Need some advice from designers

[The Pete One]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post here so please go easy on me!

I've been a graphic and web designer for about 2 years. In that time I've done over 50 websites for other people and businesses and also I've redone my website 4 times without much of a problem because I use fireworks and dreamweaver primarily, not really any flash that is in depth .

I keep running into the same problem though. I guess it's designer's block. I want to develop an entire flash site that will showcase my work and portfolio. I have such an easy time when I design and develop a site for someone else but when it comes to my own personal page I have so many ideas that I can't focus on a single one. I'll start a design and then think of something I might like more and start on that and forget about what I was working on. Focusing in on what I want the site to look like and interact is my biggest obsitcle right now.

Has anyone else come across this and how do you guys deal with it? How do you narrow it down and come up with a look and feel that you can work with when you have like a gazillion ideas of what you want in your head?

Any help would be appreciated. This has been going on with me for over 3 weeks now! I'm at the end of my rope!

P

[DDD]

this is normal......

1 main bit of advice I have for you is a quote from a close friend of mine. "Know when to put the brushes down". Most designers over analyze their work and hence never finish it. Take a concept and ride it out. I usually watch alot of TV and read magazines for my inspiration. Oh yeah and for soem reason i get good ideas while playing basketball..... But just relax and ask yourself the same questions you would ask your client.....oh and do a lot of sketching.

[.soulty]

that happens all the time with me with my personal sites, I think the best thing to do is to draw down the concept before you get on the computer. this way at least you will have a good idea on what you want and try to stick with it, they will be times where you will change things, just try not too go out of the main concept of the site.

Regarding your skills / style you should ask your self, what type of flash site do i want, do i want it interactive, do i want it designed in photoshop or vector. do i want to use alot of imagery or more body copy. will it be a online business or will it be a online advertising brochure.

best thing to do is start of paper, brain storm every detail so in the long run you dont get stuck, then it should be much easy for you to work.

let me know how the site progesses.

cheers.
.soulty

[EZEkiel]

thats it man just put yourself in a customers shoes !!

you only stop working because you want he bets for your site but in turn you end up over doing it.

DDD said it best just chill out and relax, think about what inspires you to do other peoples websites and channel that back !!!


( watched yoga this morning !!) very deep !


cheers and good luck
:panda:E!kO:panda:

[McGuffin]

I'm going through the same thing right now. I've probably got about 20 layouts out of photoshop/after effects and into Flash, and they just die down, never finish them. I'm hoping the one I'm working on now is going to carry through though. Keep plugging away :)

[Voetsjoeba]

I have exactly the same thing. I'm not even a designer (not at all). After about 15 layouts I told myself: "Now stick to it !". Worked for me, maybe it does for you ?

[The Pete One]

Hey everyone,

Thanks for the replies! I'm glad to see I'm not the only one whose been in this position before. Well not glad that people have been in my position before, but...you know what I mean. I've been stumped on how to proceed with something in the past, but never to this extent.

It usually only happens when I'm painting or drawing, not when I'm trying to come up with something on the computer. Usually I find a song that motivates me and puts me in the feeling that I want my site to have If that makes any sense!). I never realized how heavily I'm influenced by music until I had this blockage!

I definetely am over-analyzing what I am doing. I am a perfectionist when it comes to my work and if it looks even slightly off to me, it bugs the heck out of me. I've been drawing layouts and different designs for about an hour and some are coming out pretty good. Hopefully I'll pick one of them. This is a new approach for me. I usually go in blind on how something is going to look and just make something for a few hours and tweak it as I see fit. Actually planning out the look is a totally new way for me to work on my own personal site.

So I just wanted to write to everyone to say thanks for the advice!

P

[eilsoe]

I've been doing the same thing for 2 years now too, so don't sweat :)


or.. do... I still can't tstick with a design I like... :P It usually fizzles out after a week or so...