Mood board A mood board is a type of collage consisting of images, text, and samples of objects in a composition. They may be physical or digital, and can be "extremely effective" presentation tools.[1] Uses[edit] Mood boards are used by graphic designers to enable a person to visually illustrate the style they are pursuing. However, they can also be used to visually explain a certain style of writing, or an imaginary setting for a storyline. In short, mood boards are not limited to visual subjects, but serve as a visual tool to quickly inform others of the overall "feel" (or "flow") of an idea. Types[edit] Traditionally, mood boards are made from foam board which can be cut up with a scalpel and can also have spray mounted cut-outs put onto it.[1] Creating mood boards in a digital form may be easier and quicker, but physical objects often tend to have a higher impact on people because of the more complete palette of sensations physical mood boards offer, in contrast with the digital mood boards.
You're not going to believe what I'm about to tell you Comics Blog Books Shop Comics: Random Most Popular All Cats Grammar Food Animals Tech This is a comic about the backfire effect. Inspiration This comic was inspired by this three-part series on the backfire effect from the You Are Not So Smart Podcast. USC Creativity and Brain Institute Neural correlates of maintaining one’s political beliefs in the face of counterevidence By Sarah Gimbel and Sam Harris. Other fun reading Reddit - Change My View Wikipedia's list of common misconceptions Sources You Are Not So Smart Website Podcast USC Creativity and Brain institute Wooden teeth Slave teeth Latest Things Random Comics Home Quizzes About Contact
25 Examples of Web 2.0 and Traditional Design Rules Coming Together In the large scope of the design world, the term “Web 2.0″ is relatively a new one. With it, comes its own set of standards, some strong, others not so strong, since Web 2.0 in itself is a very fickle, ever-evolving definition of design standards. Countless examples of Web 2.0 sites have broken the rules of what was once considered strong design. On the other hand, in many cases Web 2.0 has strengthened common design misnomers; it places a focus on usability, interface, and readability. At its best, Web 2.0 stands as an equal to the traditional design rules practiced for centuries, though it is no doubt a reflection of our society in its current state of hustle and bustle. Here’s a collection of 25 sites showcasing how Web 2.0 and traditional design practices can come together to form truly stunning websites. 1. Josh Pyles is a nice guy, and he’s also a fantastic, disciplined designer. Traditional Aspects: Great grid system. Web 2.0 Enhancements: Beautiful gradients. 2. Great use of texture.
The Life Cycle of a Wireframe Sketchy Wireframes Introduction When it comes to user interface documentation, wireframes have long been the tool of choice. However, using traditional diagramming tools like Visio, OmniGraffle, and InDesign, most wireframes today look the same as their ancestors did from a decade ago – assembled with rigid, computer-drawn boxes, lines and text. While these artifacts have served us well, they can also be slow to produce, burdened with unnecessary detail and give a false impression of “completion.” To compensate for the drawbacks of traditional wireframes, many practitioners put aside the computer in favor of simple pencil sketches or whiteboard drawings. There is a growing popularity toward something in the middle: Computer-based sketchy wireframes. The same wireframe in sketchy and traditional representation. The traditional wireframe problem Throughout a project lifecycle, wireframes can be used for different purposes depending on the stage. Sketching to the rescue? Why not sketch… Conclusion
A 6-Step General Process for Producing a Website When it comes to building a website, it helps to have a process to follow, especially if you are just getting started as a web designer. Good guidelines can help you work better by keeping forgetfulness to a minimum. Every designer or company will develop unique components to their web design process over time, but the basics remain the same: learn, plan, design, code, launch and maintain. In this article, I will share my process for designing a website. Before we get into it, let me first share two parallel processes that should be taking place throughout your design process. The first thing you should be doing continuously is seeking feedback. The second thing you should do continuously is testing. With that said, let’s get started! 1. What do you think is the most important step of the web design process? Guess again. Why? Think of it like this: If you are an archer, don’t you need to know where to aim your arrow? So how can you score a bullseye as a web designer? The Creative Brief 2. 3.
Following A Web Design Process The Web Design Process Start to Finish I've always found it interesting reading the design process of others (David Airey, Contrast, Brian Hoff). It's good to have an insight into others work, to see if I can learn anything from their process but also for curiosity. So I've put together a break down of my design process, using a recent project as a real life example, Newsgroup Direct. Overview I was recently hired by Newsgroup Direct (NGD), a leading Usenet newsgroup service provider, to revamp their website, make it more modern and improve signups. Here is their previous design. Planning The first thing that happens when I get an enquiry is I send the potential client a website planner. The key objectives of the planner: Find out who the client is and what they do Who their target market/user is Who their competition is What deliverables they want from me Timeframe and budget In a nutshell, NGD require a makeover with a modern & easy to use interface. Research & Ideas Current site Competitors sites Ideas Logo Wireframes Mockups
45 Incredibly Useful Web Design Checklists and Questionnaires Designing websites can be a long and complicated process. Dealing with clients, designing prototypes, coding, programming, and testing – there’s a lot to keep track of and a lot to make sure gets done. That’s where checklists can make your life a whole lot easier. With lists of points covering multiple areas from content to usability to accessibility to standards, you’re a lot less likely to overlook important parts of a site. Below are 45 checklists to make your design process easier and more organized. Also consider our previous article: 15 Essential Checks Before Launching Your Website1 lists some important things to check before you make your sites public. 1. These questionnaires and checklists are focused on making your relationships with your clients better. How to Extract the Facts with a Web Design Client Questionnaire2 This questionnaire from Freelance Switch is meant to send out to prospective clients to get a good idea of what they’re looking for from a website. 2. 3. 4. Dr.
How to Extract the Facts with a Web Design Client Questionnaire The phone calls usually go like this: Caller: “I want a website for my business.” You: “What kind of business do you have?” Caller states the nature of the business, launches into a list of pages that he or she wants on the site, and then asks you for a price quote. Not a very satisfying encounter, is it? The caller seems most interested in price, and you? It might not be possible to have a meaningful relationship with price shoppers, but it’s worth taking the time to learn what your potential clients want in a website. Editorial Note: A few times a month we revisit some of our reader’s favorite posts from throughout the history of FreelanceSwitch. Tip: I recommend using this questionnaire before you write a Web design proposal. The best Web design questionnaires focus on: What the site’s supposed to do for the client’s business.What the site will look like. I’ll take you through the questionnaire that I use, and explain the rationale behind each question. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.
Web design questionnaire: Top 10 questions to ask Today, most businesses want a website. Some already have one. Others want one. What Do You Want? The first step is to decide exactly what you want on your website. * What kinds of information do you want to have on your site? * Will your site require regular updates? * Will you be engaging in e-commerce on this website? * Will you need a database? * How fast do you need the job done? * What is your budget? Start Your Search Doing a web search for someone that has the skills you will need for your website will still give you a humongous list of possible choices. Often, the web developers you are pondering are not located in your town. The first thing to do when considering a developer is to check out their website. * IS the website well-designed and attractive? * Is it easy to navigate? * Are there any broken links? * Is the information complete (introduction to staff, company location, contact methods, etc.)? * Does the site load quickly? * IS there a portfolio? Small Freelancers vs.