It looks like the sleek, Web 2.0 style website design was the most popular request on last week’s poll. This is not surprising since these types of designs are very popular right now, or in the very least, the core components of them are popular: simplicity, typography, whitespace, and a close attention to proximity.

There are a lot of things you can do with texture in web design, and it’s always an inspiring challenge to think of interesting ways of utilizing them. One of my favorite inspiration methods is nature, and what a better way to use nature in web design than to look at alternative views of nature through texture.

I’ve collected 40, relatively large textures created by nature under the categories of rock, leaves, water, ice, wood, animal skins/fur, feathers, grass, and sand. With the shapes, depth, and color nature can create on it’s own, using these textures to create art is only a small step away.

Alignment is one of the most important features in design in that it adds to the organization and usability of a web page. Even with all other elements in good condition, such as a great use of color, effective use of typography, and visually appealing balance, a bad use of alignment can make a website layout look cluttered.

While most designers understand this principle, many don’t see that they’re not achieving it effectively. I will go over the basics of alignment in this article, but also be sure to use specific examples and ideas for designers who have a grasp of alignment, to achieve an even better understanding.

Logo design is an essential skill for any web designer to know, whether you sell designs professionally or just maintain your own website. It’s a great branding tool, and a great way for visitors to remember your website, or your client’s website.

I always seem to find two flaws relating to logos when web designers are just starting out. The first (and the worst) is when an aspiring professional designer does not understand the importance of a logo. Any client is going to want a logo implemented into their design, and it’s important to understand a logo’s great impact nonetheless. The second is when a new web designer tries to make a logo, but it’s not really a logo. It’s a banner, a header, or just an image.

Let’s define a bit better what a logo is, by defining the elements of a good logo.

Typography is sometimes overlooked in web design, or in most cases, considered, but not considered nearly enough. Text is everywhere, from web design, to t-shirts, posters, and signs. The elements of a font can influence and determine how a viewer perceives a design, just as much as images, color, and other more noticeable web elements.

Attention to detail is the best policy for making great designs. It’s fairly easy to get a basic CSS layout up and running, whether you code it yourself or borrow it from a blank template site. For anyone who’s tried to make a great design, though, they can easily tell that making the design truly great is the hardest part. If you find yourself always displeased with your finished result, perhaps the problem is that you shouldn’t actually be finished.

I often see webmasters who complain that they don’t have a ‘knack’ for the design element to creating websites. What most people don’t realize, though, is that design skills are a learned aspect for even the greatest designers. Nobody is born a great artist, whether their talents included an easel or a web design template.

In order to create good designs, especially in web design where functionality is so important, one needs to understand design principles. These include understanding color, size, contrast, shape, and what I’m going to be focusing on today, balance.

There are plenty of trends in web design, from wooden, to large background, and to barely there. One though that has been growing especially in 2008 is the hand-drawn style. This, ’sketchy’ style is used on many websites, but still provides an original touch to any design.

In this post I’ve collected a few of the greater hand-drawn designs on the web today, as well as resources and a few tips on how you can achieve this style for yourself.