When I talk with new web designers, they frequently ask – How do you keep up with the latest web design styles, industry trends, and the newest possibilities for user interface design? Of course, I tell them that it’s super easy because the “Web Design Fairy” visits me on a weekly basis and imparts her wisdom with the touch of her wand.

Seriously, if you want your designs to forever be cutting-edge, contemporary, and hip, it takes a lot of research (i.e. books, websites, blogs, etc.), a hyper critical eye, and an inner drive to continuously push yourself. It is NOT easy. It requires vigilance. Moreover, if you want to improve your designs, you have to be able to look at your own work with an unbiased eye and say, “Golly I bet I could do better” – which sounds easier than it actually is.

Here are my thoughts and recommendations for all you creative types who are worried about doing outdated web designs and are seeking continuous improvement:

1. First of all, you’re taking a great first step by being concerned about improving your designs. Many designers get into a groove and rarely stray from it. At some point in their careers, they do a design they like and then all future designs look like that treasured first design. They choose their favorite color palette, fonts, graphical elements, etc. and they stick with them. My recommendation is this – as you design, keep your mind and your eye loose. Try new things. Try to emulate other designs you like. Remember – nothing about your design is precious or unchangeable. Also, work the entire layout equally. Don’t get hung up on the perfect color for the search button. Make your best choice and move on. You can always make changes later.

2. Refer often to websites and blogs about good design. Here are a few sites that I check on weekly. They provide compiled lists of the latest and greatest new sites.

• http://www.designmeltdown.com
• http://bestwebgallery.com/
• www.stylegala.com
• http://www.webdesignerwall.com/trends/best-of-css-design-2007
• http://www.web100.com/index.html
• http://www.coolhomepages.com/
• http://www.designinteract.com

3. Save the sites you like in your “Bookmarks”and refer to them often. My list of fav’s is gigantic and very helpful, especially when a client says, “I want my site’s design to be really awesome and organic (or some similar combination of abstract words).” Then I show the client sites from my fav list that might fit his/her vision, and the client tells me “yes, that’s what I mean,” or “no, I that’s not what I was thinking at all. I really just want you to use earth tones and photos of leaves…”

4. No matter what trend is occurring, remember to always rely on underlying design conventions to guide users toward the intended action you’d like them to take. Use the page layout and a strong message to provide order and meaning. Don’t make users search for information or think too hard about what to do next. Don’t crowd the page – keep your design simple and make it easy for users to quickly accomplish tasks. No matter how funky your color scheme and design elements, it’s easiest for users to comprehend content that is arranged on an underlying grid (with columns and rows). Use various sized fonts (headlines, subheads, body type, navigation) to delineate the space and guide visitors. And finally, as the architect Louis Sullivan preached, remember that FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION. In other words, “Don’t decorate. Communicate.”