When designing websites in the past, I’ve tended to be very logical and practical, especially if I get stuck with something. I make logical choices for positioning, colour and layout. This is really quite an important way to think to create functional, user-friendly websites. However, to create something a bit more special and visually appealing you need add something else to the design. I believe this to be the personal and emotional input that a designer imbues into the work they do.

Without actually thinking about it I think most designers make emotional choices, whether it’s colour, styles or shapes. These help create a site that fits the brand and the intended purpose. Understanding what these emotional cues are will not only make it easier to make the correct decisions when creating a new design, but also allow us to be able to explain to the client exactly why the design should look as it does. This should help us communicate better with the client, and end up with a design that everyone is happy with.

Tags: design, process, thoughts, user experience