Have you ever hit the wall? You need to design a new site, what you've tried is not working ....the look the feel just isn't there.
I've looked at templates before, but never used them. I played around and thought I could do better without them.
Now I'm having trouble with a new site I'm working on and grasping at straws.
So, instead of working, I figured I would ask what others do in similar situations. So I have a couple of questions:
What do you do when you hit the proverbial wall?

Do you ever use templates?
If so, where is a good place to get them.

Thanks!

We don't use templates but you can always try boxedart.com

They have a pretty nice collection.

I know that sometimes, if the project isn't urgent I'll just ponder on it and let it stew until something comes to me.

Thanks for the pointer apthost!!

Originally Posted by Archangel

I know that sometimes, if the project isn't urgent I'll just ponder on it and let it stew until something comes to me.

I've have done that, and am currently doing that. I'm in a rut and looking for what others do in the same situation.
Sometimes I'll simply play with a design, change some things around and that works.

When I get stuck I go looking for a bit of inspiration, and I use these sites frequently:
www.cssmania.com
http://webcreme.com/
http://www.unmatchedstyle.com/
www.stylegala.com

There are more.. this just scratches the surface

Thanks LadynRed!!!!! Awesome.

DotHQ I also visit sites like the ones LNR posted. I've had all of them bookmarked for awhile now. I also bookmark sites I just happen across all the time so when I need a shot of inspiration they're there.

Another place to draw inspiration is offline. Look through magazines to see how they've used color or space or generally design a page. I like Step magazine, but there are certainly others.

You can take inspiration from nature. You can take inspiration from the design of a spoon. You can take it from anywhere.

Also sometimes it helps to step away from a project if it's not time sensitive. I've found on more than one occasion that doing other things and then coming back with a fresh perspective can help alot.

From what I've experienced, I've found that good ideas never come when you need them but always when you'd never imagine one would come to you.

Helps to write them down when the ideas come to you.

Thanks Vangogh! Good advice for sure. I'm always saving links also. I"ve even started to organize them .....where before I just added it and moved on. Now I'll give some thought to which folder to put them into for quick retrival when I do need them.

Originally Posted by Insensus

From what I've experienced, I've found that good ideas never come when you need them but always when you'd never imagine one would come to you.

Yep, I can relate to that statement for sure.

from a usablity standpoint, i like to go to similar sites and see what they do. start with that, then evolve.

from an artistic standpoint . . . well i'm not an artist. my site sucks artistically.

i just leave the computer alone for a while and hanging around until i feel my self ok.. because its all about feeling good.