been shared, but as a tangent,  I've really become fascinated with lettering. I hope to find the time to practice this art form after graduating. For me, it seems when all else fails, drawing your own type gives more character than any font family… and it does not have to be perfect. This is of course, only for display type.

Overall, I feel like type needs to direct your emotions. It can scream at you, or communicate very softly.   They move almost like music notes and can feel very poetic. If the intended audience does not get that specified feeling, then its, of course, the wrong choice.

Re: Choosing Type- Derrick

Type is one of the elements that can make the design or break the design. When I'm designing and working with different kinds of typefaces, I start thinking about the fonts in the early stages. First, depending on the project, I see what the type trends are for that particular project. That way, I'm not using a face that's totally unheard of. Also, when choosing a type, I take in consideration the audience. I have to make sure that the type will fit the needs of the audience. I would have to pay close attention to the serifs and sans. Another important aspect is to look at the x-heights, ascenders, descenders the stems and so fourth.

Each face will have some sort of references, whether it refers to a time period, particular design era etc. A lot of times, I'll see beautiful type and I don't know who created it or the name of the face. I try to find similar fonts that gets the job done. There's tons of sites that you can use including dafont, font squirrel, font space, font shop and even 1001 free fonts. Also in the computer lab, it has a database of plenty fonts that you can download for free.

Re: Choosing Type

Choosing type can be very tricky indeed. Before I started the MFA program, my background was in graphic illustration. It was a bit challenging transitioning frmo Artist to Designer. Sometimes I still have a difficult time putting my artist hat down completely when it comes to design and working on my assignments. After completing the Typography 1 course, I've learned so many things I was not aware of when it comes to using type. I was not familiar with the grid system, nor did I pay attention the importance of choosing the right type for a client vs my personal preference.

When It's time for my to choose a typeface. I simply go online to different blogs and typeface websites to view different typefaces and to see how they have been used. I also research what color palettes they have done and the combination of other typefaces with that specific one. I have a habit of choosing a lot of sans serif typefaces simply because of the bold and clean look.

Thinking with type  from Typography 1 is definitely a good read. I still go back and read when I am stuck with a design. And also Jen gave great examples of websites that I've gone to before for inspiration.

Re: Choosing Type

Choosing type can make or break a design. Like many of you, I find I have to experiment with many type faces in order to find one that fits just right. That may be an easy or painful task depending on the project. But I do think that once it works, I just know.

For my work, I have to do a lot of business with printers, as we do not have any in house printing. It is so baffling to me how printing houses don't find it necessary to hire a 'real' designer to make executive decisions on layout, type, color, ect. I can't tell you how many times I've sent over a design to be printer with certain parameters and the proof that comes back to me is COMPLETELY different. 9 times out of 10, its because the type choice has been changed and it has altogether changed the design as a whole. It's so frustrating, especially after taking all that time to figure out which type works with what!

But the moral of the story is that choosing type is critical in making a piece work. If you don't take the time to do the research and find the right matches you could end up with something that looks sloppy or unprofessional. Please see, Comic Sans: In the most inappropriate places.

Anddd, end rant.

Re: Choosing Type

These are all really great resources for identifying and finding high-quality typefaces that work for projects on multiple levels. I feel like after a while, you start to develop a pretty serious type arsenal, based on your own designing preferences and style.

Right now, I will usually go to my list of 10 to 20 typefaces that prove to be really strong and versatile. This also sort of becomes a thread between all of my very different design pieces. Some of my favorites are Avenir, Rockwell, Gotham, Perpetua, and Caslon. And as Ali mentioned, it is very easy to get in a rut where you are seeing the same typeface over and over again. I find that by having a lot of loves, instead of one specific favorite, they tend to last a lot longer without wearing out (a little more disturbing way to put it, now that I've read Katie's piece).

For project one, I actually stepped a little bit out of my comfort zone because I chose to match my typefaces to the brand's identity. This meant that I had to figure out what they used, and then find the same or similar typefaces - leaving my entire collection of lovely typefaces to sit this one out. However, through this process I actually found two fantastic new typefaces that I will most likely use again. So, in designing, it is definitely good to have your go-tos but it is also good to remember that there are so many other options available!

