Database appearance

[hootie318]

I have noticed that the more dbs that I create they all look the same. Not exactly the same, but no matter how I try to alter the style or color scheme it is still sort of boring. Is there any where to go to get fresh ideas or is anyone willing to post pictures of their favorite swichboard or form design?

 

[a.sinatra]

...anyone willing to post pictures of their favorite swichboard or form design?..

2 things, We post what we do, your just going to "steal" it and make it yours. Get into an art class or something, thats where your creativity comes from. The other is that there are already sceenshots of some of our stuff, search.
________
Maine Dispensary

 

[Mile-O]

We post what we do, your just going to "steal" it and make it yours. Get into an art class or something, thats where your creativity comes from.

What? Steal screenshots?

 

[Kraj]

Did someone declare today "Post No Constructive Replies Day"? First of all, just because hootie want to see screenshots doesn't mean s/he intends to steal. Quite often, being exposed to others' ideas inspires our own creativity.

Second, who cares if your design is "stolen"? Are you Microsoft? Are you Frank Lloyd Wright?

Third, here's my advice on creating a more interesting design...

Try a theme. What does the database do? Who is using it? What information is being stored in it? Give the database interface some personalization and you've got a jump-off point.
-OR-
Start with button design. Simply by making creative ways for users to point and click makes the database a lot more interesting.

For example, my database (which is not exciting by any means but I'm happy with the interface) uses custom bottons that are flat with a drop shadow. This simple deviation from the stanadard grey button makes the database a whole lot nicer to look at.

For an example of using a theme to create a whole new interface design, I'll humbly direct you to a web page my brother designed. In my opinion, it is one of the freshest and best web page designs out there.

http://www.misspixies.com/index4.shtml

 

[a.sinatra]

What? Steal screenshots?

The idea itself.

Second, who cares if your design is "stolen"? Are you Microsoft? Are you Frank Lloyd Wright?

No. I am Anthony Sinatra, and i care if my time and effort directed into something becomes someone elses "creativity". What i mean is i'd like people to think for themselves (ask for ideas about single items).
________
R12

 

[Graham T]

Hootie318

This might also help you to find a few ideas -

User Interface Designs...

HTH

Graham

 

[tacieslik]

Anthony Sinatra, I'd say you've already wasted enough of your time with this comment alone!

 

[Rich]

For an example of using a theme to create a whole new interface design, I'll humbly direct you to a web page my brother designed. In my opinion, it is one of the freshest and best web page designs out there.

http://www.misspixies.com/index4.shtml

different

 

[Mile-O]

I am Anthony Sinatra, and i care if my time and effort directed into something becomes someone elses "creativity". What i mean is i'd like people to think for themselves (ask for ideas about single items).

Welcome to the grown up world.

Why do you answer questions and post code samples if you want to protect your creativity?

 

[Mile-O]

Get into an art class or something, thats where your creativity comes from.

No, that's inspiration. Creativity comes from asking questions.

 

[tacieslik]

Welcome to the grown up world.

Why do you answer questions and post code samples if you want to protect your creativity?

I'll second that!

 

[a.sinatra]

Welcome to the grown up world.

Why do you answer questions and post code samples if you want to protect your creativity?

Design creativity, its hard to come up with an original idea. With code and db's i find it relativily easy (less time), creativity comes from the time you have to imagine the idea, then more time to incorporate it into the application.
________
Bmw R 51/3

 

[Rich]

not everyone has a flair for design creativity

 

[Mile-O]

Design creativity, its hard to come up with an original idea. With code and db's i find it relativily easy (less time), creativity comes from the time you have to imagine the idea, then more time to incorporate it into the application.

How you'd like it to be
EMPLOYEE A: Hey, nice! I like the look of that database.
EMPLOYEE B: Thanks. I got some help off the internet.
EMPLOYEE A: Really. What site?
EMPLOYEE B: Oh! It wasn't exactly a site...
EMPLOYEE A: Huh?
EMPLOYEE B: It was someone on a site.
EMPLOYEE A: Who?
EMPLOYEE B: Anthony Sinatra
EMPLOYEE A: Oh, Anthony Sinatra. Database design guru! Wow!


