At REM, every design is custom and different. We ensure we design each website based on the unique needs and goals of our clients. We use the software, Adobe Photoshop to create our concepts and mock-ups. By using this every day, we have picked up quite a number of tricks that save time and boost our productivity. Having a pre-defined workspace also helps the designers at REM to keep our design files consistent.
Creating a workspace that is the most productive for web work is crucial when working on multiple design projects. Below are some steps I take to ensure productivity and quality in our custom web designs.
Document Set-Up
This is usually a pretty standard new PS document set at 2000 pixels wide. A blank canvas that has only some pre-defined guides and a set of common used layer groups.
Assets
In our world, our assets layer contains all of the styles that we want to pass on to the developer to add into the style sites sheet. These Assets are things like Paragraph and Heading Styles, Callouts, links and buttons.
Layers & Groups
Layers are key to organization. A pre-defined set of layers helps boost productivity while designing. My layers are usually set up in order of the design. Header, Logo, Navigation, Banner, Content, Footer, Background.
Colour Palette
Having a palette ensures that the colors used are consistent. Sometimes these are supplied through a brand guideline but most times these are created based on the projects existing branding/logo etc.
