Comments on: Web Design is a Journey

By: Chris Hulme

Chris Hulme — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 17:45:00 +0000

This work really is amazing, it’s so good to see work of this quality we really love it

By: Là où tout commence… Dans le néant ! « Web (Product) Design

Là où tout commence… Dans le néant ! « Web (Product) Design — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:38:35 +0000

[...] Pour ne pas parler dans le vide justement, je vais profiter d’un article sur lequel je suis tombé aujourd’hui grâce au blog SimpleEntrepreneur : Web Design is a Journey [...]

By: Best of 2009 in the Creative Industry | iDESIGN

Best of 2009 in the Creative Industry | iDESIGN — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 08:04:03 +0000

[...] On the July 9th 2009 we launched a complete redesign of Carsonified and the Think Vitamin blog. I thought it’d be fun to tell you the story of how the new site design evolved and came to life. It was an interesting journey. Read the rest of the re-design here. [...]

By: Friday Fix Dec 21 - 25

Friday Fix Dec 21 - 25 — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 15:41:02 +0000

[...] Web Design is a Journey – Think Vitamin [...]

By: Lo Mejor Del 2009: Creatividad | Fuel Your Creativity Español

Lo Mejor Del 2009: Creatividad | Fuel Your Creativity Español — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:24:14 +0000

[...] El 9 de Julio del 2009 lanzamos el rediseño completo de Carsonified junto con el blog de “Think Vitamin”. Me pareció divertida la idea de contar como fue evolucio nando el nuevo diseño y como es que nació. Lee el resto del rediseño aquí. [...]

By: Daniel Hunninghake

Daniel Hunninghake — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 15:32:53 +0000

I am simply blow away by this article.

There is so much talent and creativity expressed in these designs, it just makes me feel happy and privileged to read about it! I love the idea of design as an evolution, looking at it in that light makes me think you don’t have to hit a homerun on the first draft of a design, but rather get some ideas on paper and let them evolve.

These ideas were certainly true of my blog link I provided. The end result was nothing like the first couple go’s at it. It’s worth the time and energy if it means getting it right, though.

Thanks again!

By: Steve D

Steve D — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 16:37:04 +0000

I agree there Mike. I know that *generally* it does pay to come up with a concept for a design on paper. But the limitations of the web can exist there as well, you can draw a header a sidebar and a footer just the same as you would on screen, you are stuck in that same rut paper or no paper.

What you are searching for at the beginning of a design is an idea, a spark, something to hang the visual identity around, and if you restrict the way you explore this by saying ONLY computer or photoshop work, then of course you run the risk of cutting off an idea.

Certain things like logos do generally work well on paper earlier as miniscule changes can take a while on the computer, but with a website, designing it on screen initially can fuel the ideas, so that when you go to your sketchbook, you have some idea of what will or won’t work.

Of course in any case whichever way of working happens to suit the designer is the right one!

By: 1313

1313 — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 05:52:05 +0000

123

By: Mike Kus

Mike Kus — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:46:08 +0000

Also… thanks for your kind words about the site :)

By: Mike Kus

Mike Kus — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:45:27 +0000

Hi Lee,

I have to be honest… as much as I would like to, I don’t actually have a set design process.
Sometimes I start sketching first sometimes I don’t. It just depends what comes into my head.

On this occasion you’re right… I didn’t really do any sketches first. This happened for two reasons.

1. I new what had to be on the home page content wise and it was very simple (at this beginning stage).
2. I really wanted to do something graphical and working in photoshop seemed appropriate. In a funny way I guess I did sketch out ideas first… photoshop sketches.

I personally don’t think there’s is a right or a wrong way to go about these things. It’s just how it works best for you :)

By: Lee Munroe

Lee Munroe — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:33:17 +0000

Nice read Mike, thanks for putting it together.

I love the freshness of the new site and the illustrations are fantastic and so clean.

Interesting approach. There are a lot of mockups in there. It seems you jumped right into Photoshop and started designing stuff. I’m not saying this is wrong, every designer has their way of doing things, but the general favoured method usually starts with ideas on paper, then wireframes (paper or digital) then design mockup. I’m curious if you did any layout sketching or wireframes first? And did you approach this brief differently to how you would approach a client brief?

Also a big fan of the new blog design by the way.

By: uk website designers

uk website designers — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:01:39 +0000

Some amazing links there, I love the colour changes on the new carsonified site – genius.

