We finally have some nice weather in upstate New York, and with the Red Sox game on in the other room and an 83 degree reading on the thermometer, I'm taking a break from the sun and taking in some web design inspiration. My idea of recharging on this long Memorial Day weekend is to check out some of the trends in website layouts, navigation, colors, and design - so that I can bring these elements into my work when the long weekend is up.

One of the great websites for design inspiration is vandelaydesign.com - check out their blog here. On the right side of the page, you'll notice a list of lists; several posts dedicated to highlighting quality designs in different categories like nonprofits, ecommerce, and color profiles (dark, light, colorful, etc.). I like to check out VandelayDesign.com when I'm reeling for inspiration.

When you're looking for inspiration for your own website, make sure to research what others are doing within your industry. What are the standard calls to action? How many levels of navigation are acceptable? Where should your contact information and other landing pages show up? But always remember - a successful website is about collecting leads and making sales. So no matter how beautiful the design, if it's not generating numbers for your business, it might be a waste of virtual space.

Happy grilling!