Grid systems help us organize information, providing alignment and order for the viewer. They use proportions to allow the designer to create something amazingly complex out of something incredibly simple.

Yeah the basic grid is lets you create some amazing designs on its own, but by simply breaking out of the grid, designers can make truly stunning work. They do not ignore the rules of grid systems but, instead, take the rules and create something more with only a little spark of creativity (great typography definitely doesn’t hurt). Here are some designs that do so:

1. COMA



2. AEN UI

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In the course of designing and coding several things, I have learned a few very important things about planning. Designing is a process of creativity; it flows from the brain to the paper. But, in a jumble of ideas, this flow often gets contorted into a knot that destroys the original creativity. Thus, I shall attempt to summarize my mistakes into a few succinct lessons for you.

1. The importance of planning

Planning is one of the most important processes of design. This becomes especially true when designing websites. I have never been one to outline much, but after countless mistakes I urge you to plan your designs. Quickly you will find that without planning your design runs into problems as you head for disaster. The solution is quite simply to plan. While it may not necessarily save you, it sure does a good job of protecting you.

2. Grid design

Planning with grids is a great skill. It has no doubt tripled my ability to align items. Thus, I recommend you employ the use of grids; they are one of those subtle details that will enhance your website…

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Design, Typography, Coding, whatever, these articles are the MUST READ articles for web designers. Read them and advance your knowledge of web design.

Design Process

• Using White Space Effectively In Web Design
  This article, while being very new has received much attention in its insight into the usage of white space in design. A great article. I expect to see much from this website in the near future.

  

• 6 Interface Design Principles and Tips Every Web Designer Should Know
  While it seems like any other article, this article actually provides important points that are easily overlooked when designing. In web design, you design for the audience, and this article really goes into that fact.
• To be or not to be: Minimalist
  This article delves into both sides of the arguments on whether or not to be minimalist, explaining the difference and clarifying what makes a good design.

  

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Although at first, from a nondesigner’s perspective, typography seems like a small field, it is actually a very extensive part of design; one that can be applied to many others. In order to apply typography to web design, you must understand some fundamental concepts.

“Text will inevitably be read before it is looked at” – Reading Design, Dean Allen

In web design, particularly content-based web design, good typography mostly comes down to what maximizes readability (and doesn’t detract from quality). With cascading style sheets for fourth generation browsers, designers have many options in implementing typography, making it important to understand what to look for.

Fundamentals of Readability

Size and Hierarchy

Starting with your main body of text, understand that you must have a font size larger than 10pt. While it looks stylishly minimalistic for someone with perfect vision, it is hard to read with weaker eyes. Also, with long articles, having a larger font (and line height) makes it easier to keep track of your place, as well as read from a distance (if a reader wants to lean back in a chair).

Size also plays an important role in hierarchy. Unfortunately, with web design, it is difficult to have much control of in line spacing elements to emphasize hierarchy, as well as control emphasis. This means, hierarchy is mainly controlled by size (and font choice, if you are willing to give different font choices to different headers).

In this example, we see that, with only size being change, hierarchy can easily be distinguished.

Emphasis

Emphasis and de-emphasis are both relative in web design…

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Design, by definition, is function over form. This means that as long as function is maintained, a design can take any form. Enter creativity. Any form means that designers have the opportunity to express a function in many different ways. However, true originality is rare, as inspiration to create often comes from another source.

While there is nothing wrong with using other sources for inspiration (in fact, its always a good thing), harm comes when a reoccurring cliché appears within the design community. Designers need to be aware that any element can become overused, and stay original in order to keep designs fresh.

Trend Versus Cliché

Trend

In terms of elements used in design, a trend is an element that can be seen across multiple websites yet still has enough variation between designs to be considered a positive addition to the design.

Strictly adhering to trends is the quickest way to turn a trend into a cliché and turn your design into an unoriginal patchwork of others. However, using trends is alright, as long as you alter the element enough, or use it in an original way to make it your own.

Cliché

In design, a cliché is an element that has been overused to the point that adding said element to your design detracts from your design (regardless of its visual appeal, though clichés are rarely considered aesthetic), as it is so unoriginal.

Simply put, avoid clichés. Its too late to save…

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