Making Sound Designs

Creating new designs, be it on a website or any vocation that needs artistic skills, calls for an exercise in creativity. While it is possible to create designs spontaneously, it is good for an artist to know that designs can be created systematically through a few proven design sources.

Many, if not the majority of web artists create their design by playing with colors, gradients and special effects that photo editors often provide.

What lacks in the web-scape is what is the usage of and a universally accepted categorization of styles found in other disciplines such as in the fine arts and in architecture. This leaves many an artist, to design websites using only creativity and inspiration from scratch rather that building upon proven and accepted patterns.

We do not have something similar to "surrealism" or "impressionism" styles in web design as they do in the fine arts nor do we have "post-modern" or "gothic" as they do in architecture. Instead what we have are inspirations all over the web - existing websites to mimic, tweak, or improve upon. It may be beneficial to study how designers may create their own designs so that the artists may be more flexible in where to source inspirational materials.

If history tells us one thing, the evolution of the creation of a style of design can be boiled down to 1) designs created in the pattern of pre-existing and often current designs, 2) designs created in the pattern of nature, and 3) designs created in the pattern of an idea or a concept.

Create designs after existing styles
Designs created in the pattern of existing design styles is the simplest way to create design. There is not much thought required and one merely goes with the flow of latest trends. You pattern your design after existing design principles or after very popular, often current work. As a rule, these designs are favored by the client, as it should be to be popular anyway. To illustrate current examples that are relevant in our field, these would be your websites with lots of drop shadows, gradients and brightly colored websites with an overload of brightly colored buttons. Some people tend to look not only in current design trends. Others have looked into past design concepts and styles as well. For instance, Art Nouveau (and possibly other forms of established design styles) can theoretically be successfully implemented into website design.

Design by nature's inspiration
Many of the classical designs in history are inspired by nature. A lot of designers have looked into nature as a source of inspiration. In the past, this concept works because nature offers us naturally occurring patterns that is readily available to us. In fact a number of design styles, from architecture to commercial brochures are brought about by the inspiration of nature, particularly the botanical aspects of nature. Also, a lot of the beauty we see around us are offered by nature - the flower in the garden, the clouds in the sky, and the color and quality of water. With no pun intended, it is safe to say that letting nature to inspire one in one's work should be very natural.

Design an idea
Every once in a while, an idea comes along that is the basis of an artist's new design. Perhaps this idea comes in the form of a color, a historical figure, or even a defining characteristic of a time in history. Many of the great artists of the past created their art around concepts that inspired none but themselves. Many who wish to create something fresh and unique can benefit on looking into a concept to create new designs.

If you are a designer, it is good to know to note the above. These are proven ways to create designs that can be implemented in websites as well.