Polishing designs

[iLikePie]

hey,

I often seem to have the problem that I can competently make a design, but it just never looks professional enough... as if i'm missing some of the tiny details that give it that real kick.

I'm a very detailed person (i.e i spend a long time fixing details and care about them) and i know how to use software competently, but it's like i just don't know what to add to make my stuff look polished and complete.

anyone else experience this, or how do you combat it? There seems to be a big difference between making a design which works in theory, and knowing what to change/add/remove to make it look pro, and i'm not sure you can just learn how to do that.

- stu

[EZEkiel]

freaky!! i was thinking the exact same thing today!! did you hack into my brain??

[:ninja:EZEkiel:ninja:]

[Zach-E2]

that's my problem, too... you're not alone!

[slinkyart]

Hey dude, I know exactly what you mean. I design web pages on a daily basis for the company that I work for, and I know that for me, I get into design ruts where I just can't think of ANYTHING to do for the design. But other times, it just flows.

The best thing that I've found is that I'll go out and I'll do some research on various template sites to see what works for those sites, and try to take little bits and pieces and ideas from those sites and incorporate them into my own cohesive design.

Once I get a design laid out, I sit back and look at the design as a whole and look what can be pushed more and what can be added. I don't know if you're a painter by any chance; but I am an illustrator too, and I find that with my paintings, I often have to step back and look at the picture as a whole because so often I find myself wrapped up in small little details of the painting, I have to make sure that the whole painting works together. Just like a web page; I can add all of the bells and whistles and details that I want to a web page, but if I don't step back and make sure that it works cohesively together, then it's unsuccessful. It doesn't have to be complex to be professional. It has to flow well. It has to be balanced.

I hope that helps.

[iLikePie]

yeah, i guess it's good to look at other sites for ideas... i don't like doing that because i feel like it's going to stifle my own creativity even more and just make me another trendwh0re, but maybe i need to a bit.

i was really annoyed yesterday because i had my typography class, and my work there always has good concepts but NEVER ends up looking like more than a typography exercise, and some people (2 in particular) always have really great work that is somehow really refined, even if it's simple.

they have intuition... i wonder if i can learn that :P

[unchew]

Maybe you are trying too hard, just keep it simple and clean... maybe.

[Theros]

Its just like Golf, the only damn sport in the world where u try hard and you will fail! :}

[slinkyart]

i was really annoyed yesterday because i had my typography class, and my work there always has good concepts but NEVER ends up looking like more than a typography exercise, and some people (2 in particular) always have really great work that is somehow really refined, even if it's simple.

they have intuition... i wonder if i can learn that :P

Talk to them about it! When I was in school, there were other artist who's work I really liked and I would ask them about their process and where and how they gather their inspiration. Never hurts to ask ;)

[dr_vroeg]

Stop thinking with the wrong side of your brain....you have two options for this.

1. flip your "finished" product either horizontally or vertically and then work from just and artistic standpoint.

2. This option was offered by my professor: have a few beers first, it will occupy the smart side of your head while your creative side can finally be free.

[Theros]

Stop thinking with the wrong side of your brain....you have two options for this.

1. flip your "finished" product either horizontally or vertically and then work from just and artistic standpoint.

2. This option was offered by my professor: have a few beers first, it will occupy the smart side of your head while your creative side can finally be free.

#2 made me laugh at loud. Some profesor u have :D

[senocular]

2. This option was offered by my professor: have a few beers first, it will occupy the smart side of your head while your creative side can finally be free.
very practical. I like :)

[fasterthanlight™]

FOR THE SAKE OF ART WE NEED TO GET WASTED!!!!!!!!!!!

[senocular]

Its funny, back in college I remember a guy coming in with a video project where half the time making it he was wasted. People asked how he came up with some of the great creative concepts he implemented in his piece and he said he honestly couldnt remember (all noteworthy parts were made under the influence). :P

[dr_vroeg]

you all laugh but it really works...now if you get too drunk you might have a hard time typing through the puke;) "....remember my credo Timmy, don't be a fool, stay in school" and think tipsy.