5 | How Do You Start a New Design Project?

In this episode, Amy and James talk about the best methods and tools for starting a new design project. Topics include asking the right questions, doing visual research, creating mood boards and wireframes, and getting all the pieces in place.

SPONSORS

Pathwire / Mailgun / Mailjet

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Vercel

Vercel combines the best developer experience with an obsessive focus on end-user performance. Their platform enables frontend teams to do their best work. It is the best place to deploy any frontend app. Start by deploying with zero configuration to their global edge network. Scale dynamically to millions of pages without breaking a sweat.

For more information, visit Vercel.com

ZEAL is hiring!

Zeal is a computer software agency that delivers “the world’s most zealous” and custom solutions. The company plans and develops web and mobile applications that consistently help clients draw in customers, foster engagement, scale technologies, and ensure delivery.

Zeal believes that a business is “only as strong as” its team and cares about culture, values, a transparent process, leveling up, giving back, and providing excellent equipment. The company has staffers distributed throughout the United States, and as it continues to grow, Coding Zeal looks for collaborative, object-oriented, and organized individuals to apply for open roles.

For more information visit their site.

Show Notes

0:00 Introduction

2:18 Ask a lot of questions

• Design can be a self-diagnosed solution
• What's the true problem?

3:47 Creating a Mood Board

• Gives visual language
• Collect pictures of everything

6:49 Surround yourself with good design

• "You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with."

8:58 Moving away from detrimental phrases

10:10 Sponsor: Vercel

10:55 Tools within Design

• Figma
• Sketch
• Adobe XD

13:39 Framer as a prototyping tool

15:56 Sponsor: Pathwire

16:51 Tools are a poor man's excuse

• Look at something with an opportunity mindset
• It's better to start than to waste too much time debating about which tool to use.

19:00 Starting a New Project

• Mis en Place - Getting everything in its place
• Give yourself a better starting point
• Medium post about starting the Compressed.fm design

21:10 User Testing

• Collect as much information as possible within the design phase
• Iteration is King

23:26 Sponsor: ZEAL

24:16 Grab Bag Question 1: How do you get started with wireframes?

• Pen and Paper
• Invision App
• Balsamic

25:24 Grab Bag Question 2: How do I learn the standards of web design as a whole or best practices in web design?

• Design Code
• Shift Nudge
• Designing UI

26:26 Grab Bag Question 3: What are your thoughts on Using TailwindCSS for help with design?

• Important thing is to make it your own
• Beginner Tailwind - Course by Chris Sev
• Refactoring UI

28:24 Amy's Pick - CleanShot App X

29:39 Amy's Plug - SelfTeach.me YouTube Channel

30:03 James's Pick - Rocket

30:38 James's Plug - James Q Quick on YouTube

30:46 Glyphfinder