Design Fatigue
Every once in a while, I come across a website that is absolutely beautiful in every way; a design and layout so complete that it makes me throw away what I was working on and start over.
The truth is that I’m getting aggravated at knowing what I want from my designs but not being able to create it. I feel like I’m trying to force design when there is nothing in me. So, here are some mediocre concepts that would have graced the site if it weren’t for real websites like Notre Dame’s College of Arts and Letters and artypapers.
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Update: Another one down the drain.
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Andrew Hamann
Feb 13, 04:34 PM
Ummm…those designs are better than designs that I actually used…
Mohodin Rageh
Feb 13, 04:52 PM
we all have been there my friend. Do not let the fatigue take its toll. It is pretty hard to come up with earth-shattering designs all the time. Not even half of the time. One needs to break out of his mould. Get something that inpires you. Hopefully a designable concept come out of it. That is the approach I take and it is quite fruitful.
Jonathan Barket
Feb 14, 01:49 AM
I’m going through the exact same thing right now. I’m a web application developer by trade, so putting together a promising design has always been my weak spot. I finally thought I had something worth using, and less than a day after I saw binarybonsai.com for the first time and had to throw it all away.
The only real advice I can give you on those designs are to try and reduce clutter. In other words, I would do whatever you can to reduce distractions from your content (ie the sidebar), and definitely wouldn’t create a second one.
Your current site is fantastic, but it rides the fine line between minimal and stark. Unless you’re dead set on throwing it out, I’d really consider just polishing it.
Thame
Feb 14, 06:41 AM
Mohodin:
“It is pretty hard to come up with earth-shattering designs all the time. Not even half of the time. One needs to break out of his mould. Get something that inpires you.”
The problem is that I really want something earth-shattering and I’ll probably continue scrapping concepts until I find it. What do you use for inspiration?
Jonathan:
“I’m going through the exact same thing right now. I’m a web application developer by trade, so putting together a promising design has always been my weak spot. I finally thought I had something worth using, and less than a day after I saw binarybonsai.com for the first time and had to throw it all away.”
I hear you, man.
“Unless you’re dead set on throwing it out, I’d really consider just polishing it.”
This site is a design tester of sorts so it’s not that I want to throw it out, it’s just going to happen soon.
R. Marie Cox
Feb 14, 07:38 AM
Sort of interesting how each design is a variation of the same theme. Each has horizontal navigation across the top, a couple different groupings of lists, and a monochrome color scheme. Which isn’t to say they aren’t good designs—I really like the topmost design because it sort of evokes a very uxmag feeling and that’s not a bad site to use as inspiration—but that might be why you’re not satisfied.
There’s an article called “Current style in web design” (http://www.webdesignfromscratch.com/current-style.cfm) that does a good job of explaining the details and elements that go into some really wonderful designs. After you read that, chuck out your conventions and start from scratch.
In the same way that you have to work against your intuition to solve a brain-teaser, work against your design intuition—be like George Costanza for a day and do the opposite. You may not wind up with a complete design, but if you get a couple good elements that you’re happy with, save those for later use. Rinse and repeat.
Thame
Feb 14, 06:03 PM
“You may not wind up with a complete design, but if you get a couple good elements that you’re happy with, save those for later use. Rinse and repeat.”
I think that’s a fantastic approach. I’m definitely going to have to start doing that. I’ll have to be careful to make sure that I combine the elements into a whole website, but it’s a much better method than what I’m doing now.
Thanks.
Dylan
Feb 20, 09:45 AM
Mmm, I quite like the first of the three you have there. The second is a little cold and businesslike for a personal site like this, and the last is a little too bland and constrictive on the content. I think you should implement something like the first at some point.
Keep up the redesigns! As I said before, I like the diversity of frequent redesigns.
Thame
Feb 20, 11:20 AM
Thanks Dylan.
The site is always a work in progress so another redesign is probably not too far away :D
David
Feb 22, 03:47 PM
man haven’t we all been there before. I like this site as it is now. simple yet the typography works well.