It’s time for Monday Magic!

First of all, I wanted to wish everyone Happy Holidays! Sorry about the lack of updates, but I’ve been in California out of town visiting my sister for the holidays. I’ll be updating a few times over the week, but I won’t be able to do it daily until I get back home (hey, vacation is vacation right?)

Most Original:

MoshiMonsters is an awesome looking site with great original illustrations. The colors are great, and it’s geared directly towards its demographic. The colors are fun and inviting and really pop.

Tip: Don’t be afraid to borrow ideas and research from your competitors in regards to designing for your demographic. However, make sure that you improve where they lacked, and deliver a product that is original. People love originality and it’ll take you far in the long run.

Boldest Design:

What is the first thing you see when you visit the Legrand website? For me, it was their newest application, Mosaic. Congratulations to the designers for being bold and being able to bring the user’s eyes towards their client’s newest product. There is hardly any text on the front page - all images, and though that can be a negative in most cases, Legrand pulls it off nicely.

Tip: I’ve been advised to always include some sort of content on the front page, and in turn, I’ve also given the same advice. It’s more professional and inviting. However, Legrand is a great example of a website that uses almost all images to prove a point - and that is to bring full attention to their newest product. Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box and rebel against the rules…just remember that the rules were set there for a reason.

Most Professional:

Kompakt delivers a really great design here. It’s clean, simple, and straight forward. Though the main image is a bit unnecessary, it does add to the flow of the site and fills in the negative space. The colors are very inviting and give off a very professional and energetic feel. The user isn’t overwhelmed with options from the main page and isn’t too distracted from the content.

Tip: Most times, less is more. Try not to distract your viewers with colorful backgrounds and unnecessary banner images. Use colors that pop and give off the right vibe. If you’re having trouble with colors, make sure you check out ColourLovers and find a pallette that works best for you and your client.

Site of the Week:

WiserGirls is such a wonderful looking website. The design is clean and simple and the content flows wonderfully. I absolutely love the roll over on the logo image that takes you back to the home page. Wiser delivers a sensitive and touching message that is relayed almost effortlessly thanks to the site’s well designed and reinforced theme.

Tip: Its not every day that designers are given a theme to work with. If you have the opportunity to give your design a theme and carry it all the way through, DO IT. It’ll reinforce the site’s brand and identity and will help relay its main message to the viewer. Don’t be afraid to work with your client up front and discuss ways you can do this. Often, clients will respect your creative input and will most likely trust your opinion - afterall, that is why they hired you.

Artist of the Week:

Carlos Santana is one of the best guitarist that our world has ever had the the pleasure of listening to. His work is almost flawless and every track he’s ever put out is nothing short of amazing. I love to sit back and design while his music is playing in the background. Trust me when I tell you his work will DEFINITELY get your creative juices flowing.