How do you usually tackle your designs? Options

[Dwdrums1111]

Hey all... i really like this new Designer's Cafe! top idea.

I was just wondering how do you guys go about your designs. Do you draw a sketch before you design? ect.

I personally dont, I begin with a shape or usually a header and work my design around that. If i set limitations early on. ie sketching i find that my designs are too tame. but thats just me.

So what kind of things do concider when designing something?

Nikita

[clarity]

Well personally, I don't "draw", nor "sketch".

I use photography.

Using stock-images are the best ways that get me started.

[Dwdrums1111]

ive never used much photography. I think my next layout will be based around a stock photo. thanks for the idea.

[*Azarel*]

My "designing" is pretty minimal because I'm not creative or stellar enough to produce impressive images. However, it is halfway decent, so I combine it with coding to make layouts, which are actually semi-nice. In any case, when I open up photoshop, I never really have anything in mind as to what I'm going to make. I just sort of move images around and such and eventually something okay-looking comes out of it.

[freeflow]

I personally, don't use a process. Whenever I have the time I just open up photoshop and start playing around till or if I come up with something.

[*WHIMSICAL 0NE*]

Yeah, I don't create a rough draft. If I did that it wouldn't turn out at all like I expected. I tend to just get images test out brushes and coding until I get it to be what I want it to be.

[*digital.fragrance*]

If it's a layout, I start with a base image or color scheme. Then I reproduce the same "theme" through the design, and add the small touches at the end.

If it's just a design totally from scratch, I draw a sketch, scan it, and then begin the transformation!

[*mzkandi*]

When I'm making a layout I make thumbnails of what is I want. I always sketch first before I even touch the computer then refer to my thumbnails as a reference.

[*StanleyThePanda*]

I personally, don't use a process. Whenever I have the time I just open up photoshop and start playing around till or if I come up with something.

Same with me.
Though, Sometimes I already know what I want to create, But even then, I don't really have a specific process.

[michellerrific]

I make layouts a lot, and I've been told to draw a sketch, then design. But usually for me, I think of a theme and just google up an image, which i modify on Adobe PS, imagemap, etc. Or sometimes i will open photoshop and do whatever sparks my creativity.

[*mona lisa*]

It depends, really. I used to create everything on the computer before but I've started to draw a few things on paper to get myself started. I can easily erase and start over if I get some shapes and curves wrong. On the computer, it's just a lot of editing. I end up spending too much time editing shape layers when using the pen tool. I might as well draw them on paper to make it easier for myself.

What do you mean by what we consider when designing? Meaning the actual process we use?

[Dwdrums1111]

It depends, really. I used to create everything on the computer before but I've started to draw a few things on paper to get myself started. I can easily erase and start over if I get some shapes and curves wrong. On the computer, it's just a lot of editing. I end up spending too much time editing shape layers when using the pen tool. I might as well draw them on paper to make it easier for myself.

What do you mean by what we consider when designing? Meaning the actual process we use?

yeah... well i have to agree with what has been said. open up photshop and just play around. Although i genarally start with a key shape and everything is based aroung that.

[Mulder]

i slap 85 textures on it before even starting to think about where my graphic is going. no sketching though. I just wait around to be inspired.

[technicolour]

I tackle my designs roughly.

Nah. Usually, i'll just be messing around really late at night hoping that i'll do something on accident and it'll look great. Most of my really good designs are accidents. Like my sig, for instance. Was just messing around. Swear to god.

Now, with vexels (vectors..whatever)..those I try to give myself a mental image of how it's really going to look. Like..think my poor heart out. And then implement my mental design.

With sketching though, Usually those are classroom boredoms. Doodles =

[much2muse]

i dont even know.

i find pictures i like, i slap on a jillion untitled layers and mess around with them until i think something looks okay.

[Smoogrish]

Well after I find a picture I like, I plan out how the content will be laid out, what color I want, etc. And then since I suck at graphics, I slap on a bazillion textures and hope something cool comes out.