By: Michaël Guitton

Michaël Guitton — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 10:06:58 +0000

Awesome and brilliant!
I think the Carsonified new design is very trendy and unique in its genre.

Mike, you’re truly a very gifted designer.
Thank you for sharing the whole process ;-)

By: mike kus

mike kus — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 08:21:25 +0000

Yeah you totally have a point. The Carsonified site design was almost totally unrestricted design wise but that in itself created problems for me. So I think some restrictions are a good thing.

In tackling a more restricted corporate site design I would start from the content and work out. I’d make sure I answered the brief first within the design then see how far I could push things to make the site more striking and interesting.

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 02:18:56 +0000

But isn’t this the way, visually the first few designs might have sod all relation to the final product, but the process is as much about working out what isn’t going to cut it than final designs.

In that sense, the early workings are heavily influencing the final product, and for me that’s what is so interesting (and bold) of this article – putting your heart and soul out there for all to see.

Having said that, the results are STUNNING! Well done.

By: Jack

Jack — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:24:02 +0000

New design looks great thanks for sharing the process.

By: Einzigartiges Webdesign ist eine Seltenheit! webdesign, interessant, inspiration | daswebdesignblog.de :: Artikel, Tutorials, Freebies und Interviews

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 14:35:19 +0000

[...] Gestalter inspirieren lassen. Wie Mike Kus zu der fertigen Website gekommen ist, erklärt er hier. Ein interessanter und lesenswerter [...]

By: Dan Matutina

Dan Matutina — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 09:06:14 +0000

HI. :D thanks for sharing this … really nice to look at your creative process. good stuff.

By: Bram.us » Web Design is a Journey

Bram.us » Web Design is a Journey — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 07:30:43 +0000

[...] The process behind the redesign of the Carsonified website Spread the word! [...]

By: Vincent Garfield

Vincent Garfield — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 03:47:40 +0000

Great post! Nice Designs!

By: Maximus Amillius

Maximus Amillius — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 05:49:12 +0000

Man, those were some great designs, it seems as though you are very thorough with your projects. Great job…s.

By: tuttismith

tuttismith — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 19:09:22 +0000

Great post! Thanks very much for sharing your ideas. I love those drawings.

Tutti

By: Riyaz

Riyaz — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 16:15:30 +0000

Hey Mike, It’s really nice you shared your journey with us – designers – specially. The way you have explained how the journey went was quite interesting. Not all designers like to do this kind of stuff. Thank you and keep up your good work.

By: Digital Media Buzz - Web Design is a Journey | Digital Media Buzz

Digital Media Buzz - Web Design is a Journey | Digital Media Buzz — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 14:04:57 +0000

[...] As the designers among you will know, working on your personal or company site can be a nightmare. It’s always super hard to get right … or finished. I did tons of design variations for the Carsonified site. I won’t show you every single one but I will show you all the significant stages the design went through………[read entire story] [...]

By: dave

dave — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 12:20:02 +0000

Hello, I really envy all your designs they are really coming from your heart. Love it.

By: Sean Delaney

Sean Delaney — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:43:40 +0000

I’m glad you decided to share your design process. I’m more a developer than a designer but recently I’ve been trying to sharpen up my design skills a lot more and posts like this lets guys like me, see how you think and where you get your idea’s and inspiration from.

Overall I found this very interesting and I love the new design that you did for the Carsonified website.

By: Mike Kus

Mike Kus — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:03:41 +0000

Hi Alex,

thanks loads for your kind words. They mean a lot :)

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:01:51 +0000

Excellent information – thank you. I will definitely recommend your site to my clients. Most people don’t know how important the things that you highlighted are.

Thanks for helping spread the good word!

By: Alex Stansfield

Alex Stansfield — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:48:42 +0000

Really love the new design Mike- the contrast between the bold simplicity of the colours/large typeface and the carefully embellished hand-drawings made me vomit with envy/joy a little bit when I first saw it.
To be honest, I’m almost more impressed you weren’t content to stop at Stage 3! Although I guess those shots do look more suited to print than web.
Ryan’s a lucky man/smart guy to give you that freedom- for a company where its brand identity is at the very core of its business model, you’ve certainly added a great deal of value.

Thanks for sharing the creative journey.

All the best to you and the Carsonified team,
Alex

By: Iggy Hammick

Iggy Hammick — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:19:42 +0000

Really ace post, can appreciate the difficulty designing your own image. Loved reading about the different reasons and influences behind the design. Good work :)