On a quick side note, one of my biggest pet peeves in design is trendy typefaces. Just keep thinking versatility and longevity!

Re: Choosing Type

When I do type studies, I try to make a list (mentally or on paper) of as many descriptive words as possible. Similar to Erin, I make my selection based on the message I'm trying to communicate. Each typeface has a different personality, history and emotion behind it. So I take my list and compare it with the typefaces that fits that description. From there I choose about 4 or 5 to print out. I usually narrow down the selection after applying the typefaces to a couple of components. The rest is just developing a good eye. If you spend time looking for and learning about quality typefaces––you'll be able to figure out what works and what doesn't, a lot quicker. I love typography is a great site to start with.

I finally broke down and bought FontExplorer (a font management system)––and it kind of changed my life. Instead of going through all 120,000 fonts, I can create a labeling system that will do all of the work for me. Everything is organized how I like it! So I can easily search for some of the words that may be in my list.

I buy most of my fonts from myfonts.com. They have sales weekly. I'm all about the bargain. They own a site for identifying fonts called "What the font." When I'm pinching pennies, I look at smashing magazine's post about high-quality free fonts. That usually leads me to some great sites. I used dafont.com in undergrad, I'm a lot wiser now :)

Re: Choosing Type

So, this might be an annoying thing to hear, but I think that choosing a typeface is a lot like choosing a mate: most of the time, you just know.

How do you know when you know? Somehow, you just...know.

I do think it's a lot easier to recognize that feeling of finding just the right typeface for a certain project after you've spent time with other typefaces.  This means you have to give yourself time to experiment and play the field.

Don't rush into anything, but do recognize that every project will present a different experience of finding the typeface that works.

Sometimes, it'll be love at first sight. That's it, that's the one.

Other times, it'll grow on you. I didn't really notice that one before, but it's really standing out now.

It's very possible you'll be totally turned off by it at first because it's so different from what you'd normally choose. Later, you'll appreciate that it challenged you. I guess you're just what I needed.

But, a word of caution:

As with people, you shouldn't waste your time with low-life typefaces.

Some might be trendy, but poorly designed. Fun for now, but I'm not really serious about it.

Others might be really attractive, but one-dimensional. But it's so pretty. 

Others might be too similar to your last project. Maybe it could change…maybe it wants to change...

Even though fooling around with novelty typefaces can be fun, only typefaces of the best quality deserve your love and attention for the projects that matter.

Since I've taken this metaphor way too far, I'll point you all to Type Connection to finish it out strong (Jen, you beat me to the punch with this one).

The bottom line is this: as I become a more experienced designer, I am learning that the typefaces in my tool belt don't have to be endless, but they do have to be quality. A well-designed typeface can go very far.

Re: Choosing Type

I thought I liked type. Then I read Jen's post :) Just kidding - thank you all for these resources. Hype for Type seems like a place where I could spend hours. I think I just did.

Anyway, I choose type by thinking about what characteristics would help define the tone and communicate the message of the project. Then I find examples or look closely at the "sample" on the type menu. Then I make a document dedicated to type and try a key phrase or sentence in several typefaces.

The issues I struggle with are mixing type and leading. One thing I try to consider is the overall form of a block of type - what texture or effect does it provide. Is it too stripey or too tight?

I find that the books I used for Type 1 make excellent resources for recalling the basics. Ellen Lupton's Thinking with Type always inspires and teaches with the friendly style and her "Type Crimes".

http://www.thinkingwithtype.com

This is a tricky post for me to respond to because I feel I am still getting the hang of choosing typefaces and knowing when to use certain typefaces. The factor I always consider before picking typefaces is who my audience is. Different typefaces appeal to certain audiences, you wouldn't use a font script font for a children's book.

I LOVE looking at font paring ideas found on websites.

http://blog.canva.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-font-pairing/

http://www.pinterest.com/thekittenliver/font-combos/

http://justmytype.co

The links below have great examples to check out. I shared with you guys last class about how my previous teacher noticed I tend to stick to using the same fonts over and over again. These websites and different resources help me stay away from repeating the same typefaces :)

Re: Choosing Type

If I don't know where to start, I browse this book. Seriously, I love this book. I find looking through printed samples really helpful in order to get started. The fonts are shown in different sizes and weights, giving me a general feel for the typeface.

