July 20, 2015
Full disclosure: I'm still not really sure how muses are supposed to work. I know they're important--after all, Homer talked about them a lot in The Odyssey. Whenever I'm feeling stuck on a design project, I turn to these three web design blogs instead of waiting around for my muse to strike me with inspiration. Sorry Homer, the Internet is way faster and more efficient. (And I'm not sure how much muses go for on Amazon). Check out these three design blogs and you'll never be without inspiration again.
Smashing Magazine is a must for anyone following web design. I’ve been reading it for years, and I follow web design almost as closely as I follow The Bachelorette. (FYI: I really love The Bachelorette). Trust me—it’s a brilliant resource. It covers everything about web design, from coding to graphics, and contains numerous tutorials and best business practices. The writing is so top-notch that I dream of befriending literally every member of Smashing Magazine’s staff. If you’re looking to begin a career as a professional web designer, this is your site.
2) Web Crème
While I do love and recommend Web Crème, it’s not without its flaws. I've put together a quick and dirty pro/con list on what the blog does well--and what it could do better. If you’re looking for design inspiration, you’ve come to the right place. Web Crème is a hearty collection of the latest website designs and trends. Its basic screenshot layout makes it both easy and enjoyable to navigate. However, when you click on a link, the site goes to the new page in the same window. This is a user experience pet peeve of mine, as it makes it difficult to compare websites side by side. Additionally, many of the sites are curated purely for their aesthetic design and don’t take best search engine optimization practices into consideration. Overall, this site is great for learning more about design trends but look elsewhere if you’re interested in design that also meshes with SEO.
While Creative Bloq isn’t all about web design, its diversity is what makes it so valuable. The site's navigation bar exemplifies the wide assortment of categories the blog covers: features, news, tutorials, interviews, opinion, and more. I've read articles on how to choose a WordPress theme and how to use your design skills to better your city. I highly recommend following this blog to supplement your web design knowledge.
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Do you have any other web design blog recommendations? Or, more importantly, do you have a muse and if so, how do you summon it? Comment in the section below, email us at [email protected], or tweet at us @perfect_search!
Senior Designer
Anna Swierenga is a huge Moulin Rouge fan who has always called Chicago home. When she’s not geeking out over data visualizations and science fiction things, Anna spends her days planning her next trip – and a safari in Tanzania is at the top of her list.