Discussion: The Art of Blog Designing

Today I have three very special guests on the blog. Not only are they certified bookworms and awesome-sauce bloggers but they are also super-talented blog designers.
They are here to to share their expertise on the art of blog designing. Say hello to:

Amelia Robinson of The Authoress and Visualesque

Stephanie of Hopeless Romantics

Mitchii of Aeropapers!

Q1: When did you start designing blogs? And what inspired you to do so?

Amelia: I have been designing blogs as long as I've been blogging so that would be going on five years now.  I was a graphic designer for various sites before I was a blogger, and also I had spent a fair amount of time on RPG sites so I knew a respectable amount of understanding of codes.  I didn't have the money to put towards a custom design (I'm too changeable for that, anyhow) and I couldn't find any pre-made templates that suited me very well.  So I started tinkering.  Well designed blogs made by fantastic designers were my teachers.

Stephanie: I started designing blogs for other people about a month after I started my own blog, which was August of last year. I started designing blogs because I wanted to practice HTML and CSS for college. I'm currently majoring in web design and computer programming.

Mitchii: Designing blogs for other people just started last December but I’ve been designing my blog since 2010. I was so uncomfortable with pre-made templates. I wanted something that’s totally mine so I decided to learn how to design a wordpress theme and that’s where it all started. When I saw Emily and she wanted a custom made WP theme I decided to help her out. I really didn’t expect that other people will want my services. It was really mind blowing.

Q2: What is your favorite look for book blogs?

Amelia: My design style is minimalist but that is because I am limited by what I don't know.  But as for the designs I admire, I am a fan of anything and everything that is put together in a logical way.  I say "logical" instead of "non-cluttered" because even cluttered looking designs can look fantastic.

Stephanie: I do love the cute and colorful book blogs. Honestly, I'm not very picky on the "theme" of your blog as long as it's not cluttered. If I have to wait forever for your sidebar and posts to load, I'm going to hit the backspace button. My favorite blog design would probably be Lit Up Review. 

Mitchii: Minimalism accentuated by pastel colors or watercolor elements. I love simple design especially for blogs. Blog is a whole different platform than a normal website. You have to make sure that the content will standout while still leaves a good impression from your visitor. I’m always a big believer of less is more.

Q3: What elements would you consider as 'sidebar essentials'? Is there anything else that you think a blog design MUST include?

A New Design, A New Co-Blogger & A Giveaway!

A Relaunch?

Blogging is an amazing thing.Seriously.Trying to put into words how awesome this whole experience had been for me is pretty much impossible.

Blogging has given me the opportunity to rave and rant about books without sounding like a complete retard.And when I discovered that I wasn't alone in my craziness?Heaven.I started back in November,the welcome and support from all other bloggers and other lovers of all things book-ish has been awesome.

But.There's always a but isn't there?The whole 'meeting other bloggers,chatting with all my fave authors and stumbling across new books' thing has been epic.But I'd be lying if I say that all of it has been great.All those bazillion review requests,blog tours,social networking and all the other things that I unwittingly signed up for has been draining.

With a full time job and a life outside the blogosphere(quit smirking-I do have one) it has been tough to post regularly and meet the deadlines.And the worst part?I had to cut back on my blog-stalking and reading time! *gasp*