If I have an idea of what I want, then I start browsing through my font manager. (Eventually, I'd like to print out a font book of all the typefaces I have, for easier browsing.) For project one, I spent--literally--hours scrolling through the phrase "American Shelter" in every font I have on my computer. When I found a font I thought might work, I printed it out. That narrowed my search down to around a hundred fonts. Then I narrowed it down to about 20. So, I did type studies in all of these and narrowed it down to 4 or 5, which I brought into class for feedback. And then I still mocked up my work in three different fonts, including different weights and combinations.

So, I think the biggest thing is to keep looking. As you become more familiar with different typefaces, some of this will get easier. But if you're looking for something different or distinctive, you'll need to set aside hours for researching and testing different type.

Also, don't underestimate Google when looking to identify typefaces. Some companies put their style guides online, so you can get their official typefaces and color schemes easily. Also, I'm guilty of just googling "fonts like [name]" if I'm looking for a font similar to a particular font that doesn't cost nearly as much money. (I do spend quite a bit on fonts, though. I just can't afford the biggies.)

I have noticed that colophons are slowly starting to reappear in some books. I'm missed colophons. Even if a book doesn't have a separate colophon, sometimes the information appears on the back of the title page (the "verso," in publishing/library parlance).

An example of a true colophon.

Re: Choosing Type

Choosing type takes practice and finding type takes time. The more you familiarize yourself with type, the easier it is to identify it and utilize it. Personally, I will use the heck out of a font until I can easily pick out that typeface. Last semester I was stuck on Didot HTF and I used it for everything.  Before that, it was Avenir. I became interested in everyone else’s favorite font. I have a friend obsessed with Archer and I feel like Archer is my step-child now. Because of her love of Archer, I somehow grew to like it too. 

Choosing a typeface for a client isn’t about personal preference, although I am guilty of doing just that. Some fonts can also be damn expensive. What does the client want? Can they afford to buy a font? Can their font preferences cover the entire scope of the project? I try to find typefaces with a lot of weights and italics. Some people might be able to just pick a font out of the air and go with it. I need to do my research, because I have a lot to learn. I have sat in the lab, not so patiently, going through pretty much every font we have. I will find layouts and typefaces that I like in magazine spreads and I will look for those. I will find logos that I like and I will research their typeface. I learn best by seeing and doing, so this works best for me.

My favorite new thing on the space phone is Flipboard - why have I never seen this before? I have a typography magazine that I follow that I love to browse through. The design category is pretty badass too. 

Re: Choosing Type

Vague, I know, but I typically scroll through my font book until I find a font that "looks right" [within the context of the project]. I then test it out in whatever project I'm working on, and, if it works, great. If it doesn't, back to scrolling. For instance: for the Type II project I knew that I wanted something on the bolder, "I do what I want" side, (1) because of the lyrics ("All the possibilities, no limits, just epiphanies"), and (2) because they are sung by a stronger voice. That meant looking for a chunkier font from the list of fonts provided.

In terms of finding fonts, if I know a specific name I'll hop on Google and see if I can find it for free. Another good resource is the Treehouse blog, which often links to free design resources, including downloadable typefaces; I also semi-recently stumbled across this page. If I don't have a specific font that I want to use, I'll browse dafont by keyword, i.e., if I want a Halloween-themed font I'll put "Halloween" in the search bar and see what comes up. I've gotten a lot of good fonts this way, and you'd be surprised at what you can find with just one keyword. Dafont also has its own categories at the top of the homepage to help you get started.

Re: Intro to Web Design

Most of the websites I design nowadays are for work, which gives me a very clear baseline: my lab works exclusively with transportation agencies, who want a clear, informative layout that can easily be edited by their staff. Because of this we've been using a lot of WordPress, so I usually start by researching templates, which I then break apart and reorganize in Photoshop. Factors we usually consider include the client's requested color scheme and the type/amount of information they want on their site, as well as special effects (e.g., interactive calendars, alert bars, etc).

