Hi, this is my first post and i'm hoping to learn a lot about web design from here . Well i'm definetly more of a coder when it comes to web stuff and in fact i'm terrible at design. I just don't have the "talent" or whatever it is to make something look right etc and i'm working on a website now which i can't get to look right at all.

 

I've been through about 3 different designs already and i just don't like what i do. I've looked at god knows how many templates/websites/tutorials and it just doesn't help. I'm making an antiques website which will be used to sell antiques on. If i can fix the design side of this website then i will be away and happy days because i'm comfortable with everything else. Here it is so far, any tips would be greatly appreciated as i've been trying to do the design for months!

When I first started I was exaclty the same so don't worry it comes....

I am no way near as good at this as some here but here comes my two pennies.

 

I think a nice serif font for your heading in the banner. I like the brown but think maybe you need a touch of a nice deep red maybe.... #560B16 in the thin pale stripes in the banner.

 

I like using Colour Scheme Generator and have found a palette which you could maybe play with for your site > http://colorschemedesigner.com/#5x41Go8hxw0w0 - but don't go crazy I think just a touch of another colour.

 

Another tool which might help you is this > http://www.typetester.org/ which helps you to play around with fonts and decide on one by comparing.

 

The layout is nice and clean but it feels a bit too empty.... pop some text in to help you see how it balances.

 

I hope this helps you and I will help you more if i can

 

Edit: maybe a logo somewhere?

 

Didot italic is quite a nice font maybe..

Thanks for the reply, i'm glad i'm not the only one who has problems . Those links were good thanks. I added some content into the box area in the middle and stuck a bar down the bottom and it looks okish but there's still something that just doesn't feel right about the overall page.

Yeah i think you're right...

 

The content and the menus need a bit of moving around i think.

 

The content needs to be a little bit wider....could you put all the navigation on one side..see how it looks?

I would make more use of typography to make the site stand out more.

 

You could also try adding lines to separate the different sections.

 

Just try out different styles and take a look at what others do for inspiration. It will come right eventually, you just have to keep at it.

Try using a grid template to help you balance the elements on the page.

 

The 960 grid system is very common, you can download photoshop and other templates from the site, or make your own.

 

However, a website isn't a website without any content - it's just a picture. Focus on text and typography and let the site design flow from there.

Thanks for the replies everyone .

 

By typography you mean different fonts and sizes?

 

I've tried moving things around but nothing else really looked that great to be honest. By the way i don't really understand how that 960 grid system can help? I'm thinking of scrapping the design and starting again but i've done that twice already and i can't keep doing that

I think your header is far too big as there isn't anything going on in it other than the text (which as Guezala said might look a bit better as a serif font). The spacing between the header and the content is a little too big in my opinion. I also think the content area is too small and that the left and right columns need to be made narrower to make room for it.

 

Also as Guezala said I'd throw atleast one other colour in there.

Don't scrap and start again. Work from what you've got.

 

I think possibly some images as well maybe the left handside.... something to fit the theme...tree, leaves maybe? To go with the autumnal colours...

 

I am on msn and am quite happy to help you out while i am online. My first website I changed about six times before going live and just changed it again! And what you have posted is a about a million times better

 

Do you have an image editor? You could make an image of what you have there using different layers and move them about to see how they look and then code it when you are happy with it's feel.

 

I know a lot of ppl here say pencil and paper but for me I am so rubbish at drawing I just can't see past my scribblings

Thanks for all the feedback. Now that i think about it i think cabbage is right, the header is probably the worst bit which is funny because when i started out i liked that part but now it just doesn't fit with the rest of the website. I'll work on making the middle wider as well.

 

Yeah i use photoshop but to be honest i'm not that great with it.

This post might help you too.... http://www.webdesignerforum.co.uk/index.ph...;hl=css+process

 

I would suggest playing around with the design anyway whether it be pencil and paper or ps. You know where I am but not sure if i can help with photoshop as i use gimp

I like using Colour Scheme Generator and have found a palette which you could maybe play with for your site > http://colorschemedesigner.com/#5x41Go8hxw0w0 - but don't go crazy I think just a touch of another colour.

 

Another tool which might help you is this > http://www.typetester.org/ which helps you to play around with fonts and decide on one by comparing.

Those links are fantastic, thanks so much for them.

 

Steve25: Perhaps for a little visual interest you could create so simple art nouveau styled silhouette design for the header, the art has always struck me as a possessing a nice simple and organic feel with a lot of visual punch.

 

I found this with a quick google search, i love this sort of stuff:

 

I did an auction site before, sadly it was never used. Alas the client had paid for it, and unfortunately you can't have it as a freebie.

 

However you could maybe take a look and see someone elses "twist" on an auction site.

 

You can see it here

 

http://alistairrossini.com/temps/LiveAuction/

 

and

 

http://alistairrossini.com/temps/LiveAuction/auctions.html

 

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Hi sorry for the late reply.

 

I decided to scrap that design and create another one. This is what i have so far. I think it's ok at the moment but i'm not yet happy with the navigation on the left but i'm not entirely sure how to make it better. What are your opinions?