Overcoming Creative Block: The Journey of Designing the Sri Family Guide Website Footer
As a UI/UX designer, working on the Sri Family Guide (SFG) program's website was an exciting opportunity. I was responsible for creating a user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing interface that would resonate with our target audience. However, the project wasn't without its challenges. One challenge I faced was designing the website's footer—a task that unexpectedly took over a week to resolve.
The Creative Blockage
The footer is often seen as a small part of the website, but it’s a critical component. It serves as the final touchpoint for users, often containing important links, contact information, and a chance to leave a lasting impression. Despite its importance, I found myself creatively stuck. I created numerous design options, but none of them seemed right. Each attempt fell short of the vision I had for the SFG website.
Seeking Guidance
After struggling with the footer design for over a week, I sought advice from my senior. He advised me to explore platforms like Pinterest, Dribbble, Behance, and specialized sites like footer.design. The idea was to gather designs and create a library with the designs that were currently in use as well as those featured in portfolios. This approach wasn’t about copying but about sparking creativity by observing what others had done.
The Research Process
Taking his advice to heart, I began an extensive research process. I collected over 50 different footer designs from various sources. This included live websites and designer portfolios, ensuring a diverse range of styles and approaches. With a large collection at hand, I started writing down keywords that came to mind as I looked at each footer. I didn’t overthink it—I just let the words flow naturally.Next, I applied the same keyword process to the SFG website’s existing UI. By comparing the two sets of keywords, I identified common themes and elements that resonated with both the SFG brand and the footer designs I had collected. This exercise allowed me to shortlist five footer designs that were most aligned with the SFG website’s overall aesthetic and functional requirements.
Design and Iteration
With these shortlisted designs, I began the creative process anew. I took inspiration from the selected footers and created options using elements from the SFG website’s UI, adapting them to fit our brand’s unique style. This time, the designs began to take shape in a way that felt right. After much iteration, I was able to create five strong footer options that I was genuinely excited about.
Final Selection and Reflection
When I presented the designs to my senior, we were able to quickly narrow it down to two options, and eventually, we selected one that perfectly encapsulated the SFG brand. The entire process, though challenging, turned out to be an invaluable learning experience.By the end of it, not only did I have a footer design that worked for the SFG website, but I also ended up with a personal library of footer designs and related keywords. This resource will undoubtedly prove useful in future projects, especially when I face similar creative blocks.
Conclusion
Designing the footer for the Sri Family Guide website was a journey of overcoming creative block. The process taught me the importance of seeking inspiration, the value of research, and the power of iteration. Moving forward, I’m confident that the strategies I’ve learned will help me tackle similar challenges with greater ease. For any designer out there facing a creative block, remember that sometimes the best way to move forward is to step back, gather inspiration, and approach the problem from a fresh perspective.
