I am finding it difficult to settle down on a design and really impress what should be one of my easiest clients.... myself. This has caused me to put off actually producing a new site for some time. My question is, what helped you to get past your own standards and actually please yourself with your own site.

Well, it's not as bad for you guys. For me... I've gone through about 7 designs that I either ended up hating, not finishing, or once I got it into a solid HTML page it didn't come out how I wanted it. Right now I finally have something I really like.

Have you guys seen this post by Veerle? She says that it's extremely hard for her to design because she is her worst client. It put it into perspective for me: I'm not the only one who's gone through a bunch of designs that I didn't like.

This may sound like an elementary question, but bare with me. When you guys talk about the "design" of your website, what do you mean?

If by "design" you're referring primarily to the graphic design (the skin), are you properly laying the foundation for that skin?

Are you identifying your site's (business) objectives today and for the next 12-18 months? Are you able to identify and understand your target audience and their needs? Do you have a sense of the content that will be appearing on your website, how it will meet the needs of your users and how you will be able to update content on the site? Do you have a plan for the features and functionality that will make your site's content more valuable or engaging to your users?

It's very difficult to understand what the skin should look like if you haven't considered the bones.

I was thinking more in a design sense. It seems I cant even settle on a layout that I am ecstatic about and then continue to produce it. Maybe I am finding it difficult because I am trying to make it professional and personal as I love what I do! you have an interesting breakdown/outlook on the topic mringlein, Thanks! Will try at it some more when I get time.

I was thinking more in a design sense.

And adjustafresh and mringlein didn't talk about design how?.. I think what you mean is visual design, but it's advisable to be a little more clear when discussing "design" with your peers.

Maybe I am finding it difficult because I am trying to make it professional and personal as I love what I do!

What are the goals for your site? Have you identified them? Is it to instruct and inform? To bitch and pontificate? To get contacts? These answers will determine layout (information design, interface design) to a large degree.

Thanks for your input PrettyRider, Perhaps I do need to take a step back and logically look at my goals of this project and lay them out in front of me rather than letting them reside as mental notes.

mringlein, I agree that one in a creative field should be their harshest critic otherwise they will not push themselves, so I suppose I am thankful I'm not settling :)

I agree with you completely. I change my design all the time. I am a Graphic Designer by training, but a web developer by choice. I have learned to be a good CSS and site designer because I love the medium, however I find myself not liking my design elements the moment they go live... I think it's normal, and healthy :)

The problem is spending too much time nitpicking your own site and not spending enough time seeking clients and business. Find something you can be "happy" with and keep it, that's the best thing.

It's hard because our business is so ambiguous. When clients come to us, they have a specific job and purpose, and we adapt our design to intrigue their site's visitors. So then, how do you do a design for a company whose purpose is to be completely flexible and adaptable to ALL companies. It's hard. It's like someone telling you on the spot "Be funny!" Creativity is hard to put a finger on.

The best advice I can give is to just put SOMETHING out there. I'm not really happy with my website either, but I'm glad I have somewhere to point people to when they ask to see my work. As long as it's not completely outdated, you should be happy to have something live. After that point is reached, THEN you can work on the countless revisions that will, no doubt, not be quite up to snuff.

-b

Glad to hear other people had the same problem... it took me 6 months of dithering, eventually I just put up something rubbish/generic/computer-look so that I at least had something! It made me cringe so much that I couldn't sleep properly I was so desperate to put something better up. Those sleepless nights forced me to think about it alot and I decided to go for a really personal approach and hand-made look, so I litterally put photographed elements from my desk and wall and ended up with something at least reflective of my style... I want to take it to the next level now and actually make it evolve into something really super cool!

Remember, there's more to life than design, but its a start!