http://twitpic.com/mvl5 - Online advertising fail. 15 hrs ago
// The problem[s] with personal design.
As I’ve been at work on a new design, I’ve been running into a few stumbling blocks that are as frustrating as they are ironic.
You would think that an endless sea of options and choices would be a good thing when trying to create something, but as I’ve been aboard a leaky vessel on just such a sea over the past week or so, my problems have been many.
I’m now at the point where I’m trying to step back from my design and really decide what I want to present as “me.”
It’s been difficult. There are just too many things that could be done. Trying to decide what to include and what to put on the drawing board for a future revision, or what to just completely throw away is the real challenge with a new design, especially a personal one.
I think the primary issue I have with personal projects is a lack of planning. I often approach a new personal design purely from the creative side, and almost never with a practical site map or feature list that I would have if I were working for an actual client.
That said, I’m taking a step back, narrowing my focus to a simple set of lists (”Must Have”, “Would Like to Have”, “Would Love to Have But Is Ridiculously Impractical”), and proceeding with a measured, goal-driven pace.
The hope is that I will achieve what I want, that is a complete website design, and avoid taking the 4.2 bazillion years that these open-ended personal projects of mine usually take.
Random wikipedia links for the win!
Image Credit - Luke Chueh
Discussion
5 comments for “The problem[s] with personal design.”
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Good thoughts man. I totally agree with your strategy of organizing/ranking your ideas. When it comes to creating sometimes the bravest thing you can do is drop an idea that, although amazing in and of itself, just doesn’t work now. I remember having that happen all the time when I was writing sermons. I would have this hilarious story… But it just didn’t fit.
Brett
January 15, 2008, 9:03 pm
I have traveled on this same boat. It is very hard to brand one’s self. My problem is I design, build, launch… then 1 month later when I’m tired of that design, I start again. This vicious cycle is even -with- a plan. So… good luck.
Boom
Scott Schwartz
January 18, 2008, 9:12 am
I feel ya. I’m excited to see what you’ve got in store for us. I’m sure it’s worth the wait.
Charles
January 30, 2008, 6:37 pm
I hate that phase of starting a redesign. It’s so daunting and frustrating. I say try to keep it under 4.0 bazillion years, and you should be good.
Cabeeb
January 31, 2008, 12:10 am
A wise man once said…why would one create from scrath, when one can steal and make better?
Now I am not saying I subscribe to such jibber jabber, but thought it appropriate to share as a comment to this blog entry.
Chris
February 3, 2008, 10:51 pm