Do you have an eye for design? 👀

Dear First name / creative,

 

Part of becoming a skilled web designer is developing a keen eye for design. You see, the first step to crafting a thing of beauty is knowing how to recognize it.

 

My personal style as a self-taught creative is mostly honed by instinct. I naturally gravitate towards what works for me in the rush of exploration and experimentation. If you asked me a few years ago how I come up with my web designs, I could easily gather custom-coded examples that catch my eye but not so much the words to explain why. They simply resonate.

 

But lately I’ve come across a book that articulates the way I see the digital world. It’s called Atomic Design by Brad Frost. He writes about the web as a “fluid, interactive, independent medium” that needs to be viewed with a similarly dynamic design perspective and approach.

 

There’s a science to it, more akin to chemistry*: Frost states that websites are made up of atoms within molecules within organisms—all of which form templates then pages. You might recognize them as elements, blocks, and sections in your website builder. The takeaway is to regard them not as disconnected pieces, but as interrelated parts that make up a living, breathing project.

 

It’s not enough to pick and choose details on a whim; you have to think about the overall picture in your process. How will this font pairing affect readability? Would these third-party apps slow down speed? Does this color palette make the website accessible? These questions may seem unnecessary to some, but they’re the subtle markers of a finely crafted website.

 

Once you widen the periphery of your sensibilities, you’ll be able to appreciate having a streamlined system where everything clicks into place with modular components. The result is a responsive, editable site that maintains itself long after client handoff.

After all, holistic thinking is perceiving both the cohesive whole and its collection of parts. Such is the wonder of atomic design.

 

Pricing feels intimidating when you’re trying to land on a single, fixed figure that dictates the value of your craft. But it doesn’t have to work that way; prices can be far more flexible when you break your web design offers down to their moving parts. No need to be wary of asking for too much when you have a system for estimating and planning ahead.

 

Fortunately, Squarespace has invited me to tell you more about it on Circle Live. If you are a Squarespace Circle member,  join me today, June 27 at 1 PM ET as we discuss how to Name Your Price: scoping your projects, quoting with confidence, and raising your prices.  

 

I’ll be sharing a pricing calculator that takes into account various factors that affect work complexity. You could even refer to my discovery call script for guidance on how to negotiate with your prospect—it’s free for everyone who signs up for this hour-long session.

 

Anything in particular you’d like to learn more about on this topic? I’m all ears.

 

1.1 A sneak peek of my pricing calculator, which will heavily feature in my upcoming session on Circle Live with Sam and Sarah from the Squarespace team.

Sustainability lies at the core of Kynd’s hair extensions as well as the system that threads through its digital shop. They’re in the business of providing an alternative to synthetic hair fibers deeply embedded in Black communities, so they need an e-commerce solution that mirrors the functionality, adaptability, and accessibility of their brand.

 

Enter one of our Standout Shopify students, Ellie Chappelle—eager to take on the challenge of this web design and development project.

2.1 Kynd Hair built their online shop on Shopify using our Esencia Theme, a website template exclusive to Standout Shopify members.

Ellie took this as an opportunity to weave the website code snippet by snippet. In this skillful application of atomic design, she use our Shopify Liquid lessons  to reshape an existing custom section (provided as part of Standout Shopify) into the bespoke Hover Follow section (featured below).

 

2.2 I worked closely with Ellie  to transform our existing premium Follow Cursor section into the ‘one of a kynd’ Hover Follow section.

Creative Circle

“It is impossible to distill everything I have learned from Standout Squarespace into one paragraph,” writes Patricia of Cultivation Studio. It’s true that my approach to the core curriculum is comprehensive in nature; I impart a variety of skills in design, development, and business not to overwhelm but to reveal how interconnected they all are.

 

Each lesson plays a key role in service of your ideal client, and more importantly, the studio—and the life—you aspire to have.!

 

3.1 This is how I know I’ve done something right in my Standout programs: when words are not enough to express how much they’ve changed the lives of creatives like Patricia.

Our brand new directory houses more creatives with diverse backgrounds and inflections. Some regard themselves as seasoned designers, others are simply starting out. Feel free to browse through these personal stories; you might just find one that reflects your own.

 

 

This week started on a good note for me—my team had whipped up a small surprise to celebrate our site launch. We all work remotely, so imagine my delight when Chiara drove to my city to present this lovely ribboned cake in lime chiffon. Such a thoughtful gesture! To say that the project wouldn’t be possible without their help is an understatement.

 

Sometimes it can be easy to overlook the scale and intricacy of a finished work that lives on the internet. Only as I sliced through the cake did I get a real taste what I have just achieved: the new website, along with the past successes that made it possible.

 

Don’t forget to celebrate your wins, big or small, to nourish your resolve and keep you going.

4.1 A slice of the vintage lifestyle with swirls and swooping cursive. I savored each and every bite; this artisan cake tastes as good as it looks.

Now it’s your turn: what has caught your eye lately as a creative? Whatever it may be, I hope it influences your work in the best way possible.

 

Rache