Where do you get your inspiration?

Xenoran · April 20th, 2003, 03:44

Hello everyone,

I'm currently working on teaching a friend how to do web design and graphics design, but I seem to have hit a barrier. He doesn't seem to have any inspiration for what he wants his site's design to be, I've offered many suggestions and quite a few examples, but he still can't seem to find anything he likes... except my sites

. I'm trying to discourage him from using design elements from mine because I think it will impair the learing process, I'd like him to create something completely original on his own.

So, I go back to the topic of my post, were do you get your inspiration for the designs of your sites? I really could use a 3rd party point-of-view on this one.

Thank you for your time.

__________________
Vincent T. Vantine
Founder, VT Emulation Network

Strider · April 20th, 2003, 03:58

my first site i learned from reading source codes, but my second site (which i actually consider ok) was first based on ngemu's tables, then on original buttons and table graphics i made in aps, i used some of the source code from ngemu to figure out how tables actually work, and then i changed it around a lot, substituted my graphics, put in my own numbers, and made the table on the top of the page, the end result was a site that looked nothing like ngemu, which i was hoping for since i didnt wanna plagarize the guys who made this place .... since it was a website for a school project it was mainly educational, therefore most of it is text based... the site is about the two towers, just click the little line under my sig

first off, tell him to find a theme for the site, second tell him to think of a template, third, tell him to think up of a colour template that looks good

__________________
My Deviant Art

Quatro · April 21st, 2003, 13:01

use your imagination... use good color combination and the theme of the site will definietly be it... its like projecting interest in hte project, you get inspired because you like to do it...

__________________
- when you think that you have accomplish so much, many think of it as so little...

T.O.F.K.A.Z · April 21st, 2003, 16:14

Inspiration = Imagination IMO
But it all is based on wanting to extend your capabilities as a person ,in a particular field.

My Motto : There are no limits , everything can be accomplished aslong if there's a will there'll be a way.

__________________

Senior Member of the "Optimism-Non-Pessismism Club"
---------- Specs : PENTIUM 4 2,5 Ghz / GEFORCE FX 5700 Ultra ---------
---------- SOUND BLASTER Audigy2 Platinum/ 512MB DDR --------------
---------- If you don't agree with me then that's OK by -----------------
---------- me but I hope you respect my opinion as well ----------------

Galway no Sora · April 21st, 2003, 17:20

Do he have imagination? Something that he want? If he dont have anything he wanted, we, you can't help. I mean helpless. BTW, why he want to build a website if he doesn't have any plan on it?

__________________

One can't get something from nothing in this world. If life is the one you seek, then life is the price you must pay.

Quatro · April 24th, 2003, 07:07

yup... first he must decide what kind of site he want to make... that he think is worth doing...

__________________
- when you think that you have accomplish so much, many think of it as so little...

jegHegy · April 24th, 2003, 13:16

every webdesigner gets some of his/her inspiration from other webdesigners' works. there's nothing strange about that.

nyaa

RZetlin · April 24th, 2003, 23:35

Quote:

Originally posted by Quatro
yup... first he must decide what kind of site he want to make... that he think is worth doing...

You can never go wrong with warez, roms and porn!

__________________
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"Asu no Egao no Tame ni!" - So We Can Smile Tomorrow!
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dn · April 25th, 2003, 00:27

/me sighs

I just wrote out a very long post, then I hit the reset form button. In summary, the post says look at shapes and colours of different things. http://www.darkengine.net is a site i made and was started off with me making a big circle in photoshop (the background planet thing) and it all progressed from there.

listening to music, watching music videos, dvds etc. is good. cd and vinyl art is good too. good luck.

__________________
“A commonplace man marvels at uncommon things; a wise man marvels at the commonplace” - Confucius

**Chrono Archangel** · April 25th, 2003, 00:33

1) find a subject
2) find the primary colors you want in your website
3) decide the shapes of you bar, buttons, etcc...
4) go from there

__________________

6BIT - Gaming, Emulation & Tech News

dn · April 25th, 2003, 00:47

I just read Chrono Archange's post and it should be also noted that the subject is extremely important as well. Very often you can use material made by others as a base for a site. For example, a site on pff.. Jennifer Lopez (whatever), you take a pic of her, chop bits out of it and use it as a background and a template for content - page content goes in the stomach or whatever.

