[Gabz]

Hi, I'd just like to preface this post by saying I'm new to this forum so go easy on me...

I am a freelance graphic designer based in Leeds (UK) and I've recently moved my portfolio site on to a Wordpress installation. Any design, content or coding feedback would be much appreciated.

www.tocproductions.co.uk

Thanks

[Helen]

I like the style
It's just a little......white - though this may be interpreted as clean.

[traxor]

It's nice and simple, easy on the eyes. However, the logo seems to look a little out of place, especially as it's 3D, perhaps make it a little more "flat".

[T_break]

Hi, and welcome to the forum,

I'm sorry but i'm not keen, the coffee ring stains seem to be a bit out of place had the whole site been a grunged up handwritten crumpled paper kind of site it would have sat right in, but unfortunatley it just looks out of place.

Your portfolio is all clean clear cut stuff so probably will be best to take your showcase in that direction too.

[Gabz]

Wow, thanks for the speedy replies.

Yeah I agree with Helen's comments about it being a little too white. I am hoping to, when I get more time add more 'texture' to the site and thats why i dropped the rather clichéd coffee ring at the top. Kind of a work in progress that i'll play with when I'm not busy doing other stuff.

Hmmmmm...

[traxor]

To be honest I like the coffee stains, they really do add some texture to the site, however I think if you have those then there should be other references throughout the site, like splashes of coffee on the pages or something, just so they look like they belong a little bit more.

[traxor]

smoothonline, on Dec 11 2008, 20:41, said:

hi

i like your site but i agree the coffee stains would look better on a site with a crumpled paper effect, at moment they kind of stand out like a sore thumb.

i like the fact your site has taken the time to be more personal.... and i think you managed to maintain being professional at the same time.

The only comments i have on your portfolio is that there is alot of white in your designs, maybe try to add a bit more variety.

char

That's exactly what I mean, if you get the site looking like that then it'd be awesome. Realistic sites are the future!

[Gabz]

Thanks for the comments guys (and girls) it's always difficult to be objective with your own brand because you have so much rapped up in what you've done. I think i'll try taking it in a 'realistic' feel direction and see what happens.

[MacDesign]

Hello
Your looks good and clean. Easy to navigate and user friendly. Coffee stains are fine. Maybe the image you have on the sides, you can put something related to the coffee stains.

[wizely]

I think there's a nice site there but it feels like you've felt the need to chuck some extra texture in that didn't evolve with the original design so it looks a little disjointed. I mean that I'm having trouble marrying the clean lines with the grungy background and coffee stains. I think you're better off losing them and making the whole site light, clean and crisp - which works well for graphic design sites. There's also something a little off-balance about the whitespace... too much in some places.
IMHO it just needs some tweaking and maybe changing the background here and there.

One thing you MUST change:

Quote

About me (if your interested)

Get rid of the "(if your interested)" - it sounds flippant and petulant! If you disagree then at least change it to "you're"!


I know you're a graphic designer but your copy isn't selling me anything or creating you a brand - give it some personality, help tie together all those different portfolio pieces and make me buy from you with stronger, punchier text. Or just passively stick some piccies up on the net and hope people hook themselves!

[bumfluff]

wizely, on Dec 12 2008, 01:57, said:

I think there's a nice site there but it feels like you've felt the need to chuck some extra texture in that didn't evolve with the original design so it looks a little disjointed. I mean that I'm having trouble marrying the clean lines with the grungy background and coffee stains. I think you're better off losing them and making the whole site light, clean and crisp - which works well for graphic design sites.

I loved it when it was still loading... just the text, without images. It was really different and interesting, nice and airy-feeling. Then the background and stuff loaded and I was like, "bugger.."

[sunlight]

This word-press thing seems popular, but is it a good idea to have a link to it on your porfolio?

About the design, i like as stated the coffee rings do stick out a bit too much.

[Peter000]

Hi

Why not show off your talents with a few coffee cup stains.

It’s something different and more so original.

Looks great to me.

[Webee]

I would choose larger thumbnails for your portfolio area.
I think you should change the color scheme a bit. I would change the white background either to light brown or light orange. So it corresponds to your logo or lest and right sides of your blog.

[Gabz]

Hey, I've taken the page back to the it's original styling with clean, open space. Do people prefer it like this or has it gone too clean?

Feedback appreciated.

[nickyoung]

It's a clean layout to work with. Get that side bar under control, it was shouting wordpress/blog to me. Remove it and get something useful and relevant to aid with navigation. The banner was nice, kept me busy. For most part I want to see more content though. I felt a bit unguided/lost looking through the content.

[Frisby]

I think that there should be some reference to the name Tea or Coffee in the layout. The October 21st post where it explains the name won't be there forever, so people will be left wondering what it stands for. If I were you I'd add a picture of a tea/coffee mug to the top bar with the asterisk, maybe instead of the asterisk. Or, I would put silhouetted teacups beside the name. That would help fill in all the white area. Also, the asterisk after Productions leaves me feeling like I have to search ever margin and cranny for the other one, since the big logo of an asterisk doesn't give me any more information.

[Cats Corporation]

I think these three sections:

About Me

Tic Toc What?

Tea or Coffee?

...are better of as separate web pages, IMHO.