To succeed as a blogger, your platform has to stand out from the crowd. For years, creative types have been using design trends to separate themselves from the competition. However, the aesthetics have morphed into one over the years. It’s not that there isn’t a lot of choices because there is. No, it’s more that people copy the successful examples. With the level of competition these days, playing it safe doesn’t work. Designs have to be brutal, not just in effectiveness but in style too. If brutalism is a trend which you are looking to incorporate, here are the steps to consider.
Basic Code
Before you even get to the design, there is an important base to cover. Not many people realise this, but the code is one of the foundations of a brutal blog. Sites tend to have a simple markup and a lack of optimisation and that isn’t a coincidence. They also make the most out of inline styles. For the best results, this has to be taken care of at the base level of the blog. In simple terms, the code has to be raw to ensure that the platform appears crude, too. Of course, a professional might be essential if you are a novice.
Retro Fonts
Being brutal is about being as simplistic as possible. The information does all the talking and allows the user interface to take a back seat. Yep, this is a risky move in a day and age where interaction is very popular. However, remember that the people who are loyal to the blog love it because of its basic nature. Plus, lots of your traffic will fall in love with the fact that the site isn’t over the top. Brutal blogs are going back in time to Times New Roman and Calibri for this very reason.
Beige Colours
Obviously, an old font with the raw code would look unappealing to the most ardent brutalism fan. So, as always, colour is on hand to save the day. The right shades make the blog seem warm, fun and friendly, three important features. But, exotic hues aren’t the order of the day because they don’t fit with the basic style. Instead, forgotten colours such as greys and blues and reds are much apter forms of website design. Whites, creams and beiges are also three extras to add to the list. If they aren’t enough, you should play with the shapes on the page to add contrast.
Normal Images
To call an image brutal is harsh, so let’s go with normal. The pictures you want on your blog are the ones which remind people of a time before Instagram. Forget about the filters and the themes because a brutal blog needs to be real. As a result, you should upload images which are unedited and untouched. Also, try and take ‘an action shot’ to get a genuine snap which isn’t scripted. It’s hard to fight the temptation, but it’s a necessary evil.
Are you ready to be a brutal blogger? Hopefully, these tips will guide you through the process.
