Well I've taken Dizi's advice and I have made a website template about motorbikes for an imaginary company called Fast Bikes. I designed it so I had something to put on my portfolios to show potential client what I can do.

 

CLICK HERE

 

Thank you in advance for CC

Hmm too much white, more bikes!

Not bad.

 

Heres 2 tips I have off the top of my head:

 

#1. The red background with text on it, with the lorem ipsum text... Reading anything over a red background is very hard on the eyes, and its not the most attractive colour.

 

#2. Just a small thing, but when all the small things add up it can really help your design. "The Latest from Harley Davidson"... That title text is aligned to the left side, but the image below it is centered, and the image above it spans the whole gap, so it is also can be considered centered.

 

Making the title there also centered will look more consistent and organized.

Oh yeah, and if you're going to make tonnes of templates, if you enjoy doing that, a site with lots of templates, and for a small price you will customize and get everything set up for them, could be a good business.

Well I've taken Dizi's advice and I have made a website template about motorbikes for an imaginary company called Fast Bikes. I designed it so I had something to put on my portfolios to show potential client what I can do.

 

CLICK HERE

 

Thank you in advance for CC

 

Whats the difference between a fun bike and a dirt bike, I know its dummy content but maybe you can use a different type of bike.

its a little plain design wise .

 

I like the background it reminds me of the grand pix flag which is good i guess, was that done on purpose ?

Whats the difference between a fun bike and a dirt bike, I know its dummy content but maybe you can use a different type of bike.

its a little plain design wise .

 

I like the background it reminds me of the grand pix flag which is good i guess, was that done on purpose ?

Yes of course!

Oh yeah, and if you're going to make tonnes of templates, if you enjoy doing that, a site with lots of templates, and for a small price you will customize and get everything set up for them, could be a good business.

That was pretty much my idea

That was pretty much my idea

 

Going to really need to step up your game before you start selling templates.

Going to really need to step up your game before you start selling templates.

 

Agreed Big time

Going to really need to step up your game before you start selling templates.

 

 

Yeah, to be good at it. Unfortunately I've seen many people make decent money being worse then a **** as a designer, like... Somehow these people must have been using something lower grade than ms paint (yeah... they actually had .bmp graphics in some places on the site).

 

I wouldn't get discouraged from selling templates, yeah templates are really competitive and there's millions out there, but people are stupid

Well Sam, you do seem to be improving with each site you make so the best advice I can give you would be to keep at it and keep practising to brush up on your skills. I like the idea of the motion blur on the reflection of the text but think the bike in the header would also benefit from the same effect. Just play around with different idea's and see what you like.

Well Sam, you do seem to be improving with each site you make so the best advice I can give you would be to keep at it and keep practising to brush up on your skills. I like the idea of the motion blur on the reflection of the text but think the bike in the header would also benefit from the same effect. Just play around with different idea's and see what you like.

Thanks

Thanks

 

Where did you get that BG

 

Ive been looking for some CarbonFibre Bg's for aages

Where did you get that BG

 

Ive been looking for some CarbonFibre Bg's for aages

This Explains it all

When I think of motorbikes I think of speed, thrills and excitement... Your site is the opposite of this. It looks too static and bland for what it's showcasing. Inject some life into it, make it look more dynamic. I'm not saying use flash or other animation, but better, more impacting imagery or action shots. Love the carbon fibre background though, cheers for the link!

A good start! Love the carbon fibre effect.

I agree with most of the above comments, ie too white - Have a play with a black background.

I think the "fast bikes" logo could do with being a bit bigger.

 

Also, I dont know whether it's just because it is a first mock, but I would change the headings maybe - first one moto-x/enduro? second - race? third - (as you have already got a photo of a crosser, you may want to change the actual image to something like custom road bikes, monkey/pit bikes)

 

Just a few ideas for you to play round with

I might have a go at doing something like this too (for the same imaginary company).

Agree with the above comments, re the whiteness. I'd also suggest having the Carbon Fibre background fixed rather than scrolling, as I feel it would look better, and be less distracting than it currently is.

 

Also, the main navigation looks very "lonely". Not sure what you could do about that tho tbh!

 

Keep smiling.

 

Scott

Agree with the above comments, re the whiteness. I'd also suggest having the Carbon Fibre background fixed rather than scrolling, as I feel it would look better, and be less distracting than it currently is.

 

Also, the main navigation looks very "lonely". Not sure what you could do about that tho tbh!

