We recently had a design overhaul for Study Driving, formerly a personal site of mine, which Splashpress Media acquired. As with a host of other blogs in the network, Study Driving was redesigned by my fellow contributor here, Ia Lucero.

When we were conceptualizing the design, I was initially thinking of something with lots of red, to symbolize that speed look (usually attributed to driving). But I let Ia have a free hand at what she would do with the site.

And so the result: something bold, but in a subdued kind of way. Presenting the new Study Driving:

It’s bold because of the use of the stylized automobile on the header. And the use of the checkered pattern reminds one of either a checkered flag or carbon fibre–of course, both associated with motorsports.

The site is subdued, meanwhile, because of the heavy use of monochrome–black, white and grey all over. There are several colored items, but the majority of the site is in shades of grey.

I know the trend these days is for big, bold typefaces in bright colors over a white (or very light) backdrop. But it seems that dark background sites are having a comeback.