Member Avatar for spikes

Hi All,
anyone got any tips for improving the look of a site? i'm pretty new to web dev and the code side of things is not a problem, but the graphic side of things is not going well. i'm just not that creative i guess. any tips or sits that may spark some inspiration would be great

cheers

spikes

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by innovativeatul

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Practical, hands-on guidance to improve site visuals that complements the earlier replies from , and others. Treat design as a series of deliberate decisions rather than waiting for inspiration: pick constraints, then iterate. Focus on three fundamentals — layout, type, color — and make those consistent across the site; getting those right produces most of the perceived polish.

A simple workflow that scales: 1) wireframe with real content to find the layout rhythm; 2) lock a grid and spacing system (use multiples for margins/padding); 3) choose 1–2 typefaces and a tight color palette (one neutral + one accent); 4) build core components (header, nav, cards, buttons) and reuse them. A tiny CSS starter helps enforce intention:

:root {
  --max-width: 1100px;
  --base: 16px;
}

.container {
  max-width: var(--max-width);
  margin: 0 auto;
  padding: 1rem;
}

h1 { font-size: clamp(1.5rem, 2vw + 1rem, 2.5rem); line-height: 1.1; }
p  { font-size: var(--base); line-height: 1.6; }

Imagery and legibility matter as much as layout. Use solid or semi-opaque panels behind text (echoing ), pick a consistent photo/icon style, and replace stock art so the site feels unique. Templates (as and noted) speed development but should be cleaned: remove unused markup, swap fonts, simplify visuals. For any animation or slideshow, prefer lightweight, accessible controls instead of heavy plugins (as implied).

Quick checklist: base font 16px and 1.4–1.6 line-height; contrast >= 4.5:1 for body text; limit colors to 2–3 swatches; align to a grid and use consistent spacing; test at mobile widths with real content; optimize images for fast load. Small, consistent choices will lift a site more reliably than hunting for a sudden burst of "creativity."

Recommended Answers

All 12 Replies

Member Avatar for himerus

I've used http://www.templatemonster.com/ or the same as the monsterteplates link above, for several of my projects....

I absolutely swear by them now.... for 40-60$, you can get an extremely complicated template in photoshop format that would have taken me MONTHS to put together!!! I understand photoshop enough to really edit or modify the general look and feel, but not nearly well enough to do one from scratch. You can get lots that are cheaper ($20) range, and some that have flash headers, etc.

Once you buy one, if you pay via PayPal, you can download the template immediately, if paying by credit card, you usually have it within the hour... or at least I have. :)

If you're short on time, and want something that looks VERY professional, give them a try...

Member Avatar for I, Brian

templatemonster is pretty good for a range of pretty templates - but you really need to know how to rip into the code. It's generally not very good and requiers some improvement. But if pretty is all you want it's fine. :)

Member Avatar for marioboss

please i need web designer
can someone help me?
mario

Member Avatar for DaveSW

You could try the job opportunities forum.

Member Avatar for rus

I'm a designer. Can you show me what you have now? Maybe then I can give you a tip or two.

Member Avatar for robmaag

I've used http://www.templatemonster.com/ or the same as the monsterteplates link above, for several of my projects....

However I don't actually think using templates solely for all projects is a good idea. You need actually to look at alot of different websites to get an idea of what you want, how you want it to be laid out and what are your style requirements.

I myself am a graphics web designer who designs and is intrigued by the 'corporate look' That said, I like the way this particular site is designed.

http://www.evirtualworld.com/webdesign2/best-design-firm-web.php

The site is clean and uses one style sheet. In addition the menu system is all dhtml. It is a clean site that loads fast

or try this site:

This is a mambo hack but the design elements are really clearn

Member Avatar for Nazish

please i need web designer
can someone help me?
mario

well ya...i'm confident about my designing

Member Avatar for DanMcLinden

Hi,

There are some nice-looking Flash sites at www.perfectory.com

For those of us (like me) who have yet to spring for Flash there is a slideshow site written entirely in Javascript and CSS (with royalty-free sharing!) at

Good luck!

Member Avatar for MidiMagic

DON'T put text on top of a textured or photo background. Many people have a very hard time reading it.

Member Avatar for innovativeatul

There are many sites from where you can get good quality designs. If you want to prepare yourself than first of all make a concept, draw a rough sketch and think of targeted users and then finally give your design a real look with some good combination of colors.

Member Avatar for innovativeatul

One thing is forget is a GOOD TYPOGRAPHY if you are designing large portals.

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