Make time to look for websites that inspire you!
It can be so hard to keep your creative juices flowing as a freelance web designer. Sometimes I feel like I’m churning out the same ol’ same ol’ with every website launch. YAWN. Something I’ve been doing for years is bookmarking websites that inspire me. Sometimes I feel stuck in a rut and seeing the beauty in someone else’s creation can help inspire my own. No, I’m not talking about copying anyone, but it can be incredibly helpful to stumble across a great font or color combination, or perhaps a CSS trick you didn’t know existed. A right click and inspect on Chrome can become an opportunity to learn a new technique. Just always make it your own!
Here are some websites I look to for inspiration:
- AWWWARDS
- Web Design Inspiration
- StudioPress Showcase
- CSS Design Awards
- Webby Awards
- Site Inspire
- 10 Best Designs
- Australian Web Awards
Of course, the very best ones I find on accident. I keep a bookmark folder called WEBSITES I LOVE and often review it. One of my all time favorite website designs is always the New Yorker. Kate Spade always has a great site as well. Both of these sites are clean and functional.
Speaking of functional, I also always remind myself that the MOST important task for any website is that it CONVERTS for the client. I can’t get so into the design that I forget this. It’s the classic “can’t see the forest for the trees” situation. Yes, design matters, but so do call to actions!
Next time you feel like you have lost your creative edge, take a few minutes to look for inspiration on the web. It’s all around us!
Resources: Top Web Design Trends To Watch In 2018
