I’m wondering how other web design agencies go about their design brainstorming sessions? Do you look at other websites you like right off the bat, or do you try to come up with solutions without browsing the web first?
I don’t work in web design, but I build web apps. I’m kind of the frontend developer specialist where I work… though, I’m technically full-stack.
I pay attention to the tools I use, what they do, and how they implement certain features or functionality. I also read a ton of tech blogs, hacker news, and subscribe to a lot of sub-reddits that cover technology and design. I pay attention to all of what I read and how things are done everywhere I go.
When I have a new feature to build usually something immediately pops in my head. Then I start Googling for templates that use that feature or for that directly and start pulling solid inspiration from there. From here, I start building a game plan in my head and several options or modifications to the feature. With this in mind, I usually wireframe, prototype, or simply just describe them to my boss and my team during one of the meetings where the ticket will be assigned to me. Usually I already know what I’m going to do and I just kinda make sure nothing is crazy for them or too trendy or let them make small modifications. Though, I don’t always listen to their suggestions or modifications. 
My recent project has been a mini-news feature to the front page of the app I work for. I took heavy inspiration from Foundation’s Panels with Stack Overflow inspired tagging for cataloging. I built a live editor, very similar to the live editor you see here on Discourse (which isn’t unique to Discourse by any means). And the actual post engine it’s based on a custom markup engine I wrote in Java a few months back that is a hybrid of Markdown and WikiMarkup and some other custom tags we wanted (like font coloring). I also added tiny bits of style and flair to make everything look good. Slight transitions, very subtle shadows, styles based on what tags are used, and other things like that.
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If you look too much at other peoples work you’ll usually end up copying things.
Depending on the time of year and weather, why not go for a long walk in the park?
Go to a museum.
Go fishing!
Go on a long drive to somewhere you’ve never been before.
As you “take a break”, let the ideas start to flow in.
If you force yourself to be creative it won’t happen.
My best ideas come when I’m not even looking for them.
Of course I also encourage people to get a pen and notebook and start writing down - or maybe drawing out - your ideas as well.
A journal.
But, personally, I would avoid looking at other people’s ideas for inspiration as it leads to copying.
(Note: My idea of going to the museum is different, because there something beyond the web might inspire you, like a contemporary sculpture or modern painting.)
Last bit of advice is, GET STARTED!!
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I agree with you 100%. I can’t stand looking at other websites in a brainstorming session, since it does just that… makes you end up copying things. I’m going to try to get out more to let the ideas flow while in different surroundings. Your advice is golden; thank you! (I just wish we had more museums where I live. ha!)
Unfortunately, being too unique and too original leads to poor design because people like things they are used to and know where to look and what to look for. They don’t like things that are radically different. Small changes and small enhancements over time is best.
A good designer or frontend developer is going to make something their own, but still similar and familiar.
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Glad my tips were of help.
For me, creativity means keeps my mind busy and open.
Studies have shown that the more stressed you are the harder it is to be creative.
If you are getting ready for the big football game, you want to be stressed and intense.
But for what you want, relax, have fun, live an eclectic life and surround yourself with diversity, and never stop being curious.
I like to keep a camera close by and take pictures of strange things that might inspire me later.
BTW, out of curiosity, whereabouts do you live?
I’m sure there is some inspiration close to you if you look.
I respectfully disagree.
You sound like a developer.
You can create a radically different design and still have a menu bar on the top or left hand side.
You can create a radically different design and still have the standard page navigation.
You can create a radically different design and use common programming metaphors.
Then again, you can have a radically different design that is, well, radically different!
If you approach life and websites with “similar and familiar” you end up being Microsoft. (Pardon me while I puke!)
If you “push the envelope” you might end up like Apple…
This is the web of abstract data, not a canvas for abstract art.
Going to the museum, driving, or fishing (what?) are not going to help you brainstorm web design, they’ll distract you from actually designing anything. In fact, they’re all forms of procrastination.
Anyways, my suggestion is to look at design sites like Dribbble and bookmark designs you like. They don’t have to be websites, just any design. Look at colors. Look at shapes. Look at logos.
Unlike a museum or fishing trip (again, what?), you have the color palettes right there for you to play with. Toss in a few colors on ColourLovers and see what you come up with.
Then take a look at trending themes on sites like ThemeForest and note how the sites are structured and laid out - there’s a reason why they’re selling. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with frankensteining ideas from different sources.
Then read through the article @mawburn posted, this is especially important:
This is the reason why not-that-well-designed web-sites with high-quality content gain a lot of traffic over years. Content is more important than the design which supports it.
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@OzRamos Disagree.
You are confusing how “brainstorming” works and how do physical web design work.
And I think you and mawburn are also treating all of this like it is mutually exclusive.
The article itself is ironically a good example of this. lol
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