I’ve spent the last few days diligently working on a new banner and color scheme for our new blog home. This creative process isn’t easy when you have a partner – it’s a little like moving into a new house.
The conversations between James and I go something like this:
“You like the couch over here? I think it works pretty well,” I’d tell James.
“Um…” I can hear him thinking. “Maybe it would look better where it was before. Could you move it back?”
I’d haul the couch back to where it was. “Better?”
“Mm. “James scratches his chin and contemplates. “No. You were right. Move it back.”
I’d sigh and drag the couch back to where it had been earlier. “There.”
“Mm.” James observes the arrangement some more. “I’m not sure I like that. Maybe the other one was better. Can you duplicate the couch and put it in both places at once so I can compare?”
Being a visual type of person, I can picture layouts and color combinations in my mind. Not everyone can do the same. James can’t picture things that way – although he can very clearly picture exactly what he does wants. He can’t always convey that look 100% of the time.
Even so, sometimes my own concept of a look I picture in my mind doesn’t come out the way I planned. Eventually, James and I reach a middle ground, or I have a flash of brilliance and we achieve a look that far exceeds our original expectations and plans.
When we decided to overhaul our blog’s look in a major way, we spent a lot of time looking at other people’s blogs. We took screenshots. We made notes and lists. We compared this and that. We saw many different elements we liked – but the trick was taking what we did like and need to the next level to make a look uniquely our own.
Naomi Dunford’s Itty Biz and Brian Clark’s Copyblogger have nice, clean designs with ads well laid out in side columns and sticky notes in the corners. Dave Navarro’s Million Dollar Leverage sexy black glass banner (Naomi’s description; I’m borrowing it) proved an inspiration. Ben Yoskovich at Instigator Blog recently revealed his new look, and there was a comment somewhere about the importance of branding your blog’s name.
We researched so much that when we were ready to put the pieces together, the designing was much easier. With the look nearly out of the way, we now turn to technical aspects and functionalities we need to iron out.
I can’t stop staring at our new blog, and I’m looking forward to Moving Day. I think our new home is a beauty.
I had considered inviting you over for a look, but that’s like inviting guests for a housewarming party when the bathroom walls aren’t up and the plumbing isn’t finished.
Harry -
Thanks for the shout out. It’s nice to finally have a design that isn’t out-of-the=box Cutline
Just started reading here via Naomi (whom I just interviewed on my blog). Subscribing now so I don’t miss the move-in date.
May I contact you and James for interviews as well?
@ Dave – You have no idea how many times Harry has muttered, “I don’t want to be like everyone else,” the past two weeks.
Of course, I always answer, “Neither do I. But I want what works.”
His reply? “Don’t you want both?”
I’ll take that.
I’ll take an interview as well. Feel free to drop me or Harry an email at james (at) jcme.ca and harry (at) jcme.ca
Thanks, I’ll be in touch soon. You Canadians are good people
Dave! Hey man, great to have you here, and thanks for reading. An interview sounds fantastic – bring it on! You made my day.
James is right, this is one of the rare times where I’m the one wanting to have both. Usually I take the practical route of what works and leave it at that. Not anymore, though.
Hi Harry!
You could do what I do, and say, “I’m the woman, I know what’s best, the couch goes THERE.”
Well, wait. No, I guess that wouldn’t work for you.
@Susan: *winces* Um…no. That’s okay, it wouldn’t work anyway. Even if I substituted “graphic designer” for “woman”, James ain’t goin’ for it. He’s a slave driver, I’m telling you.
@ Susan – I’d glare and say, “I paid for the damned thing! I’ll put it where I want!” Think it’d work?
What if I paid for it?