Designing as a developer in 2018

Creating visually appealing websites is crucial for making a positive first impression, and even developers without a formal art education can achieve this by focusing on key design principles such as color, light, and typography. Semi-skeuomorphism, a blend of skeuomorphic and flat design, is highlighted as a popular approach in modern web design, utilizing shadows and gradients to create depth and focus. For color, subtlety is emphasized, recommending grayscale backgrounds with selective use of primary colors for attention-grabbing sections, while avoiding pure black for text. Light is used strategically through gradients and shadows to establish hierarchy and highlight elements, ensuring consistency in light source direction and shadow opacity. Typography should maintain a consistent hierarchy with limited typefaces, reserving stylistic fonts for logos and ensuring body text remains legible with appropriate spacing. These guidelines aim to provide developers with a foundational understanding of design principles to enhance their frontend projects without the need for extensive design expertise.