9 principles that could make you a better designer
1. Design for humans
Remember, that you create for humans, so stop being a geek.
2. Web design is not design. It is interaction.
In other word - Subordination. You can be a great graphic designer and have outstanding technical skills, but if you don’t have knowledge of both then you probably newer will be able to design a successful site. It is very important to know how people interact with site and what happening in server side. If you know at least possibilities of CMS of site what you make, and how good is your team techies on AJAX, than it can bring a whole new world to you.
3. Use your friends to make your designs user friendly
First of all test your site on your friends and get their opinion. You may ask them questions what you never can ask for your creative director/boss or client (in case if question is silly or stupid). Critique hurts, so better to have some strong language conversation with someone who will forget this soon. Just remember, ask the right question. Use - what yo don’t like about this design, instead of using phrases like - how you like. Ask about details if they like how site looks overall. There is always something to improve. But don’t make them to think that they are able to change something - you just asking for opinion.
4. Believe your own eyes
Colour psychology sucks and it is scientifically approved. For example, death is symbolized by black in most Western cultures and by white in many Eastern cultures. Lamborgini Gilardo is best looking when coloured yellow because of cheapness? Rule of thirds in web design.. what the heck? Yeah, bad experience with book reading, again. But remember that there is the huge gap between breaking the rules and ignoring them. So, if you think something looks bad than this is looking bad, and no rule can change it.
5. Be accurate not slow
Time always isn’t enough. But you can spend it more useable. Coding in notepad is not so cool anymore. Use software with tag auto-complete and function/classes inserter. And think twice before program something your self, because 99% things is already done by others and most of creators even is happy to share with it. It refers to design as well. And learn this from heart, indeed! http://morris-photographics.com/photoshop/shortcuts/
6. Change environment
If someone asks - Where you design your sites?, most common answer is “in Photoshop”. But how about meadow or Starbuck? Generate your ideas in different places on different medium and test design in different environments. Why? Try yourself and you will get the clue.
7. Try different software & technics
Sometimes, software also can change the way you think. In Textmate code looks dirtier than in DW, and designs made in Fireworks looks more professional than in Photoshop and Apple sucks. Maybe. 37signs don’t make mock-ups at all. They found their own technic and, actually, their works doesn’t look so bad at all. They make prototypes on paper instead of using some digital solution.
8. Choose right music
If you are making site for Car tuning company, you should listen to dance music. If you need to create a web site for insurance company than choose something slow and positive; if Art then Jazz, etc. Music can be extremely helpful, to get your self in to right mood.
9. Inspiration
Macintosh GUI idea author Steve Jobs got his idea from Typography. Bill Gates got his idea using Macintosh and Jimmy Hendrix simply smoked “white widow”. You can get your design ideas everywhere. So, be prepared. Always have something to write on your ideas and camera with you (or modern phone?). You newer know where and when you will get inspiration or see some interesting pattern, typography or advertising.