The most important thing in designing these--or any--websites is the client's needs, which are not always clear: apparently my lab has a bad habit of not listening to its clients, so we usually start by compiling a requirements spreadsheet based on what the client says. We then adjust it to reflect new requests and/or practical constraints, and keep it on hand when designing/building the site.

And if I really get stuck, webdesign-inspiration.com is always a handy resource.

Re: Choosing Type

Before I start, I have to admit that I'm a bit of a type-nerd so I have a long list of resources for this question. I apologize in advance if I take the suggestion you were going to make, but I have trouble shutting up about typefaces. If I had more patience, I'd love, love, LOVE to be a type designer, but I just don't think I can focus on minutiae for long enough to do it. 

So, let’s go backwards through your questions because I think my answers to the later ones will probably affect what I have to say about the first one.

Resources for finding typefaces:

• Hype for Type: TJ put me on to this website last Spring in Words & Images, and I still haven't had a chance to look through everything they have going on. What's really cool about this site is that they have AMAZING sales...sometimes you can get a beautiful family on sale for around $30 for 10 fonts (right now it looks like the sales are at 50%). I also like that many of these faces have a lot of personality--most of those are only in one weight, though, which is clearly an indication that they're designed for headlines, not to be readable as text--and you can easily browse by category. 
• Spend some time on I Love Typography. This guy definitely loves typography. And he has posted some great articles about choosing typefaces, type history, type for the web, the list goes on and on, not all of which I've been able to get through as of yet. So, this site is worth hanging out on for a while.
• FontShop: I've loved this site for years, and they have some awesome resources, including an Education section that addresses a lot of questions relating to typography--again, I haven't gone through all the info here. You can browse by category, here, too, but what's really cool is that you can browse by designer and by foundry, so if you find a typeface that you love, it's easy to find others designed from the same perspective. I've found that, when mixing typefaces, it can take some of the guesswork out if you use two types designed by the same person. Under the FontLists tab, another search option on their site is by function; for example, you can search for typefaces that work well in book design, which might yield a different list than "sports" or "web design."
• Google Fonts: When designing for the web, or for people who don't have the funds for a license for an expensive typeface, I generally come here. The user-interface is super easy (it's Google, after all), especially in terms of collecting fonts for web design--the site will generate the code to include in your CSS. 

As to how to know what typeface is being used in a project, I have a few resources for that, too, but in general, I'd say it helps to get a little type-nerdy and learn about those little, sometimes quite subtle, differences between typefaces. I personally found Ellen Lupton's book Thinking with Type (Amazon) to be a clear, fascinating introduction to how type works; incidentally, the book's accompanying website has some more resources. While it may seem tedious, when you pay attention to the shape of certain letters in a particular face--the capital R, for example, or the lower-case g, and you compare that to another typeface's version of that letter, you do start to recognize the differences. 

• As to resources for recognizing typefaces, Identifont is my favorite. I use the far-left "Fonts by Appearance" feature ALL. THE. TIME. It walks you through some questions aimed at those elements of the letters that differentiate one face from another. It's also a good resource if you have a general idea for a font, like a sans that looks a little like Helvetica but isn't Helvetica, because it can generate ideas for similar typefaces for you. 

Fun things type-related:

• If you have trouble matching typefaces, typeconnection is a type-matching/dating game for typefaces. The site gives you a profile of the typeface as if it were looking for a date, and you try to identify a match for it. In the process, the site reveals a profile for the possible matches, and if you choose a pair that will not have fun together, it explains why. 
• I also quite like TypeFight. It's a project where the designers who run the blog assign a letter form to two other designers, which are then posted side by side, and then visitors vote on which designer's letter they like best. The winner gets bragging rights, I guess. Sadly, it looks like there hasn't been a fight since May. 
• There are probably many more apps out there, but I have: Typography Insight, which Allison showed us in my Type I course and has a lot of information in a clean, easy interface. I also have "I Shot the Serif" and "Helvetica v. Arial," both of which are app games that are fun times with typography. (I did warn you about my type-nerdy-ness.)

