web counter

December 5, 2005

Five Design Basics to Never Forget

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 1:59 pm

Blog design is a lot like a book cover. It’s our first impression. A promise of what’s still to come. Before they read a word or take in the title, readers have formed an opinion of our blogs based on the design.

“Don’t judge a book by it’s cover” might be what they tell you. Reality is that covers sell books, and designs draw in readers. Great content and useful design keeps readers coming back for more, but first-glance design is what gets them to try us.

What are the five design basics never to forget?

  • Put the title where I can see it and a subtitle explaining what the blog is about. Sounds obvious, but we’ve all been to blogs where we couldn’t find the title. More often we’ve been to blogs where the title just wasn’t enough. Does Mary muse about music or about mathematics? It makes a difference to whether I want to read her. It won’t make me a reader not to tell me. I’m going to find out.
  • Please tell me about yourself. Tell me who you are, writer. Blogs are special in their person-to-person connectedness. I read blogs because I like that about them. I can ignore it, if I don’t care about it, but I can’t make it up, if it’s not there. Don’t take that choice away from me.
  • Choose a color palette that goes together. Don’t let fighting colors distract me from what I should be paying attention to. If you’re artfully challenged, there are tools that can help.

    Image-Based Color Palette Generator

    Monochromatic Color Palette Generator

    Colour Lovers–Great Color Palettes Already Developed

    • Colors that are meant to go together make the environment comfortable and inviting–one worth spending time in.

  • Less is more, and simple is elegant. Put what you think I need. Then take half away. White space is good. It gives me room to think. Lack of it crowds me. It confuses my eyes and makes me want to leave. I like my space, like most people do.
  • Form follows function. You might have heard this one. It means that everything should be there for a reason–in this case for me, the reader. If it’s not, let it go. Things without function get in my way–they get between me and what you’re trying to tell me. I don’t want to fight to hear what you have to say.

The key to design is that it adds value to readers’ experience without calling unnecessary attention to itself. Like a great music score, you sense it and feel it. It carries you along as if it knows right where you want to go.

–Me “Liz” Strauss

Share This


Filed under Audience, Design, Marketing, Strategy, Successful Blog |



C'mon. Let's talk!

11 Comments to “Five Design Basics to Never Forget”

  1. December 5th, 2005 at 3:36 pm
    Javier Cabrera (ClearYourMind) said

    Colour Lovers is a great site to get started. I’m using it right now on my last client’s project and it was just plain simple. I printed a couple of examples and I sent it to my client; he choose the ones he liked the most and then, I choose between those the one I recommended. A couple of emails later, in less than 30 minutes we had a color palette. Really amazing how internet is working for us fat-designers right now ;)

    Excellent post, I love design, I love your blog, and I love reading about design on your blog!

    Hugs!
    Javier Cabrera

  2. December 5th, 2005 at 5:27 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Javier,
    Yes, I like Colour Lovers too. Though I like it mostly to look at I prefer to make my own choices and no one has made the combinations that I like yet–I do have some art experience to back that up.

    I love design. I love this community. I love hearing you tell me how well I’m doing. :P
    Hugs,
    Liz

  3. December 5th, 2005 at 7:42 pm
    www.Wadblog.com said

    Blog design

    Now I have this blog live, i now have to think about design, my first goal was to get the site live, get adsense on it, and then take it from there. I have my hosting (link to pelican) sorted, but design will now be the key.

    Today I was reading Liz …

  4. December 5th, 2005 at 7:55 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Thanks Dave!
    Liz

  5. December 6th, 2005 at 1:14 am
    Lisa Sabin said

    Words to live by, Liz. Just stumbled upon your site this evening - - good reading!

    Cheers!

  6. December 6th, 2005 at 1:36 am
    ME Strauss said

    HI Lisa,
    Nice to meet ya!
    Hope you’ll come back for tomorrow night’s discussion.
    We’re gonna have fun then!
    Liz

  7. February 17th, 2007 at 2:29 am
    Susan said

    Thanks for the advice.
    This will I will put up a subtitle and tell about myself.

    This site is a treasure trove. Thanks for sharing all this great information!

  8. February 17th, 2007 at 5:58 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Susan,
    Welcome.
    Your blog is off to a clean and strong start. I enjoyed reading it. You have a wonderful writing voice!

  9. March 13th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
    Howard Reznick said

    Good Stuff! Thanks for sharing!

    Pardon my ignorance - What’s the difference bt/n “blog name” and “domain name”?

    I am a ‘blogger wanna be’, and I have appreciated reading your sight for starters.

    Howard

  10. August 18th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
    Linda said

    Wow, I’m so happy I just found your site. It is full of great information! I’m just starting a blog and your site will help a lot. Thanks!

  11. August 18th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Linda!
    Welcome!
    I’m glad you’ve found a place where you’ve got resources that will help. :)

Name (required)

Email (required)

Website

C'mon Let's Talk!