Comments: 23

A Cure for Designer’s Block

What do you get when you combine copious amounts of instant coffee with an ill-conceived plan to rid oneself of designer’s block? A new theme!

I’ve been in some kind of design funk this past couple of months, and I’ve had just about enough. I figured that the best way to crawl out of it was to impose a deadline, so I decided to force myself to participate in the Spring 2007 Reboot with only one-and-a-half days left. As you can see, I somehow managed to squeak through, albeit several hours off target. I blame my fandoms for distracting me :P

Anyway, this layout is entitled “Breathe” — as in “breathe easy” or “room to breathe” and not “the exagerated sound Darth Vader makes when he exhales.” I was experimenting with different drawing styles when I came up with the illustration I used for this layout. I loved how the swirls in her hair turned out, so I decided to make a theme out of it.

Theme #18 - Breathe

The version that landed in the reject pile This is actually my second attempt at creating a layout around that drawing. I started working on the first version almost four months ago, but I lost interest in the design before I could even finish it. It looked quite different from this one — all soft and quiet with its pale pinks and minty greens. Hmm. Now that I think about it, maybe the reason I lost interest in the first version was that it wasn’t anything like me. Needless to say, I like this one a lot better, or it would have ended up in the reject pile, too.

Let me know what you think! Like it? Hate it? Found bugs crawling about?

As for my designer’s block, I’m cautiously optimistic that I’ve broken through it. I definitely won’t be ready for another caffeinated cramming session anytime soon.

02 May 2007 Design / Illustration / Web

23 Comments

    • Amanda 5/2/07 @ 08:54

    • Well, I’m a fan. :P

      The only thing I’m possibly not keen on is the “submit” button on these comments…it doesn’t really look like a button, just some bolded text.

    • Michael 5/3/07 @ 00:51

    • Aliw, Ate Nikki! You do WordPress themes too rin pala. :D

      Always love your layouts.

    • lai 5/3/07 @ 03:52

    • i absolutely LOVE everything! and love how you did the little dialogue boxes thingies for your headers and here in the comments :) i think the newer illustration is way better than the minty pink one you did eons ago so kudos to you :)

    • Asia 5/3/07 @ 10:23

    • Your designs never cease to amaze me. I’ve always liked layouts where the creator took something that was their own, be it a couple of words, and even better, a drawing, and just built the framework around that. It makes the design especially personal and unique. Great job as always! I draw as well, but I haven’t been able to come up with a drawing for a design for quite some time now. Lovely job as always!

    • Kat 5/3/07 @ 14:27

    • Oh it’s so perty! :-P I love it :) I love all your layouts, they’re always different yet have your fingerprints all over them. And always well thought out, every element is perfect. I just love it! :) Especially the ropey border! :D

    • Ewan 5/3/07 @ 17:36

    • I absolutely hate designers block. I recently had a ‘case’ of it and it p*ssed me off no-end. It’s like losing your power to think for a set period of time. RRR!

    • Izza 5/3/07 @ 19:46

    • PRETTY! I’m so glad you got to finish this. The coffee must have worked wonders! :D

      I love the placement of the dates on your posts. The whole post area is actually so neat and clean and easy on the eyes. I love the drawing, too. I don’t think I’ve seen it before.

      I envy you!!!! *cries*

    • Constance 5/4/07 @ 22:27

    • Oh this makes me want to re open my site…it’s gorgeous!!! I love it..
      Must agree with the onewho said she didn’t like the submit button…

    • tin 5/4/07 @ 23:33

    • why wasn’t I blessed with a natural for art??? ha? ha??
      I love the new lay-out, specially the dates of the blog entries. :)
      two thumbs up! !:)

    • Stephanie 5/5/07 @ 05:31

    • Very pretty! I love how all the letters in “Bottled Sky” are a different shade of blue, and that the color combinations you’re using are complimentary (to the eyes, at least). You’ve paid a LOT of attention to detail and I am going to try and learn from you to do that in my next layout.

    • Gean 5/8/07 @ 19:40

    • The reason why I always drop by at your site is your layouts. Wow, this one is great. So loving it. :)

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