Over the past year or so we have periodically published web design collections and inspirational showcases from the most popular and important design categories. In total there are 14 different and varied categories or styles and within each category there are 50 carefully chosen web designs (that is a total of 700 web designs). We have called this ‘complete’ inspirational collection the Web Design Style Series. In total the entire collection has had just over 5,000 Delicious saves, and as [...]

A common misconception is that black is thought of as a color in the same way that red, blue, purple or even green are. In actual fact, black is the complete absence of all color and light, essentially making it the ultimate non-color. And as such, a certain element of caution needs to be taken when using black as the main color of your web design. Black will absorb and dilute all colors that surround it, so your secondary color [...]

The first thing that springs to mind when thinking about large photography backgrounds within web design are of simple photographers portfolio website or even that of a design company. Upon researching this article, the surprising thing was that this type of background does not seem to have any limitations, it is equally suited to e-commerce sites, restaurant sites, web design agencies.. basically all types of web sites, as you will see from the collection below.

There are two ways you can go when designing a 404 page for your website – you could go the sensible route and make it usable and try to help the reader find exactly what they were looking for or, you could design a 404 page that not only defines the character of the web site or the designer, but also makes it a pleasure and surprise. Its amazing the effect a sprinkle of humor and some creativity can have on someone and it will certainly make your site that little bit more memorable.

The importance of a unique, memorable and well designed blog, especially within the design community, should not be underestimated – First impressions will always count and your blog gives you an opportunity to showcase your skills and highlight how professional and serious you are as a designer. For most web designers, designing an original blog shouldn’t be a problem, the difficulty lies in trying encapsulate your blog writing style and character within the design – That is the tricky part. [...]

Imagine a representative from a huge corporate company walking into your office and he drops on your lap a proposal for there new website, you read through the huge document and then you ask: “What is your proposed budget for this project?” – He gives you the answer, and… WOW!!! The scenario above would never happen in the real world – these types of contracts would never be handed to an individual designer they would always be awarded to a [...]

Web design trends change with the wind – what is popular this year will undoubtedly not be popular next year. There is only one web design style that you can rely on and be deemed timeless – and that is the Vintage style. And alongside that, and similar in style, there is the permanently cool and always creative – retro(ism). Vintage and retro should not be categorized as a style – they are much more than that. They are a [...]

Using illustration in web design gives the designer the opportunity to convey there own personal and unique style, and be able to say "this site is mine, and look what I can do". Very few web design styles give an artist this opportunity.

When designing the homepage of any web design agency it has to be well thought out, researched and planned. It basically all comes down to what clientele you are going to target? Is it corporate businesses and professional individuals or would you target corner-shop stores and small B&Bs? How your agency is first portrayed to any potential client is the cornerstone to your success. Yes, being good and professional designers and developers certainly helps, but won’t guarantee good business.

The conservative web designer can design a dark web site or a light web site, and will design everything in between as gray. Are you this type of designer? Or, are you bold enough and brave enough to let your creativity rein free and allow bright and vibrant colors to shine through in your next design project? What does the level of color on your web site say about you? (I must be a conservative).

Unlike other web design styles that can use larger images to compliment the design, Magazine is limited to being designed within the parameters that the content (namely, the text and the occasional thumbnail) dictates, and that is were the problem lies. How do you design a web site that is purely text and make it visual eye candy?

The most important factor for minimal to work well, as it should be with all design styles (but, not always the case), is the content. Without good writing or a strong portfolio, the style has no impact and the web design looks cheap. And that is the key to minimal, in the hands of a skilled web designer, they know that the site design has to accentuate the content, and the content, in return, accentuates the web design.

Not only do we showcase typography in the classic sense, but also illustrate that the combination of web design and great typography can be used effectively, along with clever color selection, and create usable web sites thats base design is dominated by text, for either navigation, a good headline, a logo or even used for the entire content.