By: Jen Street a Designer at Bayshore Solutions
.
One of the hardest challenges that I, as a designer, face is the blank canvas glaring at me from my computer screen. I have met with the client, gathered criteria, searched for inspiration and now am faced with a huge task of creating the entire look and feel of a Web site. This can be a very overwhelming time.
.
I am frequently asked where I get my inspiration when designing for a Web project. My response to this is “From Everywhere!” For me, inspiration comes in many forms, but most often it is through something visual and often comes when I least expect it. One of the first places I go to for inspiration is the Internet itself. I love perusing endless pages of existing Web sites that are both creative and effectively designed. Since every Web site is unique, it is a lot of fun to see how design and functionality mesh.

.
As you are well aware, the Web changes every day, and with it comes many new Web sites with a lot of new Web technology. It is a constant struggle to adapt to this changing environment, but it is also extremely exciting. One of the first steps I take when finding inspiration, is looking to see how others have accomplished what I am trying to do. This may be something as simple as how the navigation will work or something more complex as to how others have organized large amounts of information. I can then apply that inspiration to my creative brainstorming process.
.
In addition to new Web technology, I love viewing Web sites that are creative in their choice and use of colors. I find the use of primary colors (blue red, yellow) and secondary colors (green, purple, orange) very dull and boring. I enjoy exploring new color combinations and experimenting with a wide variety of color schemes. This often produces unexpected and delightful results.
.
A favorite part of finding inspiration is discovering great imagery. I do not start by going straight to a stock photography site. I love searching for ways of visually capturing someone’s attention through the use of great imagery. While searching for inspiration, I often visit sites like CSS Leak or Smashing Magazine. By viewing another’s imagery, I figure out how I can take different concepts, combine them, apply it to my design and expand upon it to make it my own.
.
Many times, inspiration for Web comes from the unexpected. I subscribe to many magazines and often stumble upon some of the most interesting fonts, layout and design that I have seen. Sometimes inspiration can be as simple as taking a walk and viewing the world around you in a new way. For instance, maybe the angle of a building’s roof can be incorporated into a layout to give a site a dynamic feel. Maybe the texture of a brick wall can be a background on a site.
.
Inspiration comes from many different places, and part of the challenge is gathering ideas from all over, taking the best bits and pieces and creating a great-looking and functioning Web site that you are proud to call your own.