Tips on Layouts / Gameplay?

[GameDev]

So I'm sure you've all had the 'opportunity' to one of my infamous maps one time or the other, and they've clearly shown that my designs have flaws. I'm fine with detail and aesthetics, but when it comes to the core mechanics of a level I simply just am awful at it.

So I come to you fine gentlemen asking for assistance and advice; how do you guys usually go about designing a level / what works in a level and what doesn't? Where do you get your inspiration for layouts other than official maps? How can you tell if a layout is going to work or not?

Thanks.

Short answer: raw, guttural instinct.

Long answer: I play a lot of TF2. I play a lot of custom maps and I experiment a lot. When something in any map doesn't work, I try to think about why and how to fix it. I think fun is a transposition of familiar and unexpected elements and I seek to create that in my work. I made a lot of bad maps before I got where I am now. Learn to accept failure.

I dunno dude it's whatever