Through filtering what I believe represents some of the best overall designs on the web, there is still a very hard line between good layout and good design. Of those sites I found appealing, only a select couple seem to "get" harmonious blending of structure and visual pleasantry. Some of the conclusions I've come to after surfing these sites include the following.
- Conceptual and "innovative" layouts aren't worth anything if they don't navigate well. Period.
- Use photos sparingly. They should never dominate the look.
- Certain colors, when paired accurately, give the viewer a mood right off the bat. Some sites just amazed me if for no other reason than the way the colors made me feel.
- Keep it simple. A busy site is an immediate turn off.
- Icons can work well, but avoid the common ones. Design your own to fit the theme.
- Easter Eggs are fun, but unless it's an "entertainment" type website, leave them be.
- Avoid theming that already relates to something else. If your fonts look like Napoleon Dynamite's sketchbook handwriting, that's what people will connect it with.
- The first third of your page should include all of the following if you have them as assets: Logo, company name, contact info, quick link bar, slogan
I found this article from Smashing Magazine that shows some of the current trends and once current trends, now cliched. I thought it was a good read and pretty on the money.
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/02/26/navigation-menus-trends-and-examples/
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