Graphic art and fine art exist on completely opposite spectrums. While most fine artists will typically rely upon a specific style (regardless of art medium) it is important for graphic artists/designers to be open and define the style based on the industry and brand associated with a project.
Although we always try and create contemporary designs for our clients we are also careful to not jump on the bandwagon of latest design trends as they can sometimes go out of style fast. So, the key for our design team is to not have a particular style but again, to express our creativity and redefine our style based on each project we do.
That being said, below are some interesting designs we have created over the last year that show the variety of looks, feels and styles we draw upon to make sure every custom design we create is distinct and displays the client's brand in a contemporary and sophisticated way.
The look or style we go with is also somewhat dependant upon the industry/type of business the client is in. For example, for real estate or home builders like Ross Minor Construction, photos are of upmost importance to show the type of work and there had to be a mix of traditional and contemporary feels to appeal to the tastes of their clientele. The overall design keeps a contemporary feel while the simple use of serif fonts lends it a more traditional flavor.
In the case of a new site we just completed for a Bryan Stevanus of Bud Racing, the important aspects of the site were 1) giving people access to the race schedule via a cool countdown clock and 2) acknowledgement of sponsors so the design had to integrate these two important elements prominently into the design.
For a Tattoo/Piercing studio like Thrive display of artwork via photographs was important but a clean, almost sterile look helps accentuate the fact that the studio has high standards as far as health and safety are concerned. Not all tattoo shop websites need to be dark/black and menacing, the target market is too vast nowadays - everyone from teenagers to senior citizens are now sporting ink!
One last design I wanted to mention is the one we created for CAS Marine. In this case we used some soft edges and rounded corners as opposed to straight/hard lines and rectangles to piece together the design. This not only fits in with the fluid nature of water but it also matches up with the flowing aerodynamic construction of the boats they sell.
Again, the style of the websites we design is not dependent upon our personal preferences as designers, it varies based on both the industry and feeling the client needs to convey. This is what makes being a web designer fun, as every project is distinct and different from the last..variety is the spice of life as they say!