__________________
“A commonplace man marvels at uncommon things; a wise man marvels at the commonplace” - Confucius

**Chrono Archangel** · April 25th, 2003, 01:09

>page content goes in the stomach or whatever.

are you saying she's fat? or that she doesnt have alot of content?

__________________

6BIT - Gaming, Emulation & Tech News

**Thorgal** · April 26th, 2003, 02:31

Actually, aside from the 'inspiration/imagination' way, there's also quite a rational way to find out how you want your site to look like.

First off, determine what kind of and how much content the site will have.
Second, what kind of navigational system (meaning menus, and which menu items) does the site require in order to access the content? Tip: search, contact us and sitemap are always handy links to show in a clear spot.
Third, think of a color scheme that fits the content/site theme, and perhaps a font that suits it well (use it consistently then).

Layout is the first step. Go further from there.

Oh, and whenever you see a website design you like, bookmark the site. I''ve got 30+ of those, for both inspiration and imitation (I prefer a combo of both).

__________________
- Thorgal // Design guru of NGEmu and Emuforums
AthlonXP2200+, 768MB DDR333, Radeon 9700Pro, LG 915FT+, 130gb HD

You think Emuforums looks a bit messy? Don't blame me!

Keith · April 26th, 2003, 04:46

It just comes to me when I am bored

Some people are just talented .. lucky for me I have the ability to do both design and coding, nice combo for web development.

I agree with what people have said so far, not much more to add. Also if you do want to do a site, atleast make it something you are interested in. I have tried other areas and just got bored with the site before it could ever really become something.

__________________
- Keith

April 20th, 2003, 03:44	#1
Xenoran Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 50	Where do you get your inspiration? Hello everyone, I'm currently working on teaching a friend how to do web design and graphics design, but I seem to have hit a barrier. He doesn't seem to have any inspiration for what he wants his site's design to be, I've offered many suggestions and quite a few examples, but he still can't seem to find anything he likes... except my sites . I'm trying to discourage him from using design elements from mine because I think it will impair the learing process, I'd like him to create something completely original on his own. So, I go back to the topic of my post, were do you get your inspiration for the designs of your sites? I really could use a 3rd party point-of-view on this one. Thank you for your time. __________________ Vincent T. Vantine Founder, VT Emulation Network

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April 20th, 2003, 03:58	#2
Strider Living Paradigm Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Toronto Posts: 10,223	my first site i learned from reading source codes, but my second site (which i actually consider ok) was first based on ngemu's tables, then on original buttons and table graphics i made in aps, i used some of the source code from ngemu to figure out how tables actually work, and then i changed it around a lot, substituted my graphics, put in my own numbers, and made the table on the top of the page, the end result was a site that looked nothing like ngemu, which i was hoping for since i didnt wanna plagarize the guys who made this place .... since it was a website for a school project it was mainly educational, therefore most of it is text based... the site is about the two towers, just click the little line under my sig first off, tell him to find a theme for the site, second tell him to think of a template, third, tell him to think up of a colour template that looks good __________________ My Deviant Art

April 21st, 2003, 13:01	#3
Quatro Just visiting ^_^ Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Laguna Posts: 8,299	use your imagination... use good color combination and the theme of the site will definietly be it... its like projecting interest in hte project, you get inspired because you like to do it... __________________ - when you think that you have accomplish so much, many think of it as so little...