 

Keep smiling.

 

Scott

 

Very white, and your nav hover lags like hell.

 

Right, use a PNG Fix and use transparent PNG's. For one state use "top" and for hover or active use "bottom" and make the image big like on http://bookonlinecms.com/skins/BookOnlineC...ds/fpwhatis.png

 

You will get no preload problems or lag since the image is essentially the same image just moved.

 

Tonnes of white space which is a total killer. Checkout the latest web design trends too, the whole reflection thing is dead in the vast majority and overused like that kills a site.

 

"onload="MM_preloadImages('images/links/tabs_05.gif','images/links/tabs_06.gif','images/links/tabs_07.gif','images/links/tabs_08.gif'"

 

No offence but /giggle

 

Learn the true art of css

 

Give a div rounded corners using one image, top left, top right, bottom left, bottom right. one image - 4 corners. You can also px into an image but that's abit more complex if your just getting started.

 

@Molotov; TitanDSL Contacted you too? they had a theme they liked the look of but wasn't sure. Abit of a waste of time them lot.

Very white, and your nav hover lags like hell.

 

Right, use a PNG Fix and use transparent PNG's. For one state use "top" and for hover or active use "bottom" and make the image big like on http://bookonlinecms.com/skins/BookOnlineC...ds/fpwhatis.png

 

You will get no preload problems or lag since the image is essentially the same image just moved.

 

Tonnes of white space which is a total killer. Checkout the latest web design trends too, the whole reflection thing is dead in the vast majority and overused like that kills a site.

 

"onload="MM_preloadImages('images/links/tabs_05.gif','images/links/tabs_06.gif','images/links/tabs_07.gif','images/links/tabs_08.gif'"

 

No offence but /giggle

 

Learn the true art of css

 

Give a div rounded corners using one image, top left, top right, bottom left, bottom right. one image - 4 corners. You can also px into an image but that's abit more complex if your just getting started.

 

@Molotov; TitanDSL Contacted you too? they had a theme they liked the look of but wasn't sure. Abit of a waste of time them lot.

Ok, so I used photoshop to slice up my navigation bar and I didn't rename the images..... i'm a noob

The constructive criticism here covers pretty much anything I had to say, except that I want to reiterate what a vast improvement this is over the last design you brought here.

 

You have clearly learnt a lot and you have some really great ideas.

 

Have you read any of the top-notch web design books? I really think reading something like the principles of beautiful web design and transcending css will help you bring your ideas and concepts together better into more finished designs.

 

Again, you're improving a lot and I really look forward to seeing what you bring next!!

The constructive criticism here covers pretty much anything I had to say, except that I want to reiterate what a vast improvement this is over the last design you brought here.

 

You have clearly learnt a lot and you have some really great ideas.

 

Have you read any of the top-notch web design books? I really think reading something like the principles of beautiful web design and transcending css will help you bring your ideas and concepts together better into more finished designs.

 

Again, you're improving a lot and I really look forward to seeing what you bring next!!

 

Thanks that means a lot to me ErisDS, I haven't bought any books on web design simply because I have no money lol, regardless I have been looking a lot at CSS gallery websites for inspiration. Oh and www.webdesignerwall.com and even www.templatemonster.com

Money, schmoney. Go to your local library

 

They should have copies of those books around that you can borrow

 

The galleries are awesome for getting ideas and inspiration, and for keeping up with tricks and trends. Books are good for getting your head around the theory - plus they are way more interesting than boring textbooks

Thanks that means a lot to me ErisDS, I haven't bought any books on web design simply because I have no money lol, regardless I have been looking a lot at CSS gallery websites for inspiration. Oh and www.webdesignerwall.com and even www.templatemonster.com

 

 

You do not necessarily need a book to learn web design. If you have no money check out w3 schools they are amazing for a beginner

You do not necessarily need a book to learn web design. If you have no money check out w3 schools they are amazing for a beginner

No you don't need a book.. but w3 schools only teaches you the practical basics. The deep theoretics are often covered better by books (and blogs)... although you don't NEED them, they are useful tools.

 

And libraries are for folks who like to read books for free...

 

 

Are people too cool for libraries these days? It's been posted before...

The layout style makes me feel like it could turned into a small business 5 page informational site, with a few customizations to the content. Nothing spectacular but it works for a business on a small budget.