How it really is...
EMPLOYEE A: Hey, nice! I like the look of that database.
EMPLOYEE B: Thanks. I got some help off the internet.
EMPLOYEE A: Really. What site?
EMPLOYEE B: Oh! It wasn't exactly a site...
EMPLOYEE A: Huh?
EMPLOYEE B: It was someone on a site.
EMPLOYEE A: Who?
EMPLOYEE B: Anthony Sinatra
EMPLOYEE A: Who?

 

[___]

Design creativity, its hard to come up with an original idea. With code and db's i find it relativily easy (less time), creativity comes from the time you have to imagine the idea, then more time to incorporate it into the application.

Creativity is offen called for to solve wicked problems.

Three Perspectives on Creativity:-

(1)Inspirationalists
emphasis: the remarkable "Aha!" movements (luck favours the prepared mind)

techniques
brainstorming
free association
lateral thinking
divergence


(2)Structuralists
emphasis - exhaustive exploration of possible solutions

techniques
studying of previous work
methodical techniques such as Polya's four steps
Understanding the problem
Devising a plan
Carrying out the plan
Looking back

(3)Situationalists
emphasis - social and intellectual context as the key part of the creative process

techniques/components of creativity
domain: a set of symbols, rules, and procedures
field which determines whether an new idea, performance, or product should be included in the domain
creative individual who sees a new idea or pattern


Levels of Creativity
Rare revolutionary events (breakthroughs and paradigm-shifting innovations)
Normal science - useful evolutionary contributions that refine and apply existing paradigms
Impromptu or personal creativity

 

[Kraj]

Graham - Great link! A lot of cool designs there.

That's what I'm talking about...it's a lot easier to get your own gears moving when you see something different. If all you see are symmetrical Field-Label-Button-Field-Label-Field-Label- ad nauseum designs over and over, it's much more difficult to think about a database that looks any other way.

 

[NachoMan]

I think Mile-O-Phile got it right in his last post.

We all can respect the pride you have in your own considerable creativity Mr. Sinatra. Unless you have just created something truly revolutionary (a la HAL 2000), however, you probably need not be so paranoid. I imagine that the original poster was just looking for some ideas, vice profitting from your genius.

Incidentally, your recommendation that he take an art class to get design inspiration gives me some notion as to your concept of interface design. I'm not at all an expert in interface design, but I imagine that any good design would consider the functionality of the system first (how the data is presented and interacted with). Your art class recommendation suggests that you focus primarily on aesthetics. I'll bet that your coveted interfaces all have a wonderful number of pretty pictures and colors (maybe cuddly pastels?). I am all about making an interface visually appealing, but it seems to me that that stuff comes afterward. I consider a beautifully painted interface to be useless if the design doesn't work with the data entry flow or fails to allow the user to navigate and search and retrieve data in an intuitive manner.

One last comment. Unless you have lived a fairly reclusive life, I imagine that you have come across ideas from all sorts of places. Being a member of this forum, you have undoubtedly profitted to some degree from the creativity of other members. Nobody is forcing you to give up your award-winning design concepts, but your posts honestly make you look silly; particularly the way you have persisted. That ridiculous and pedantic 'Perspectives On Creativity' post had me clutching my sides. I think that you and whoever wrote it need to go outside, get some fresh air and meet some people. Take it slow.

-Lou

 

[Mile-O]

That ridiculous and pedantic 'Perspectives On Creativity' post

Where's that? Or are you talking about ___'s?

 

[Debased]

Sorry I ever opened this thread!

I have noticed that the more dbs that I create they all look the same. Not exactly the same, but no matter how I try to alter the style or color scheme it is still sort of boring. Is there any where to go to get fresh ideas or is anyone willing to post pictures of their favorite swichboard or form design?

This is my first thread I have read on this site and I am sorry I ever opened it!

 

[Mile-O]

I'm style trying to work out where art/graphics came into it. I saw Hootie after a few screenshots (to which this thread can be a starting point) to get an idea of colour schemes and layout.