Every so often, I like to share what I’ve been working on, design-wise. This particular batch is filled with friends – people I’ve known (and admired) on the internet for years.
Sometimes web design reminds me of a Project Runway challenge – you want to make your client happy and reflect their style, but you also want to stay true to yourself and your style. The balance of the two is becoming easier and easier as I become more adept at recognizing my clients’ personality and taste and being able to explain web usability and design to them so we come up with the best solutions.
And yes, I relate my life to television shows far too often.
Onward! Here are some of the latest designs I’ve been working on since I last shared with you a few months ago.
Allie Larkin // WordPress Design
Allie Larkin is an internationally best selling author of Stay (which I loved). She has another book coming out in February, so she wanted to launch a new look to celebrate. I told her we could incorporate her blog (formerly on Blogger) into the site. So we did. I also designed a coordinating Twitter background and Facebook cover photo for her. Allie’s personality and love of retro, funky things inspired this design with vintage fabric lettering and pops of yellow and cherry red. Allie was so much fun to work with. Plus, I just really love working with authors.
Jessica Lawlor // WordPress Design
Jessica was rebranding and relaunching her blog and wanted a new design to go with it. She wrote about her experience with the process here (a great comprehensive look at the process – thanks, Jess!). Her site has two email sign ups that I designed to match her site, several pages, and custom social media icons. Keep an eye on this girl – she’s going places – she’s driven and professional and fantastic.
Lemmonex// WordPress Design
Lexa is a longtime blogger who wanted to refresh her blog – she wanted a sleeker site, but still her. Lexa’s tagline is: “Uncensored and unapologetic. Foul mouthed and food obsessed. Mothers, hide your sons.” which pretty much perfectly illustrates her. Her personality is big and her love of animal prints prompted me to buy my first item of clothing with animal print.
Ali in Reality // WordPress Design
I redesigned Ali’s site about a year ago, so when I got a sheepish email from her asking for another redesign, I was secretly delighted. Ali is just so much fun to work with. Plus, I often redesign my own site, so I totally get the itch to change things up. Ali got a simpler design with a sidebar menu and a few special touches.
Once Upon A Stein // WordPress Design
Lacey, who you might know from her blog, wanted to start a site for beer-loving ladies to chat about beer and brewing and good food. Thus, Once Upon A Stein was born. With a textural coaster and glass ring stain in the header, her vision of melding fairy tale and alcohol was married. I also incorporated Lacey’s own photos into the navigation, which added a personal, unique touch (and I did it with CSS and HTML instead of static images – so can edit the navigation labels herself! And it’s following correct web standards.)
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Right now, I’m working on a custom drawstring bag for a new program, a travel blog, and an actress’s site. I’m also currently booking projects to start in mid-January. I really love the diversity of my clients and projects.
If you think you might be a good fit, I’d love to chat. Check out my site here.
I love these updates to see where you’ve been directing your creative juices! If I had all the money in the world, I’d be coming your way for redesigns as often as I color my hair! =)
I love posts like this about the creative process, the work you’re doing, and how you take something from vision to beautiful design. Amazing work!
And you are SO much fun to work with too! I adore my website and am constantly getting compliments on it. Thank you!
I’m sorry, you designed a website for Allie Larkin the author? Can I say that I’m famous by association because I know you? AWESOME!
I am thrilled every single time I look at my blog. Thank you so much for your beautiful work, Ashley.
Yep, love.
Way to go Ash! Your designs look amazing as always!
Fabulous! I’m so impressed by your work!
I’d just like to mention two things about this. No wait possibly three.
1) I am still so in love with my blog design. I’m always so excited when other people post that they’re using you as a designer I’m all like YES ASHLEY
2) I’m really excited you used the whole ‘pictures in the header’ thing on someone else’s blog! I wondered if that would catch onto anyone else’s blog after you had mentioned it to mine. So pretty.
3) Really gorgeous new designs! I feel like not only are you really falling into your own style, but you’re really learning how to mix it with your client’s. It really shows! Looove.
Really love those designs, really well done!