| Whenever a web designer gets a web design | | | | colored text as a combination. |
| project, he or she will require to take a step back | | | | There are thousands and one meaning to choose |
| and go through the research process in order to | | | | your color theme. Whether your color theme turns |
| complete the job. The research process is a tedious | | | | out successful depends heavily on the first step |
| process, it determines how well, and successful will | | | | "Determining the style" of your website. |
| the result of your web design. Ideas for web design | | | | PHOTOS & GRAPHICS: |
| will share with you how to go through that research | | | | After getting the colors done, its time to think about |
| process smoothly and obtain results. | | | | the graphics and images. As a graphic says a |
| One fine day, you received a call from some client | | | | thousand words, it is good to think about how you |
| and he requests you to design a website for his | | | | want to approach this portion. Here are some |
| company. Over the phone, he briefly tells you what | | | | recommendations you can try: |
| his company is about and asks about the prices, you | | | | 1. Stock photos - Some are free, some requires you |
| then fixed an appointment with him for discussion. | | | | to pay a certain amount before providing you with |
| You will probably get excited about it and starts to | | | | high resolutions image. If your client has the money |
| get more details of the company by checking them | | | | and there are suitable photos he would like to use, |
| on Google, and thinks about some prelim ideas for | | | | this is the way to go. Searching in Google for "stock |
| the website. At this stage, your research process has | | | | photos" will give you plenty of results on this. |
| already started. | | | | 2. Take your own photos - When budget is involve, |
| RETREIVING THE DETAILS: | | | | usually the project will require you to take a relevant |
| After meeting up with the client, you get a lot of | | | | photos and use them as supporting images on the |
| details that will assist you in your design process. | | | | website. Having a mid-range camera should do the |
| This details applies even when you are designing a | | | | trick as images for website are all on low resolution. |
| personal website. | | | | Seldom there is a chance for you to use an image |
| 1. Nature of the Company | | | | more than 640 x 480 pixels. |
| 2. Client Preferences (Example websites?) | | | | 3. Creating Graphics Images - A web design will |
| 3. Target Audiences (kids? Young adults? Everyone in | | | | always need custom-made graphics images. For |
| the world?) | | | | example, icons for a Shoe section, button for |
| 4. Platform (Flash? Html? Php? Asp? ) | | | | submitting information. You will need some skills in |
| By organizing these details, you get a bigger picture | | | | creating the graphics of your needs, or you will feel |
| of: | | | | stuck while designing. Consider looking for tutorials on |
| 1. What are you going to design? | | | | creating certain effects, like rounded corners, Mac |
| 2. What style of design are you approaching? | | | | alike buttons, pattern backgrounds and more. Learn |
| 3. Whom you should design for? | | | | about vector graphics tool like Adobe Illustrator and |
| 4. How will your design work? | | | | Macromedia Fireworks. They can help you to create |
| 5. How will your design please both the audiences and | | | | graphics, mockups and layout fast and efficiently. |
| the client in order to be successful? | | | | This will greatly aid in your next web design project. |
| DETERMINING THE STYLE: | | | | INSPIRATION AND REFERENCES: |
| With the information you have on hand, its time to | | | | If you already have some inspiration on how to |
| determine the style. For a start, you should base on | | | | design the layout, great, but if you do not, consider |
| the client's description of his company, his nature of | | | | looking at related websites for some references on |
| the company to give a rough gauge on the design | | | | how they are being done. A search in Google also |
| style. Examples below: | | | | reveals some websites of the same genre. You can |
| Example 1: | | | | also check out ready-made templatesas well. I am |
| Web Hosting business >> High tech web | | | | not teaching you to copy exactly, but as a new |
| design, sleek and professional design | | | | learner, you should take reference and see how they |
| Example 2: | | | | are being designed. |
| Dolls and Toys business >> Kiddy, Girly, | | | | Why bother looking at them? |
| Colorful, Fun design | | | | Reference sites will give you ideas on usability, color |
| COLOR THEMES: | | | | theme, ideas on relevant images, navigation, features |
| Having a good and suitable color theme on your web | | | | and many more guides to work on your web design |
| design will give users a pleasing experience while | | | | project. Always consider them as useful references |
| surfing through the web site you designed. One of | | | | to help you whenever you need inspiration and ideas |
| the important techniques is to get a color chart from | | | | for your web design. It is all about looking more, |
| your local art store or use some color chooser tools | | | | reading more and getting your eyes and brain more |
| to aid in your color selection. Your color theme will | | | | exposed to the web design styles. has alot of |
| affect the mood and feel you want to create. | | | | website reviews by different web designers all over |
| Colors also have their own meanings. For example, | | | | the world and is worth taking a look. |
| white is clean, blue is cool and corporate, having a | | | | Final Say |
| white and blue color theme gives you a clean and | | | | I hope this article has been helpful to give you some |
| corporate web design. Orange and yellow are warm | | | | ideas for your next web design project. In this web |
| and friendly colors, Grey is cool, combining a | | | | design industry, it is a never ending journey of |
| Orange-Grey theme will give you a friendly and fun | | | | learning. By reading more and seeing how others |
| mood. Dark colors are also popular among many, | | | | create, you will be more aware the next time you |
| because they easily matched other bright colors. A | | | | design your client's or your own web site. |
| common match is using a black background and light | | | | |