In terms of knowing how to choose the correct typeface, I might reframe that to thinking about the best typeface for the project that you can choose at the time. I think part of that is having spent some time learning about the elements of typefaces and comparing them to each other, and then ultimately, it's about choosing something that works within your project as best you can. There's so much information just on these sites that I've listed, and many others that I'm sure people will post, not to mention the books out there about typography, that it may be next to impossible to know everything there is to know about type, or to be sure that the face you choose is the absolute best, which is partly why we draft and discuss and take classes on the subject. 

I also think it's about trying different faces in the context of the project and seeing how it looks. One of the suggestions Allison made to our Type I class that stood out to me, though I don't always have a chance to do it, is to print a copy of the project and hang it on the wall, then look at it from across the room. Obviously, if you're working with sections of copy that are smaller size, you won't necessarily be able to read it, but even then, you'll get a sense of the texture that the typeface has and the color that comes across in context of the rest of the project. And you might recognize that the text you're using comes across too dark and needs to be a lighter weight or that you need a typeface with lighter strokes, or vice versa. Okay, so I'm going to make myself stop now.

Choosing Type

Before starting the Pub Design program I knew nothing about Typography. I am now aware of the difference between serifs and san serifs but I still struggle with knowing the right Type to choose for a project. I love script fonts but I know they don't work for everything. In Type 2 we have 3 projects to use Type as Narrative, Type as Information and Type as Identity so my questions to you are:

How do you know how to choose the correct type to convey the feeling or message you are trying to get across?

If you are inspired by a piece that uses a type that you love, how do you find the name of the type if they don't provide it?

Where do you find type for your projects, besides the lab?

SmashingMagazine.com has wonderful resources and tips but I found these two articles/post fitting for this discussion, How to Choose a Typeface and What Font Should I Use?

Designing Badges is a must read.

Please share any additional blogs, websites or articles that you find useful.

Re: Intro to Web Design

I am definitely learning from the discussion, because I have never designed a website for a client. The only website I've ever designed is for Intro Web Development. I enjoyed it, but it was a very manageable amount of content. And I was the client. In my professional work, I have been more responsible for content management, but not design.

One thing I am wondering is if people mostly use templates or design everything from scratch? I am so confused about this. I don't know how to use a template. Is wordpress the way to go? Maybe I can bring this up in class because I know I am late here.

I feel like Typography on the web is about to have its long-deserved awakening. I am really excited for Ellen Lupton's new book, Type on Screen:

http://www.amazon.com/Type-Screen-Critical-Designers-Developers/dp/161689170X

Also, I have found the A Book Apart website and books very informative about content and design. They are self proclaimed as "brief books for people who make websites."

http://www.abookapart.com/

Re: Intro to Web Design

After looking at lots of people's posts, I have a few things to share:

1. I love web design, just the bare bones coding aspect of it, for the sheer reason that it's one of the only things I do that has a definite "right" or "wrong" answer. Since I spend so much of my time in the subjective world of aesthetics, it's really gratifying to fix a problem in a more definite sense.

Another cool thing about coding is that, even though there is generally one right answer, you can often get to it in a variety of ways. I think that gives me the sense that it's still a creative work, and it makes me appreciate the creativity that goes into the sciences

2. I can definitely understand everyone's frustrations about Intro to Web Design just scratching the surface, but given how much you can do with web design, I don't see how it could be any other way.

I, personally, have to remind myself that I'm not here to become an expert in every single aspect of design. I'm here to study the languages of as many aspects as possible, but not to become fluent in every single one.

So, if you decide that web design doesn't float your boat, you don't have to be a web designer.

I actually don't think that most companies want someone who knows how to do everything. They certainly want someone who can speak the language, or who at least knows how to use a dictionary.

And, so, I agree—it's important to keep up with the trends all throughout the field, not just where you're directly working. Design trends have impact everywhere. I didn't realize this before I started studying design.

Parallax sites are very in right now, but soon they won't be. Keep up with the trends so that you can stretch and push the trends to a new territory or, at the very least, not be too far behind.

