Creativity can be liberating for web designers, especially when they experience that "a-ha" moment where an idea comes to life on the screen. The industry has undergone significant changes since then. Traditional methods of building websites have been replaced by advanced tools and pre-made elements. Sometimes, it feels like web design has lost some of its creative spirit. But has it really? Or have we simply evolved in how we apply our creativity?
Let’s delve into what creativity means in the context of modern web design.
Nowadays, originality in web design often takes a backseat to efficiency, usability, and accessibility. To achieve these priorities, we frequently begin projects using frameworks and themes that give us a head start. Tools like Tailwind CSS offer ready-made layouts and components, while WordPress themes can provide a nearly complete website that we customize. Additionally, block patterns have become increasingly popular. This approach contrasts sharply with the past when we would open Photoshop or another design tool and start with a blank canvas to create everything from scratch. It’s tempting to romanticize that earlier era, viewing web design as a lost art and ourselves as craftsmen who built websites the right way, without the aid of modern tools. However, such a practice is not sustainable for busy designers. There isn’t enough time or budget for lengthy design processes when multiple projects need to be completed.Whether for better or worse, our workflows have evolved. Web designers have had to adapt to keep up with the demands of the industry.
How can we be creative when using predesigned components? Complete originality might be out of reach, but there’s still plenty of room to add a personal touch.
There are many aspects we can customize, such as an element’s color, size, and typography. We don’t have to stick with the default look. We can also opt for components with minimal styling. For instance, the WordPress block editor typically offers a barebones default implementation, and Tailwind CSS emphasizes utility over aesthetics. Understanding these tools enhances our creativity. By designing in Figma with specific components in mind, we can unleash our imagination while staying within predefined boundaries. This process is akin to that of a collage artist, who brings together various pieces to create a cohesive work. Our goal is to create a seamless user experience, and the results can be compelling.
However, the convenience of modern tools can sometimes induce guilt. Page builder tools, for instance, simplify design to a paint-by-numbers approach rather than creating from scratch.
This raises the question: Did we really “create” anything?
Sure, the design process has changed, but that doesn’t mean we’re no longer being creative. We’re still harnessing our creativity, just in a different way. We leverage our knowledge and experience to build the best websites possible, using our keen eye to ensure they are both beautiful and functional. In fact, we’re fortunate to have these new tools and frameworks. Websites are becoming more complex, and these resources help us manage that complexity.
This evolution might make web design more challenging than ever. Designing from scratch while also handling functionality could be overwhelming.
Our focus must span multiple aspects simultaneously. So, it’s like creating a collage while juggling!
One positive development is that designers no longer have to reinvent the wheel. We spend less time on the basics, allowing us to focus on the details.
It’s the little things that can make a website stand out, and now we have the tools to give us a head start. While these new methods can sometimes be limiting, web designers are no strangers to working within constraints.
There have always been parameters, whether they were the limits of CSS or the capabilities of user devices. Now, we use our creativity to bend and shape tools to fit our needs.
You know what? Those “a-ha” moments still exist. The difference is in how we create them.
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