{"id":12497,"date":"2021-08-25T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-25T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/getflywheel.com\/?p=12497"},"modified":"2023-03-29T16:26:14","modified_gmt":"2023-03-29T21:26:14","slug":"how-to-establish-your-web-design-style","status":"publish","type":"resource","link":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/resources\/how-to-establish-your-web-design-style\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Establish Your Web Design Style"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Web design is creative work, and it\u2019s a skill that you develop. Like anything that takes nothing and turns it into something, design work is heavily influenced by your skills as well as your own artistic sensibilities. Whether you\u2019re just getting started as a serious web designer or you\u2019ve been in the game a while but want to find more focus, establishing your web design style is a worthwhile use of your attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Don\u2019t forget UX and UI<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One way web design sets itself apart from many other types of creative media is the fact that the site visitor\u2019s experience is a critical element, and it\u2019s knit into the fabric of your website. Painters, for the most part, can just paint without concern for what anyone else thinks of the painting; someone will like the canvas and buy it, or not like it and move on. Websites, however, don\u2019t have the luxury of ambivalence. They <i>must<\/i> have a good user experience and user interface if they\u2019re going to deliver any value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/getflywheel-images.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2015\/08\/design-style-ux.jpg\" alt=\"Man paints on canvas \" class=\"wp-image-12504\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As you begin to establish your style, don\u2019t lose sight of what happens on the other end. The most visually stunning web design ever coded won\u2019t be very well appreciated if it\u2019s impossible to navigate and it loses visitors. Frame your learning approach to design style in the context of UX\/UI, and you\u2019ll be both skilled <i>and<\/i> effective as a designer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Develop Your Eye<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Because web design is a visual medium, you need to have a good sense of what you think looks good. And because this is a personal thing, your own thoughts and feelings about what you see will absolutely come into play. As you look at sites designed by yourself and by others, observe how the design affects the way you feel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Are you energized or bored? What catches your eye? Does anything turn you off or bore you? What color palettes do you prefer, and how much white space is enough? You may also be drawn to a certain element of the design, from visual elements to layout to use of images to use of illustrations&#8230;anything. Note what you really like and what you really don\u2019t, and think about how you could apply that information to a current or upcoming project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t be afraid to tap into traditional art education, though. Gauging your inner artist is a big part of developing your \u201ceye\u201d and, in turn, your style. It\u2019s important to have foundations in composition, color theory, and the like if you want to have a good sense of good design that stands the test of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/getflywheel-images.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2015\/08\/design-style-artist.jpg\" alt=\"Artist sits on ground with brush and paint covered jeans \" class=\"wp-image-12505\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Keep Practicing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Web design is a skill, and it\u2019s one that grows with practice. The more you practice designing sites from scratch, the more comfortable you\u2019ll be with the way your design style works. If nothing else, you\u2019ll find better ways of doing things. But it\u2019s more likely that continued practice will refine your taste and more sharply define your style.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t practice in a vacuum, though. Pay attention to what other designers are doing, and ask questions. Look for inventive ways of using typical elements; see what\u2019s compelling and what\u2019s simply over-designed. Try new things in your design work and see how your clients respond. Practice coding and see if understanding that aspect of your work influences the way you create. If you discover a new area of interest and you want to learn about it quickly, consider taking a course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Specialize in What you do Best<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019ve been designing a while, you\u2019ll have a sense of the types of design you do best. Whether it\u2019s static sites, dynamic sites, or even eCommerce shops, there\u2019s a type of client that goes for what you do best. Consider targeting those clients and establishing a style that meets the needs of these clients more specifically. The more you establish yourself in that particular market, the more well-developed your style will be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Look at the recurring elements of sites you design or particularly like. What are some of these common threads? You may be drawn to sites with multiple menus, extremely graphic headers, and sidebars with custom elements. Or maybe you prefer large hero areas with interactive color overlays and parallax scrolling. Each of these layouts draws a different type of client, and they require a specialized set of skills to execute them well. Continue working conscientiously to be the right person for the right type of people, and your style will take shape!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Web design is creative work, and it\u2019s a skill that you develop. Like anything that takes nothing and turns it into something, design work is heavily influenced by your skills as well as your own artistic sensibilities. Whether you\u2019re just getting started as a serious web designer or you\u2019ve been in the game a while<span class=\"tile__ellipses\">&hellip;<\/span><span class=\"tile__ellipses--animated\"><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"template":"","resource-topic":[1396],"resource-role":[1397],"resource-type":[916],"class_list":["post-12497","resource","type-resource","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Establish Your Web Design Style<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Uncovering your personal style is a process that happens over the course of years, but there are ways you can more quickly hone in on it.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to 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