3. Getting started on a website probably just means using your own process, which we discussed a couple of weeks ago. Don't overthink it—it's a new project, just like anything else.

As far as where to look for inspiration: what brands do you like? Chances are, you'll like their web presence.

P.S. Since you mentioned Parallax scrolling, here's one of my favorites: http://keepbigbirdalive.com/.

Re: Intro to Web Design

I too took Intro to Web Design, but greatly enjoyed and found a love in coding. Actually I had already experienced coding before, but had no idea what it was called. My days of tinkering with all the myspace themes came back to me. I still run into road blocks, but I push them with google searches and tutorials. I even reach out to past classmates asking  about area's I remember them doing marvelous in. I currently continue to do projects in web design outside of school and work with my cousin. 

How do you get started with designing a website?
 - I get an idea what my client wants if I am designing for others. I talk it over with the client, and my cousin. We come up with a plan and sketch it out. Building it is always different, but the challenges make it fun. 

What factors do you consider before designing a website? 
 - I consider how I want to build the website... what will be better based on the needs of the client. Such as using Wordpress vs. HTML... am I going to incorporate boot strap? What plug-ins will I need? Do I know how to build everything.. if not who can I reach out to help? I am currently building a contact list to find my way around on things I can't seem to accomplish on my own ... yet.

Where do you look for layouts and type?
- I ask the client to pull up competitors websites that they like. I do my own research on clients websites and look for what I think works and doesn't work - according to that particular business. For instance, a recent client has started an acupuncture business. Some of the companies had very plain formatted websites - that essentially looked like someone slapped up the basics. I wanted to make hers more modern, neutral colors.. but not so neutral you would skip the site. This helped me have an idea of what to do with her page. 

Is there anything else important to consider?

 Actually, I am not sure. Every site so far that I have worked on has had different expectations and aspects that needed to be thought out. I suppose just to be ready to challenged with each new project. One of the last things I didn't think of but my cousin did was the maintenance/ up-keep. We haven't fully figured this out.. but even though we do a website and viola (eventually its done), there is still an up-keep that has to be maintained. Glitches to look for. I have decided to try and not drive myself mad over the teeny tiny things that I played with for hours.. and find I don't like later on. The project never gets done that way. Then again, art is never fully finished I suppose (to the artist). 

Re: Intro to Web Design

When I first started learning about web design, I was taught through Dreamweaver. I know, Dreamweaver is kind of the devil, but to be honest, since it did most of the coding for you, I was able to focus on the front-end design. First thing I do is make a complete list of pages and sub pages— are dropdowns appropriate? Do I need or want navigation vertical as well as horizontal? I do my best to find the answer to certain questions: who is my audience? Are they computer savvy-- probably, but can they handle non-traditional websites? 

 I know I already mentioned my love of sketches and thumbnails and I think I benefit from using this when designing webpages even now.  I always start by sketching out different grids—like 25 different grids. Probably a bit much, but it works for me. Some grids are just throwing out ideas that I can visually see and some start to make sense. I haven't really messed with parallax scrolling, which is something that I need to study further, but even if I intended use this, I would still start with grid sketches-- boring, right?

When it comes to choosing a type, I honestly should spend more time, but my main goal is to make my website legible and clean looking. I tend to gravitate towards the same typefaces, which I am okay with for now, because they work.   

My biggest reference, which has given me many an inspiration, is Smashing Magazine. Whether its for tutorials, articles or browsing for ideas, I love this website, maybe borderline obsessive love it. There might be better sites, but my first design professor got me hooked many years ago.

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2013/08/29/innovative-appraoches-web-layout/

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/08/26/how-simple-web-design-helps-your-business/

Re: Intro to Web Design

When trying to figure out where to start with a web design, one of the most important factors to consider is most definitely the audience. You have to understand the purpose of the website and think about the things your user (viewer) is most likely coming to the site for. Once you determine who the user is look at other sites in the same category of your content to see what works and what doesn't work. Keep the audience first and design as if you were the user yourself. Think about sites that you visit and notate what works and don't work then determine how you would have done it differently.  After you come up with the design, have someone to test the design for you to see if they are able to easily locate information. Here is and article on 20 Do's and Don'ts of Effective Web Design. Also keep in mind the device your audience may use to view the site so you want to make sure it is a responsive design (http://whyresponsivedesign.com/). 

