Website Design Forum

**pdpullmn612** · 07-22-2009, 12:28 AM

Hey guys,

I'm a little stuck on this one and I don't know if you can help me or not, but I will ask anyway. I'm creating a website that is essentially a database for ski resorts in the new england area. I'm having trouble coming up with a theme/color scheme for the site. This is always my biggest problem. Do you guys have any suggestion? Any input, big or small, would be awesome (even if its links to websites that can help me out).

Thanks,

Dave

**davemies** · 07-22-2009, 08:34 AM

white and blue with silver or orange

**pdpullmn612** · 07-22-2009, 11:52 AM

Thanks a lot, now I just have to think about how I am going to lay out the website! That is never easy for me either.

**davemies** · 07-22-2009, 01:59 PM

do you just need to learn html and css too?

btw have you googled for similar sites to see what seems to work and what doesn't?

**pdpullmn612** · 07-23-2009, 09:20 PM

No, I'm very fluent in HTML and CSS. Been messing around with it for years and I can do most anything. I'm just not a great designer and its hard for me to come up with my own stuff. I look for inspiration elsewhere, but I tend to resemble other sites too closely. Color schemes are the hardest for me. Then I would say making the graphics are whats the hardest for me next.

Another problem I have is I will start out with a design and I will be loving it. But, then about half way through I don't like it anymore.

**rahahm33** · 07-23-2009, 09:24 PM

do a 2 column design

**pdpullmn612** · 07-24-2009, 10:39 PM

Yea my plan was to do a 2 column design. I wanna keep it simple so its usable, but also want it to look nice and professional.

**TWD** · 12:00 AM

I think you are confusing art with design.

Art is about what we like or dont like.

Design is about setting a goal and achieving it.

So you should be asking yourself these questions:
1) What is the goal for this site?
2) Who is going to use it?
3) How can I get those people to help achieve the goal?

Usually point 3 involves getting people to sign up for something or hand over money.

But before you reach that point you need to think about
the AIDA principles.

What I often do is look first for an image that I think will
capture visitors attention ("A") and then think about how I can
build that into a design. The other 3 steps flow directly from that.