[Fluffy Convict]

While cleaning an old harddrive, I came across an old website template my former businesspartner never finished but I have always been quite fond of. It was supposed to be for a company making encryption software, so he went with the theme of steel - taken from the Apple OS interface.

It must have been somewhere around 2003. Currently, this template is clearly outdated - temporary websites are wider and much more "open" - not anymore confined to a 650px box.

However, I would still like to use the concept for my own website, but it is heavily outdated. Do you have some pointers on how I could make this more contemporary without losing the concept of "steel plate"?

All help is greatly appreciated

[Shaney]

One thing I must say is it's too grey, it looks like windows 98.
I advise changing the color scheme a little to brighten it up a little

[shafi]

Change the color scheme of your template and use footer in this template.

[traxor]

The way that the website has been designed is a trend that occured in the late 90s, of having a massive vertical bar on the left as navigation, and content on the right. Since 1998, when CSS 2.0 came out, there have been major developments in cascading style sheets, we've even seen the release of 2.1, so now we can put more emphasis on design etc of websites. What I'm trying to get it, is that a design like that one, wouldn't be taken seriously, and people would think it's an old looking site. I'd go with a completely fresh, and new looking site, combining images and great layouts to it.

You can still keep the "brushed steel" look of your website, just update it, for example have navigation at the top as brushed steel, that's 100% wide, and about 35px high, with image rollovers on, and a set width content area beneath it, this sort of layout:

 Untitled_1.jpg (50.57K)
Number of downloads: 1

[Fluffy Convict]

traxor, on Jan 10 2009, 13:14, said:

The way that the website has been designed is a trend that occured in the late 90s, of having a massive vertical bar on the left as navigation, and content on the right. Since 1998, when CSS 2.0 came out, there have been major developments in cascading style sheets, we've even seen the release of 2.1, so now we can put more emphasis on design etc of websites. What I'm trying to get it, is that a design like that one, wouldn't be taken seriously, and people would think it's an old looking site. I'd go with a completely fresh, and new looking site, combining images and great layouts to it.

I completely agree with you, there.

Quote

You can still keep the "brushed steel" look of your website, just update it, for example have navigation at the top as brushed steel, that's 100% wide, and about 35px high, with image rollovers on, and a set width content area beneath it, this sort of layout [...]

That's an idea...much like the navigation over at Apple. However, the idea of "solid, steel plate...impenetrable software" is then less strong. Aren't there any examples of websites who combine modern webdesign (such as what you speak of) with different layouts -- layouts somewhat similar to my old design, where all content is "encapsulated" by the steel plate?

[traxor]

I doubt you'll find any modern websites using the same style that you want, you could have a flick through www.designshack.co.uk to see some examples of modern works of web art.

[Peter000]

Hi

It is old hat, but I can see why you are so fond of it.

I would follow the advice of Traxor and also read the section relating to Typography with great care. I took hold of someone’s Portfolio recently, reduced it by half and doubled their workload.

I cannot overstress the importance of getting it right from the off. Even the first visitor will return if the right words are on the hook, because that's life.

I think that yesterday template has the right appearance, but just needs to get modern.

I am snowed under with looking at words, never mind writing them.

Good luck

[Daniel Hegarty]

You can keep the brush steal look by bringing it to the foreground and use it on buttons. but I would say make the steal lighter to stop the site looking grey and maybe use a simple background like plane white.

well thats what i would do anyway.

i think traxor has it right with the layout.

Dan