Re: Intro to Web Design-Derrick

Web designing and especially coding is a tedious, time consuming job. But, like any other design, you have to brainstorm, research, sketch ideas/mood board etc. When I'm designing for a website, I usually jump right into it! Just kidding. I'd need a lot of information before I get started. Who's the site for? Is it for business or personal use? Who's the audience? How simply or complex does the design need to be? Will the site need an online store? What's the site format? Is the site information based, blog etc?

 After that's all squared away, I start brainstorming ideas, researching current trends and doing some sketches.

Some factors that I consider before designing is taking account to what the clients needs are. Or if it's for a project, then I'll consider the guidelines of what it must have. I also make sure that I am capable of actually doing with all the proper software. For example, will it need java script or video. Will the site need to be fully interactive with moving images and audio etc?

For layout and type, I determine that when I'm researching the trends and making sure it fits within the clients needs. However, I'd make sure to use web based fonts. There's tons of websites that have templates that you could use for inspiration. 

I'd also consider the type of content that will go on the site and the website content management. Wordpress and drupal have awesome templates that you could use for pretty much anything.

Re: Intro to Web Design

Ahh yes, coding. Introduction to Web Development made me cry (no seriously) many, many nights. I just could not get the hang of creating an entire site using coding. Any who, since then I have shied away from site creation until the very lovely Project 1. Below see my answers for the questions from the original post:

How do you get started with designing a website?
I typically look for inspiration from websites that I personally enjoy, along with WIX.com. This allows me to look at various sites and decipher what I like and don't like and use said inspiration to draft my own. 

What factors do you consider before designing a website?
I first consider what is important to the consumer and use that in order to create my Nav tabs. From there I flesh out content in order to design the design structure (a lot of content calls for a different approach).

Where do you look for layouts and type?
--see question 1--

Anything else important to consider?
Definitely consider your audience. Certain groups go for certain styles and presentations and it's important to keep in mind when creating information that will be provided to said audience.

Re: Intro to Web Design

I am very new to web design and I find that web design can be very tricky. The HTML coding is not a challenge but the CSS is definitely a challenge for me. That is the portion of the Intro to Web Design course that I struggled the most with and because of that I am taking the course over now. I believe that Web Design is a essential factor in being a designer because a lot of advertisements and publications are becoming more available online vs. print. I've also seen that a lot of employers are looking for that well rounded designer that is capable in producing it all.

Sometimes I browse YouTube and different how to blogs when figuring out different techniques to use to do css coding. I also take a look at my favorite websites and view the source information to see how the coding is done and layered out.

I've learned some new tips and information from reading everyone's post. Thanks!

Re: Intro to Web Design

Perfect timing! I just designed and developed a website for a client so this is still fresh for me.

 I didn’t take the intro to web course at UB but I had a similar experience. I took post baccalaureate courses in interactive design after working as a design professional for a couple years. I quickly realized that employers were looking for well rounded designers who were well versed in web design as well as print. After taking classes towards my certificate, I was kind of disappointed. Although I received a wealth of knowledge,I didn’t learn any of the new trendy techniques, like parallax scrolling. I ended up having to seek that information out myself.

I started off as a computer science major, so I love problem solving. I’m one of those nerdy designers who loves to code. I will troll the web until I find the answer. That’s the best thing about web design, it’s new! If you have a question, chances are that someone had the same question and has posted a tutorial on how to answer it. I frequent sites like Smashing Magazine and of course Pinterest and Behance.

I use those sites for quick inspiration but there are also a few books that I like to reference for layouts and usability:

Don't Make Me Think

Web Design with HTML, CSS, JavaScript and jQuery Set 

I’m glad you asked about layout and type. Those two elements can make or break your site design. Most people, including myself, struggle with them. It’s important to consider different layouts and typefaces that will be suitable for you audience. I’m not a fan of sites that are direct copies of a print piece. Not all typefaces are legible on the web. Same for layouts. Your layout sure make sense. Form should influence content.

