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ri ki

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Umemura Farm Website – Devlog #14: Designing with Intuition And a Bit of Watercolor

Today's Progress: From Frustration to a Design I Love

Yesterday, I wasn’t happy with the layout I created. It felt uninspired and didn’t visually communicate what I wanted.

So today, I looked up some design articles and tried following one that seemed promising.

I built the section according to its suggestions, but it still didn’t feel right.

Scrapped. Again.


When in Doubt, Think Like a Fashion Design Worked

Instead of giving up, I changed my approach entirely.

I started treating the layout like fashion styling: adding a detail, removing another, trying something bold, then simplifying again.

And that’s when it happened. By chance, I landed on a composition that really resonated with me.

The result:

A design that feels clean, vibrant, and unmistakably mine. I’m genuinely happy with it.


The Concern: Am I The Only One Who Likes This Design?

While I like the design, I can’t help but wonder if it reflects my personal taste a little too strongly.

Will it appeal to users? Or is it just something I find beautiful?

It’s a delicate balance, especially for a product-oriented landing page.


Highlighting Freshness with Watercolor Motifs

To visually express the freshness of the asparagus, I added a subtle watercolor-style dot pattern on top of the problem section.

  • I lowered the opacity
  • Made sure it blended naturally with other design elements
  • And used soft transitions to keep the vibe organic and light

It’s a small detail, but it really helps the page feel alive.


Other Touches: Typography and Layout Polish

Beyond the visual experimentation, I also focused on:

  • Adjusting font sizes for better responsiveness
  • Fine-tuning margins and paddings to ensure a clean rhythm across breakpoints
  • Making sure everything looks intentional and balanced

Up Next

Tomorrow, I’ll shift gears and begin working on two new sections:

  • The Contact page
  • The base of Farm Stay introduction section

The goal is to get the basic layout structure in place, even if the content isn't final yet.


Some days it feels like nothing works.

Other days, a good idea comes from the most unexpected place like fashion, or watercolor textures.

I’m learning to embrace both.


Date: June 23, 2025
tags: portfolio, design, css, webdev, uiux

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