If someone were to ask, I’d have to say that my biggest weakness when it comes to design is and always has been color. This isn’t to say I’m totally inept in that department, but for me it’s generally the largest of the hurdles. Unless I have a color in mind when I’m visualizing the end result, I’ll get to a point where the design is a mass of greyscale boxes (boxes - my other weakness!).
In some cases, like *ahem* this site, I’ll decide I’d rather have the power that black brings that I don’t feel any other color can match, but in most instances (wait - also like this site) I end up screwing around with it over a span of hours or days and either a) end up with a combination I never thought of but really like) or b) end up using color very sparingly. And to be honest and justify a little, the reason this site stayed so colorless compared to previous iterations is that I wanted a neutral background so the photos didn’t clash, and I was so over grey at the time.
But the other problem is I go through phases of really, really liking certain bright colors (and treatments) and I have to fight with myself to not use the same color or pattern or effect on yet another project I’m involved with (oh, gradients - clever!). That’s why when I’m working with people on projects I really appreciate any input that can be provided. Don’t mistake this to mean I just take what is suggested and slap it together, but if I can pull any ideas out of a concept meeting I consider it successful.
In the end what makes a good designer is being able to get around hurdles like this and bringing other fortes to the table to account for the lesser of his or her skills.
Be the first to say something. Anything.