Re: Intro to Web Design

I find web design quite fascinating--like a few of you mentioned (Kim, I think you did, and then the post that linked to the "fight" between realism and flat design, among others), trends in web design are quite difficult to keep up with, which is frustrating. Part of that, though, is due to how quickly technology has been improving. I'm old enough to remember not having a computer in our house--I think I was ten or eleven before we got our first one, and it was specifically for my dad's work, and had nothing cool or fun that I could find to do on it except a maze game in the "how to use this computer tutorial" that was meant to teach you how to use the arrow keys. Consider how much has changed just in the last seven years since the first iPhone was released--it seems like it's been around forever, but it hasn't even been a decade yet. So, with technology changing the hardware--desktop/towers to laptops to smart phones to tablets to watches and wearable tech--, it's difficult to anticipate where web design is going, so it's difficult to anticipate which current trends might end up lasting. But those same changes are pretty exciting because there are more and more possibilities in what can be done with the tools.

That being said, I think a good idea based on your brand/product and its audience is always a safe bet. Web design has come a long way--just look at the time capsule sites out there like the oft-cited Space Jam movie site, which has gone from cool to lame and back to cool in a hipster-nostalgia kind of way--to the sites that many of you have posted. I'll always appreciate a site that's clear and gives me a quick, easy, pleasurable user experience.

But I also like pretty things, and love sites that are clear but also feel luxuriant. Hence, I'm a big fan of white space--I'm definitely a believer that the pleasing white space on its search page helped Google outdo the much-bigger competition of the time in AOL, which was always cluttered and confusing to navigate. A site I really like that uses white (or bold background color, as the case may be) space well: Sydney Stockholm, an Australia media/communications company. That site also has an interesting/unexpected user experience (see next paragraph), using these quiet little touches like the loop video of the fingers typing, which almost seems to reference a right-brain/left-brain relationship to me. Another site that works for me in terms of experience and luxuriant white space is for book designer Rodrigo Corral. I love the way that the levels unfold to showcase his work in more ways and across more types of media.

I love sites that do something unusual or unexpected, and are therefore memorable. Miranda July's site for her story collection, No One Belongs Here More than You, is one of those. The book was published way back in 2007 (quite a long time in tech years, no?), but the site still seems fresh and interesting to me now. It's something I hadn't seen before, and don't think I've really seen anywhere else since, and she tells a story with the site that brings you in. She creates a persona for herself as an author, one who is funny, quirky, down-to-earth, humble, maybe even doubts that anyone would really take her book seriously. I don't know how effective it was in selling her collection, but it's certainly a memorable website in terms of the experience of it. I also appreciate a site that includes a bit of humor: Mark Melnick's site for his book/print designs works for me--I like that he admits he can't do everything but what he does, he tries to do as well as he can. Again, I don't know how many jobs it's gotten him, but I'd imagine that it might be quite refreshing for a client to be able to cut right to what he does best.

If I had to say what goals I have when designing anything really, but especially when designing a web site, I'd go with these: remember what you want the user to do (like TJ said over and over in Words and Images) and make it clear and easy for the user to do that. If I can do that, I'm pretty happy with what I put together. If I can do that in a way that is also beautiful and feels to the user like a world he/she would like to be part of...even better.

Re: Intro to Web Design

When I first start designing a website..well it depends on who it’s for..But if it’s for a client I ask them to provide me with examples of websites they like. Because design is a forever changing process I need to know what elements that specific client likes from a specific website so I know what they are more than likely to want on there own website. I always find it difficult to work with clients thought thats probably normal I’m not really a fan of indecision and it drives me crazy when people don’t know what they want.

Before I start design a website I try and map out where everything is going to be on the website so that I know that I am taking care of everything that needs to be on the website. I find if I don’t do this it’s much easier for me to forget about an element.

I’m in love with Bēhance so I am always going there for inspiration and to see how other designers develop a concept and how they layout there project and I draw inspiration from them. I guess one of the more important things I consider is what I can get done in the time frame. I mean I can think of an awesome design that might taken me time to work through and that might not be possible for this project.