Ooohhhh!!! This is exciting!
Playing designer feels a little bit like playing dress-up did when you were a kid. You get to try new things, wear different hats than you normally do (not literally, like you did when actually playing dress-up……although if you HAVE a hat, go ahead and put it on, just for fun), and broaden your horizons.
As I’ve said before, there are several elements that need to converge when you’re planning the design of a website. But that doesn’t mean that it has to be hard. And it DEFINITELY doesn’t mean that it won’t be fun. It totally WILL be fun. 🙂
Just make sure that you plan to give yourself some time to explore and play. If you feel like you’re crunched for time, you’re not going to enjoy this process very much. Set aside some time and just realize that this is new territory – you’re doing something new. It’s going to take a minute.
BUT…..I do want you to monitor your time. If you’re anything like me, you’ll find that some of these activities can really draw you in and you’ll lose track of time. There also sometimes seems like there are too many options and you’ll get stuck in constant “what if there’s something better” mode? And THAT’S a hard mode to get out of. Not having a time limit can perpetuate this feeling.
So, my advice is to set a time limit for yourself and start exploring. Take note of what you like….what catches your eye. Try different combinations of design elements together. Let it sit for a few hours or a few days. Come back to it and see how you feel then.
But don’t get so caught up on making it perfect. If it appeals to you, and you feel good when looking at it, it IS perfect.
And always remember that if you just. can’t. decide…….I’m here to help. If you want me to take some time putting together some options for you to choose from, I can do a full-scale consultation for you for $100. You’ll get some font combinations, color palettes, and design element ideas to choose from, and then you’ll just mix and match. It’ll be as easy as pie……and just as delicious. And if you want me to create header images or buttons for you, using your chosen selections, I can do that, too. I’ll create headers for $75 each and other graphic design elements, such as sidebar images or buttons, for $25 each.
So…..are you ready? The resources you’re looking for are below.
Just remember to relax and enjoy this ride!
Click here to take a look at my guidance on choosing fonts.
Click here to take a look at my guidance on choosing color palettes.
Click here to take a look at my guidance on creating your own images and graphics.