Continuing the theme of the Design Project and starting with item 5
5) Search for visual style
I wrote a separate article about this stage and the key idea in the next one:
The main thing that needs to be understood is that the visual style has to be in line with the brand's message. This is the main criterion for your work. The style can be fashionable, boring, futuristic or any other style, it doesn't matter at all. It is only important that he awakens the right emotions.
What emotions should awaken the site of the service to order a taxi business class? It is logical that it should show a high level of quality and premium service. This can be achieved in several ways.
The first is color. If you look at premium brands, they mainly use black or gold color. This is not a dogma, especially since our main competitor Wheely already uses black. So to stand out, you have to choose something else. For example, by adding an additional color (gold, yellow?) or by choosing red as the main color. Unexpected solution, but it can work. For example, Virgin Atlantic uses red, despite the fact that it provides business class services.
The second is images. Going to the site, you immediately see the action - opening the door of a black Mercedes, so the site leads the visitor to the right emotions.
The third one is infographics. Sometimes, designers take the first icons, without thinking about what visual message they carry. See what opportunities for customizing icons offer Google. There you can customize the style of icons and choose the most appropriate. A variety of styles can be found at flaticon.com. The main options you can experiment with are colored or black-and-white, filled or contoured, rounded or not.
The result of the stage:
You have to determine which message your project should carry and choose the colors, image style, icons (or do without them) and font.
6) Layout design
Once you've defined the structure and visual style, you can move on to screen design. There is little you can say, especially when it comes to a simple site. You just need to bring your ideas to reality.
If you were working on large services, you should start with the screens that are part of the main scenario. On it, you would be able to work on the style, structure and conduct the first presentation to the customer. In the case of the site, you need to start with the home page and work on the style on it, and then scale it to the rest of the pages.
Usually, the first sketches of the site I do by hand and only after I make up my mind about the structure, I go to the graphics editor (I have already half a year in Figma). Having made 1-2 screens I make a pause, and after I try to find defects. Thus, I am moving up to the footer, after which, I can still make a few iterations to improve the site.
The result of the stage:
The design of the necessary layouts is ready and has passed several iterations of improvements.
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In this material, I showed you the process of creating a simple design project. Beginner designers can easily use it as a template, refining it according to their needs and preferences.
The described process is best suited for client work, as it will be slightly different in the product one.
Instead of a conclusion
The main thing you need to understand is that no material can replace the practice. Only by starting to apply the knowledge gained in your work can you expect progress.
Everyone started from scratch and improved their skills year after year. It is very simple, but, thus, fundamental thing in the achievement of significant results in any sphere.
Look at your career strategically and let each working day be a new step towards achieving your professional goals.
