Web designer secrets: 10 tips to save you time and effort

[51CTO.com Quick Translation] Web designers often run multiple projects at the same time, so the time and energy spent on each project is limited, and the money spent on each project must also be carefully calculated. After all, everyone wants to save as much time and money as possible on a project. In addition, excellent time management makes the design process easier. The mission of designers is to use less time and come up with more ways to create excellent websites. Below we will share with you some design trends to help designers achieve this goal.

1. Use the same command to select similar elements

The same command in the illustration may seem mundane, but it can be very helpful in saving time. It allows you to select identical elements, such as all objects with a certain fill color. To make the most of this trend, you should use a keyboard shortcut cheat sheet to help you navigate the site better.

2. Customize your workspace in the design application

Before you start designing, it is important to prepare the necessary tools and panels, which can also speed up your workflow. However, the tools and panels you choose also depend on the project you are working on. Setting up the workspace is to adapt to your personal needs and the needs of the project, making your work process more efficient and smooth. Try different settings to find the best configuration for your project.

3. Custom Design Applications

In Adobe applications, many program settings are stored, but not everyone agrees on the same best options, so they may not be what you are happy to use. Maybe the settings provided here cannot help you achieve your design goals. Therefore, setting preferences in the design program will help you achieve the best design. This will bring you the design program that best suits your plan.

4. Create a custom sample library

Creating a custom swatch library will help with the widespread use of color management. In the design process, the choice of color is an important factor for success. If you can't control the color well, your design may fail miserably, which is why you need to interpret your project with color appropriately. This trick will not only help you achieve success, but also save you a lot of time.

5. Put common graphics into documents for future use

Some elements are repeated from one project to another, including logos, symbols, icons, etc. You need to save these common elements in an Illustrator or PS so that you can easily find them when you use them in the future. This way you don’t have to spend too much time searching for icons or symbols that you have designed in the past.

6. Right click and select the layer

Here's another little trick to help you save time in your design, and it's also very useful when you're positioning layers. When selecting a layer through the Layers panel with a document without scrolling, hover over the object you want to select and then right-click it. This will display multiple layers, and you can then select the one you need from them.

7. Create your own keyboard shortcuts

Start learning the keyboard shortcuts that designers are used to, and put them into practice. Then you can create your own shortcuts, which will save you a lot of time. It's like you used to use Control+C and Control+V, but there are more shortcuts that can be set, which will significantly increase your efficiency. Most designers want to use shortcuts to maximize their efficiency, so most of them set their own shortcuts.

8. Merge multiple layers into folders

For web designers, it is a good idea to label and organize layers into folders. This way you can easily navigate through the folders and move the required layers to the required location. You can set up a sidebar, top bar, bottom bar, or any design that is convenient for your work, and then this group of layers can be easily moved.

9. Use batch processing

Batch processing can help you save a lot of time when dealing with a large number of layers and files. Batch processing is obviously much more convenient than clicking on the files one by one. The Automation Panel will allow you to apply the same operation to images or folders.

10. Use an image processor to resize a set of images

Just like batch processing, resizing a group of images with Image Processor can save you time. You can use Image Processor to select a folder or open all the images, resize them, and save them to the location of your choice, rather than having to painstakingly resize and save each image one by one.

Saving time is very important in your design process. Especially when you take on many projects at the same time, it is very exciting to complete the design quickly. That's why various design trends are ensuring that designers can complete projects quickly. Try a few tricks at a time, and then master them one by one, I believe you can complete your design goals on schedule even under tight deadlines!

Author: Darrel Henry
Original link:
http://codecondo.com/10-design-trends-that-will-save-you-time/
Translated by Liu Nina

[Translated by 51CTO. Please indicate the original translator and source as 51CTO.com when reprinting on partner sites]