The Hardest Part
For me the hardest part of any project, be it programming or web design, is actually getting started. It is always difficult looking at a blank screen and just expecting myself to go. Where do I start? Will it work? Am I doing the right thing? These are the kind of questions that initially hold me back. Sometimes it might take days before anything actually gets done. I can have all my sketches and my plans and my diagrams, but still all I see is the blank screen.
Sometimes I think the screen will produce some sort artistry that I may be able to call my work, but that never seems to happen. In my head I have the greatest ideas of what I want to do with the project, but that is the only place where they seem to stay. You read on one blog where someone is implementing a CSS designed site and the next day another. Then someone else is building a new web service that is going to be gobbled up by Yahoo or Google.
I used to be a perfectionist when it came to my sites or anything else I did. Then I discovered that I just wasn’t getting anything done. That was followed by my not caring phase where I just threw stuff online. Now I have found a median where I put care into what I do, but don’t nag myself with every little detail.
Design is the most important stage in the life cycle process.
A lesson my professors taught me in school and I took their word for it. I used to design to the point where I would think I was done, only to start all over because I wasn’t totally content. The design of this site evolves because I see flaws in the past designs and try to work beyond them. Over the years I have gone through so many different iterations that I know what works and what doesn’t so getting started on new sites becomes easier and easier.
The secret is to just go. If you can’t think of a cool design don’t worry about it. Come up with the content for the site. Start with my plain design and just write and eventually you will see the tweaks you can do to make everything prettier. IA wise you will begin to see where the layout needs to change. It doesn’t matter how you start necessarily, but it’s the fact that you just got started. It’s okay if the beginning isn’t what you had in mind. At least you have something to work with and you have momentum going. Building your momentum is the key. Also remember this:
You can’t write perfect software.
So just get started.
Example
I am not even sure Mr. Oxton worked it out like this, but let’s use his site as an example of just getting started. You wish to create a personal site with some flair, but have no idea where to get started. Even though you don’t want to do another two column layout (which work perfectly) you decide to do so just so you can get started. You write some content and end up with this:
Nothing exciting, but over time you begin to envision where you can take this because you have something up in front of you besides a blank canvas. The end result becomes:
Counterpoint
You could say that this goes against the whole “making a first impression” idea because you are just putting up words on the screen. Getting started doesn’t necessarily mean getting launched. Just wanted to clear that up.
I think that many designers suffer form this “perfectionist syndrome” and it is something that is at the core of who we are. It is something that we must unlearn or at least keep in check in order to Get Things Done (although I haven’t read that book yet).
We are good at what we do because we are perfectionistic, but sometimes we are less productive because of that.
By JamesZ on May 20, 2005 12:56 pm
Sometimes I wish I had no sense of web-standards related scruples, ideas, or any design sense. It would be so much easier if I were less critical of myself. I’ve seen some prolific and profitable web designers out there producing a lot of what I consider schlock, but their client’s seem happy.
I’m reticent to design my own sites because I feel like I have to know everything about PHP, WordPress and all plugin options in the world first…but developments out-pace my human ability to absorb. (Thus I’m still using other people’s templates - and I’m a designer!! *ducks*)
I need therapy!
By mahalie on May 20, 2005 1:50 pm
For me, it’s about fear. It seems that simultaneously, I can have too many ideas and no ideas at all. (How does that happen?)
But *just starting* always offers relief. You’re right, momentum is inevitable.
Now, I must stop procrastinating by reading my morning blogs and *just start*. :)
By taughnee on May 20, 2005 1:54 pm
This is a perfect description of my biggest issue when it comes to getting things done. And you’re right, it’s all about just getting something down.
By Brian Rose on May 20, 2005 2:27 pm
Be careful! Once you discover how easy it is to start and adjust as you go, you’ll discover that you’re starting things left and right. Suddenly the hardest part will be finishing!
By Peter Flaschner on May 20, 2005 2:53 pm
Great post and great comments from all. I can relate to everything said.
I’ve been meaning to get my own blog, as well as portfolio site up for about 7 months now. Purchased the domain 7 months ago and have done nothing except put a simple coming soon page and a installation of TextPattern.
After reading this I’m going to force myself to start getting something up. I’m sure it will be a work in progress.
Thanks Scrivs and the rest.
By Ollila on May 20, 2005 3:58 pm
What i have learned by now ,the most important thing to do ,as mentioned, is to just start somewhere. The design often happens from there ,step by step or by making that one change ,that one thing that fires your creative engine and shapes what you were looking for.
In other cases , when we have a certain feel with the topic, the picture is somewhat there allready, so there’s basically no real whitespace moment.
I think we need both situations so we don’t become lazy designers working off a routine.
I hate the whitespace ,we all hate it. Just don’t fear the whitespace. You know scenario 1 or 2 is just a step away if you make it so.
By Mstyle on May 20, 2005 7:53 pm
The hardest part for me is finishing the project. I am always raring to go at the beginning and I still enjoy the middle, but I hate wrapping up the little details.
By John Nunemaker on May 20, 2005 10:34 pm
Unlike most people, my biggest problem is not creating something on the screen, after I have sketched out the ideas that are floating in my head, but just getting the ideas out of my head. Most of the time when I have a problem developing ideas into designs, is when I can feel the cold hand of ADD wrapping around me. I get so distracted by everything that scratching a pencil to paper just loses its interest and I move on to something else. I’m notorious for neglecting my duties at work for a chance to check my blo.gs page and see who’s updated their blog… hell, even when I see that I’ve updated, I have to read my own post as if I didn’t know what it said…..
wait… what was I talking about again?
By Steve Ametjan on May 21, 2005 4:05 am
I found that writing out what i want to do is really helpful for me.
By David Powell on May 21, 2005 3:56 pm
That’s a great idea. I find I always start new site designs by looking for a suitable masthead image in iPhoto. Maybe next time I’ll start with just the content. That is a good idea, and Josh’s site is a perfect example of what can happen.
Although I must admit, you are all making me want to redesign to something simpler (especially since IE doesn’t like the way I reference anything in my CSS, not that I need it to!) before I go all crazy with it. Though I still do like my design, I just need better content for certain areas. Oh well, it’s gotta stand for at least a month or two!
By Joe Clay on May 22, 2005 3:01 am
I’m not sure which is harder. Getting started or accepting when good enough is good enough. Great article Scrivs. (How long did you think about writing it?)
Alot of great comments too. I grabbed my wife and read her some of the comments (JamesZ, mahalie, John N., David P. and Joe C.). She was sure that I had written them myself, since she has seen and heard all of this in me.
I’m not sure if were in good company or just birds of a feather. But, it is comforting to know I’m in the right direction. Good luck to all of us in getting it done.
By Darren on May 22, 2005 9:54 pm
I notice your work includes alot of white, yellow , green and orange my personals thought on that is thats the colors to go for it’s very bright and cheery very nice design.
By personals on February 4, 2006 4:07 am