April 21st, 2003, 16:14	#4
T.O.F.K.A.Z ..::NL_HC_NL::.. Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: THE PLACE EVERYONE FORGOT Posts: 1,746	Inspiration = Imagination IMO But it all is based on wanting to extend your capabilities as a person ,in a particular field. My Motto : There are no limits , everything can be accomplished aslong if there's a will there'll be a way. __________________ Senior Member of the "Optimism-Non-Pessismism Club" ---------- Specs : PENTIUM 4 2,5 Ghz / GEFORCE FX 5700 Ultra --------- ---------- SOUND BLASTER Audigy2 Platinum/ 512MB DDR -------------- ---------- If you don't agree with me then that's OK by ----------------- ---------- me but I hope you respect my opinion as well ----------------

April 21st, 2003, 17:20	#5
Galway no Sora ~¤ PanZeR ¤~ idRO Thor Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Valhalla, on Odin's throne Posts: 3,165	Do he have imagination? Something that he want? If he dont have anything he wanted, we, you can't help. I mean helpless. BTW, why he want to build a website if he doesn't have any plan on it? __________________ One can't get something from nothing in this world. If life is the one you seek, then life is the price you must pay.

April 24th, 2003, 07:07	#6
Quatro Just visiting ^_^ Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Laguna Posts: 8,299	yup... first he must decide what kind of site he want to make... that he think is worth doing... __________________ - when you think that you have accomplish so much, many think of it as so little...

April 24th, 2003, 13:16	#7
jegHegy Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: Hungary Posts: 2,184	every webdesigner gets some of his/her inspiration from other webdesigners' works. there's nothing strange about that. nyaa

April 25th, 2003, 00:27	#9
dn Totally crazy Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: London, England Posts: 1,126	/me sighs I just wrote out a very long post, then I hit the reset form button. In summary, the post says look at shapes and colours of different things. http://www.darkengine.net is a site i made and was started off with me making a big circle in photoshop (the background planet thing) and it all progressed from there. listening to music, watching music videos, dvds etc. is good. cd and vinyl art is good too. good luck. __________________ “A commonplace man marvels at uncommon things; a wise man marvels at the commonplace” - Confucius

April 25th, 2003, 00:33	#10
Chrono Archangel 6BIT Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 8,090	1) find a subject 2) find the primary colors you want in your website 3) decide the shapes of you bar, buttons, etcc... 4) go from there __________________ 6BIT - Gaming, Emulation & Tech News

April 25th, 2003, 00:47	#11
dn Totally crazy Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: London, England Posts: 1,126	I just read Chrono Archange's post and it should be also noted that the subject is extremely important as well. Very often you can use material made by others as a base for a site. For example, a site on pff.. Jennifer Lopez (whatever), you take a pic of her, chop bits out of it and use it as a background and a template for content - page content goes in the stomach or whatever. __________________ “A commonplace man marvels at uncommon things; a wise man marvels at the commonplace” - Confucius

April 25th, 2003, 01:09	#12
Chrono Archangel 6BIT Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 8,090	>page content goes in the stomach or whatever. are you saying she's fat? or that she doesnt have alot of content? __________________ 6BIT - Gaming, Emulation & Tech News

April 26th, 2003, 02:31	#13
Thorgal Emulation Expert Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 324	Actually, aside from the 'inspiration/imagination' way, there's also quite a rational way to find out how you want your site to look like. First off, determine what kind of and how much content the site will have. Second, what kind of navigational system (meaning menus, and which menu items) does the site require in order to access the content? Tip: search, contact us and sitemap are always handy links to show in a clear spot. Third, think of a color scheme that fits the content/site theme, and perhaps a font that suits it well (use it consistently then). Layout is the first step. Go further from there. Oh, and whenever you see a website design you like, bookmark the site. I''ve got 30+ of those, for both inspiration and imitation (I prefer a combo of both). __________________ - Thorgal // Design guru of NGEmu and Emuforums AthlonXP2200+, 768MB DDR333, Radeon 9700Pro, LG 915FT+, 130gb HD You think Emuforums looks a bit messy? Don't blame me!

April 26th, 2003, 04:46	#14
Keith Emulation64's Animal >:D Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: United States Posts: 1,214	It just comes to me when I am bored Some people are just talented .. lucky for me I have the ability to do both design and coding, nice combo for web development. I agree with what people have said so far, not much more to add. Also if you do want to do a site, atleast make it something you are interested in. I have tried other areas and just got bored with the site before it could ever really become something. __________________ - Keith