Designer's block

I seem to be suffering from the web designer's equivalent of writer's
block. A new client contracted me to do a branding site for their product
and am excited about working with them. The client's objectives for the
site are as clear as can be expected for a branding site. And yet my mind
is a total blank, something that has never happened before.

Fortunately the client hasn't yet asked me to show any work in progress.
But as the days go on and all I can do is stare comatose at a blank screen
I am getting sweaty palms.

Has anyone else had this problem? How did you break the mental log jam and
get some ideas flowing?

For the terminally curious, the objective for his particular site is to
present their product, a soft drink, to a new market the company is
expanding into. The concept is to differenciate the product from Coke et
al by aiming for a niche market and stressing the family owned nature of
the business, the 45 years of tradition behind the product, the "we're not
too big to do it with care" angle, etc. I mention this simply to
underscore that the client has given me sufficient direction and that I
have no excuse to be blanking out like I am.

--
Warren Post
Santa Rosa de Copán, Honduras
http://srcopan.vze.com/

Warren Post wrote:

I seem to be suffering from the web designer's equivalent of writer's
block. A new client contracted me to do a branding site for their product
and am excited about working with them. The client's objectives for the
site are as clear as can be expected for a branding site. And yet my mind
is a total blank, something that has never happened before.

Fortunately the client hasn't yet asked me to show any work in progress.
But as the days go on and all I can do is stare comatose at a blank screen
I am getting sweaty palms.

Start by copying their paper advertisements. Morph from there.

--
jmm (hyphen) list (at) sohnen-moe (dot) com
(Remove .AXSPAMGN for email)

The previous post gives a very solid idea: use previously created
collateral from print and other mediums. That should get you started.

But I have to think that if your at a loss on where to begin, that's
because you have not yet thoroughly formulated your ideas on what it is
you are trying to achieve/communicate with this project.

Since this is a web site, start first by creating the site
architecture. What pages will there need to be? Which are realted? (It
may be useful to write each 'thing' (ie, ingredients, about, contact,
merchandise, etc) down on a seperate index card. Then stack the index
cards into piles of related material. That should give you a very good
idea of your navigation.)

Start desiging the lowest-level pages first, saving the "home page" for
last. Where will the logo go? The navigation? Content?

For creative inspiration, try prowling the web (for example,
http://www.alvit.de/blog/article/the-sites-you-shouldnt-have-missed-in-2005)

Or that's my two pesos worth.