 

As for being poor, blogs and online tutorials are the way to go! I am anti books myself...save the trees

I have some books i use to help me out but now i mainly use online resources and tutorials because they are free and more up to date

I have some books i use to help me out but now i mainly use online resources and tutorials because they are free and more up to date

Yeah I did actually take a trip down to my local library but boy were some of the books there old. They had books on actionscript 1 lol!

Yeah.. I don't know about the UK but there is a system in the U.S. that is callled Inter-Library Loan and if you want a specific book then you submit a request on there website or at the library and in about a week they will have the book, and after the time is up it is sent back to the library it came from.

Yeah.. I don't know about the UK but there is a system in the U.S. that is callled Inter-Library Loan and if you want a specific book then you submit a request on there website or at the library and in about a week they will have the book, and after the time is up it is sent back to the library it came from.

wow, I wish they had that system over here, here in the UK your limited to which books they actually have in the library..

No you're not

 

It works exactly the same way!! When I said they should have copies of those books around... I meant some library somewhere should have copies that you should be able to request. Sorry for not being clearer.

 

If you have an account with your local library, try finding their online system. You should be able to make a request (might cost 50p or something though) for any book.

 

If they don't perhaps I'll have to start a web design book rental system! - There are some online rental systems too which you could try

No you're not

 

It works exactly the same way!! When I said they should have copies of those books around... I meant some library somewhere should have copies that you should be able to request. Sorry for not being clearer.

 

If you have an account with your local library, try finding their online system. You should be able to make a request (might cost 50p or something though) for any book.

 

If they don't perhaps I'll have to start a web design book rental system! - There are some online rental systems too which you could try

Thanks, I might ask for a few books for christmas , can you recomend any good titles?

Transcending CSS looks pretty Good, I thought about buying it then saw I had no money

Transcending CSS looks pretty Good, I thought about buying it then saw I had no money

oh that's book was written by the guy who created zen garden right?

Ya, I think it was, it looks really good

I've got it, it's awesome (transcending css) - not finished reading it but so far it's fab.

 

Not only packed with loads of interesting ideas, tips, concepts etc but littered with beautiful photography so it also serves as excellent inspiration.

 

I am completely self-taught and find that books often fill in gaps in my knowledge and consolidate concepts which reading random tutorials, blogs and other bits and pieces just doesn't do.

 

I'm really enjoying reading transcending css.. I'll post a full review when I'm done, but til then I thoroughly recommend it

I've got it, it's awesome (transcending css) - not finished reading it but so far it's fab.

 

Not only packed with loads of interesting ideas, tips, concepts etc but littered with beautiful photography so it also serves as excellent inspiration.

 

I am completely self-taught and find that books often fill in gaps in my knowledge and consolidate concepts which reading random tutorials, blogs and other bits and pieces just doesn't do.

 

I'm really enjoying reading transcending css.. I'll post a full review when I'm done, but til then I thoroughly recommend it

It looks like I'm going to have to buy it!

I've got it, it's awesome (transcending css) - not finished reading it but so far it's fab.

 

Not only packed with loads of interesting ideas, tips, concepts etc but littered with beautiful photography so it also serves as excellent inspiration.

 

I am completely self-taught and find that books often fill in gaps in my knowledge and consolidate concepts which reading random tutorials, blogs and other bits and pieces just doesn't do.

 

I'm really enjoying reading transcending css.. I'll post a full review when I'm done, but til then I thoroughly recommend it

 

Great! Can't wait for the review!

Money, schmoney. Go to your local library

 

They should have copies of those books around that you can borrow

 

The galleries are awesome for getting ideas and inspiration, and for keeping up with tricks and trends. Books are good for getting your head around the theory - plus they are way more interesting than boring textbooks

 

/SLAP

 

 

Sorry,NO, NO NO

 

You cannot learn Valid, Clean HTML Coding from a pissin library book, use the internet its full of free information, w3c.org is the best source.

 

SERIOUSLY, Library books that are 4 years old? A book in itself is atleast a year old from publishing, do you know how much changes in a year? Thats why you never listen to anything thats taught at schools and colleges in relation to technology, thats why a MSCE's Cert only lasts till the new OS and then they need to retake the stupid easy tests again.

 

You will learn frames and fontags from a book. www.w3c.org or w3c schools.

 

Start with HTML Strict.

 

I am 100% self taught and I've never read a book in my life, the best thing is to have a bash, because thats how you learn is by doing, and then when you want to learn how to do something, google it, MAGICAL! And the best thing is? there is always a answer, and its mega quick!