As more and more of us are taking our skills off the high street in favour of building an online presence, the design, layout and overall appealingness of business’ websites have never been more important. There is an emphasis on the work of web designers like never before – and, expectedly, an influx in the number of people developing the skills to provide web design services to the wider audience.
The key to staying relevant as a web designer or a web design agency is to stay in-the-know. There are always new things to be learnt, and evolving and dying trends to be aware of. That’s why even websites that were newly created last year are already showing signs of age if they haven’t been appropriately tweaked since then.
Luckily, there are resources online, easily accessible to all, that can help you to keep on top of industry news and knowledge to stay readily informed, always. You could spend hours trawling through the internet – or you could save time and spend half an hour a day taking a look at the sites that have done the hard work for you. Or simply take a look at our web design basics guide to get you started on the right foot.
Here is a list of six of my favourite web design blogs for you to add to your bookmarks today.
With more than 11 years’ industry experience, Elegant Themes is one of the forerunners in web design, and has clocked up an impressive total of 600,000 customers, and counting. Clearly, the big names behind Elegant Themes know what they’re doing – which is why you shouldn’t miss up on the chance to take a look at what they’re saying on their blog.
The Elegant Themes blog is the place to find plenty of info on the services the agency offers, but there’s also a fair bit of key web design info on there for anyone looking to stay informed and inspired. The blog goes beyond web design to getting the most out of your website once it’s built, making it a great all-round resource for digital marketing professionals.
Every web designer should make the Smashing Magazine blog one of their must-reads if they’re looking for specific web design tips to help them excel in their field. Founded in 2006, German-based Smashing Magazine is proudly independent, delivering reliable, useful and practical articles to web designers and developers all across the world.
If you’re looking for the latest trends, Smashing Magazine might not be for you. Instead focusing on the processes that work or fail in actual projects, the small team behind Smashing Magazine’s articles committed to nourishing productivity, improving design and development skills and finessing the work-life balance. Expect to spend a good few hours browsing through the blog’s stimulating posts.
3. Awwwards
If you’re stuck in any sort of design rut, take a look at the Awwwards blog content and you should find yourself suitably inspired once more. Awwwards is, of course, a professional web design and development competition body, which enables digital design professionals from across the globe find inspiration, impart knowledge and experience, connect, and share constructive, respectful critiques.
It’s unsurprising that as well as being in-the-know about the top web designers around the world, Awwwards also has a very good insight into what these designers are doing. The Awwwards blog certainly reflects this, with almost-daily posts featuring interviews with industry professionals and insider advice on how to take your web design and development to the next level.
Webdesigner Depot’s blog is well worth getting stuck into if industry news is your thing. Established in 2008, the digital design agency has been there from the very beginning, witnessing the rise of the mobile web, which makes it makes it pretty established in the industry. With more than 1.1 million newsletter subscribers, and over 740 thousand Twitter followers, Webdesigner Depot is a community you want to be a part of.
As well as doing a monthly round-up of the most important digital design news, Webdesigner Depot also posts frequent advice, tools and resources to help you hone your skills, and, importantly, avoid those common web design mistakes. Take a look at the blog’s most popular posts for inspiration, and it’s definitely worth checking out the freebies on offer.
You’ll find all the technical tips you could ask for on Creative Overflow, an online design magazine for everything and anything creative. Established in South Africa by Jacques van Heerden back in 2009, Creative Overflow has certainly seen a lot in its rise to become the successful blog it is today – which is probably why the blog is so widely-read.
Inspiring its readers through articles, resources, tutorials and tips, you can expect to find a mix of everything design-related on Creative Overflow’s blog. There’s certainly a strong community feel on the site, and it’s clear that the posts are aimed at the wider design industry, so don’t expect everything to be entirely relevant to you. That said, there’s no reason why you can’t immerse yourself in the more general industry knowledge on offer and perhaps learn something valuable in the process.
6. Webflow
Whether you’re new to the world of design of you’ve got a fair few years of experience behind you, you’ll find all the information and tips you need on the Webflow blog. As a web-based drag-and-drop tool used for making simple websites, Webflow is made with creatives in mind, and its tools expand further than just its designing resources.
The Webflow blog is split into eight handy categories: inspiration, resources, announcements, entrepreneurship, tutorials, freelancing, design process and web design. You can also take a look at what’s popular if you’re short on time and need a quick read on-the-go. If you’re looking for inspiration, interested in learning the tricks behind your craft, or fancy catching up on the latest trends, you’ll find everything you’re looking for on the Webflow blog. Don’t forget to check out the reading lists for a more in-depth insight into Webflow’s offerings.
