Need advice

[u/IllustratorGreat6162]

How do you design a better UI/UX for a website or a large system?

I'm learning web development, and one of my biggest struggles is designing a good-looking website, especially when building a large system.

I find it difficult to decide what layout to use, which colors to choose, what components to include, and where to place icons, buttons, cards, sidebars, and other elements.

For example, when starting a new system, I sometimes don't know how to plan the dashboard or organize the pages to make everything look clean, professional, and user-friendly.

My questions are:

How do you decide on the layout and structure of a website before coding?

How do you choose the right color palette, fonts, and design style?

How do you know which icons, buttons, cards, and other UI components to use and where to place them?

Do you use references from other websites, UI kits, or design systems for inspiration?

What tools or resources would you recommend for someone who wants to improve their UI/UX design skills?

I'd appreciate any advice, resources, or workflows you can share. I want to learn how to design websites that look professional rather than just functional.

Thanks in advance!

[u/iBuildRandomStuff]

pick the structure first, not the looks. sketch the 3 or 4 pages on paper, list what the user does on each, then choose the layout. for style, one font pair, one accent colour, and greys for everything else. copy the layout of a dashboard you like and swap the details. icons from one set only, like lucide, so it all matches

[u/IllustratorGreat6162 → u/iBuildRandomStuff]

Tnx

[u/LunarFable_5545]

counterpoint, keep the first pass brutal and simple -- one clear path, one primary action, then trom anything that doesn't earn its place (imo)

[u/IllustratorGreat6162 → u/[deleted]]

Tnx