I recently began a project that needs to be completed by May 1. The problem with the project is that I don’t have a logo. I’ve gotten into the habit of starting projects with the logo and I am now finding myself in a bit of a quandry. How do you design a website without seeing the logo? I’ve started two concept designs but find myself wondering if they and the logo will fit together. I’ve been given four colors but of course, that doesn’t mean I’ve chosen the correct hue for those colors, to me it all seems to hinge on the logo. Maybe I’m thinking about it incorrectly.
How do you start a design project?
My name’s Jen; I’m a cynical, sarcastic, ex-drummer who is fond of dark humor. I've held way too many factory & retail jobs but finally found my calling one Christmas holiday in a dark, musty basement. I am now a CSS & XHTML web standards looney and can be found daily—when I’m not at my Mac—at the local fair-trade coffee shop buying an iced-soy mocha no matter the temperature.
I am also the owner of Pop Stalin Design specializing in CSS & XHTML web design as well as custom WordPress themes.
Hello! Good Site! Thanks you! amofmmhpsvq
I recently wrote a little design feature on my blog and you made the cut, Jen:
http://www.davidairey.com/blog/creative-design-awards-now-open/
Keep it up!
If the logo has to slot in and you don’t know the dimensions or the colours I can see why that would be difficult.
I generally start with the content: what is it, how does it connect together and what methods of finding it are likely to be most suitable for the target audience. Then I would wireframe it, with a gap for the logo in this instance, and put it together in plain black and white in xhtml and CSS.
The colours and the graphical elements) would be last and generally superficial. Wherever possible I would use CSS borders and background images so they are easily changed. Also try and make all your graphical elements using the same layer names and suchlike in photoshop so you can automate the change process if the colours need alteration.
Hi Jen,
I think you’re doing it the right way. I’m currently developing a site around a logo that I designed, and I discussed with the client how the logo should be finished before anything else.
It does play a large part on how the site will look.
David