Hello

 

Please have a look at this site and let me know what you think. Only the home page is up. The copy is not the exact wording but something along those lines. Photographs are also just placeholders until the people send me there own photo's.

 

Thanks

Cara

From a graphic design perspective I don't like it. It appears flat. The grey background does not work at all with the green (maybe try a light green (#CAE8A2 or #D9FFA9 perhaps?)). The typography is also uninspiring, try making use of <h1> tags to draw attention to key areas and maybe use two columns for the text to make it more appealing to read.

As I am a vegetarian, the content/subject of the site puts me off straight away.

 

Plus the site looks too old school man, If I hadn't looked at the source I would have thought it was made using a WYSIWYG software.

 

You need some more images and use your creativity more, I know it's hard but if you focus and research you'll get there!

From a graphic design perspective I don't like it. It appears flat. The grey background does not work at all with the green (maybe try a light green (#CAE8A2 or #D9FFA9 perhaps?)). The typography is also uninspiring, try making use of <h1> tags to draw attention to key areas and maybe use two columns for the text to make it more appealing to read.

Thanks for your thoughts Kev. I am looking at the background, must say I agree with you. Also appreciate your comments on the typography and agree in general however must point out that you can not use <h1> more than once on a document.

As I am a vegetarian, the content/subject of the site puts me off straight away.

Well at least you can know the animals were happy before they were slaughtered!

 

Plus the site looks too old school man, If I hadn't looked at the source I would have thought it was made using a WYSIWYG software.

 

You need some more images and use your creativity more, I know it's hard but if you focus and research you'll get there!

 

So basically you are saying it is a bit boring. Mmm bit difficult as I originally had quite a cool grass on top with happy cows grazing and then an underground theme thing going with the content and what not. It just seemed a bit macabre! Also the client wants something in line with his pamphlete so went with a more stayed look. Anyway, I think a bit more about it!

Well at least you can know the animals were happy before they were slaughtered!

 

 

 

So basically you are saying it is a bit boring. Mmm bit difficult as I originally had quite a cool grass on top with happy cows grazing and then an underground theme thing going with the content and what not. It just seemed a bit macabre! Also the client wants something in line with his pamphlete so went with a more stayed look. Anyway, I think a bit more about it!

 

In fairness thats a little insensitive to whats been said; hes merely stating it wouldnt be appealing to him and a large selection of people who were vegetarians.

 

Id agree with whats been said, the design is bland and boring, it doesnt make me want to read and the font for example on the side bar looks ugly as hell.

In fairness thats a little insensitive to whats been said; hes merely stating it wouldnt be appealing to him and a large selection of people who were vegetarians.

 

I'm not sure that vegetarians are a user group worth worrying about here, however good the site is.

Was not intending to be insensitive to any vegetarians. Sorry

 

All said and done, agree the site is boring so working on a re-draft. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I am more or less at that stage where I can achieve more or less what I want on the coding end, but my design skills are somewhat lacking. Further to find something inspiring on this particular topic is proving a challenge in and of itself

Also the client wants something in line with his pamphlete so went with a more stayed look.

 

Most of the time the graphical design of a website will need to match the clients already produced leaflets/pamphletes etc.. you have to keep them happy at the end of the day.

 

As already pointed out though, use Headings, also try positioning the images amoungst the text (aligned left or right) rather than centering in between paragraphs.

 

Did you design the logo? Apart from that it's lekker! (my attempt at SA slang)

Hi guys. Thanks for the feedback. I have had another go at this design and have come up with something new. Please take another look and let me know what you thing. LINK

 

Baie Dankie Danny!

The background is a problem in my opinion. Perhaps try puting a shadow around the contents and fading out the brickwork a bit? I don't think the white horizontal line either side of the header is a good idea!

Ditto on the white horizontal line either side of header. It kind of detracts from any impact the header could make.

 

I like the page look overall, but I'm not keen on the brickwork background, regardless of colour really. Unless this is something that the client wants that relates specifically to their leaflets, etc, then I would change the brick background to something else.

The site is definitely improved compare with the previous version. I think the top background is still can be improved.

Thanks guys. The white horizontal line bugs me too. I tried removing it, but that does not look much better!

 

I am trying to bring in the double green line, can be seen on logo too, into the design as this is the businesses image and features prominently in all their other marketing. The brick wall idea comes from the huge wall with the business name painted on, outside their premises.

 

Will see what else I can do.

 

Any other comments and ideas from anyone?

Okay, have done away with the white line, although I am not sure what I think now. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

I'd suggest something to seperate the content from the background. The page looks abit flat. Perhaps use a lighter tone of green for the background? Creating shadow under the content would really lift it. its easy to do in photoshop like.

I have been thinking about what I was originally trying to achieve here. Basically I wanted to give this idea of a big poster stuck on a wall. What I don't want is that generic rounded border with shadow look very popular at one stage. Although I see what you mean about it looking flat. Mmmm, this is all rather difficult.

 

Sadly I don't have photoshop (outside my budget) and the gimp won't load for some reason. This leaves me with corel photopaint 10. Perhaps vectors is the way to go! grrrrrrrr

I think the site itself is improved, but I really dislike the brick work, think you would probably be better of with just a solid background. maybe just add a drop shadow to the image and the info box on the top right that way you add a little depth without using a drop shadow on the whole site.