Hey everyone,

 

I'm in the process of setting up web and print design company with a friend and have come up with the design below. Could you all be as harsh as possible, particularly focusing on the colour choices. I really want to get this one as close to perfect as possible

 

Cheers

If you await for perfection then you'll never finish!

 

Not because what you have done isn't good (I think it is) but design is personal and what is 'perfect' for one is 'horrible' to another.

 

However, for my penny-worth:

 

I like what I can see. How it navigates would be important as a holistic system but I like the differing areas that draw the eye around the page. I want to explore it more; which is a good thing.

The contrast is shockingly awful, I totally hate it. What colour scheme? It's practically mono. That harsh enough for you?

 

I think it's a nice layout in terms of positioning the elements, but I think it's desperately lacking contrast and colour, and a little texture would be nice too. It looks like a blog template to me tbh. A good one, but it needs to have more personality and identity. I think you've got more than the bare bones of it already though - some tweaking should do it.

The contrast is shockingly awful, I totally hate it. What colour scheme? It's practically mono. That harsh enough for you?

 

I think it's a nice layout in terms of positioning the elements, but I think it's desperately lacking contrast and colour, and a little texture would be nice too. It looks like a blog template to me tbh. A good one, but it needs to have more personality and identity. I think you've got more than the bare bones of it already though - some tweaking should do it.

 

Haha thanks notbanksy, a little piece of me died when I read that Kidding, the critisicm is very good!

 

I'm gunna have a look at the header and footer tonight, I've got an idea in my head that I think I can integrate into the design. Will post on here when it's done.

 

In the meantime does anyone have any further comments?

Haha thanks notbanksy, a little piece of me died when I read that Kidding, the critisicm is very good!

Haha sorry I couldn't resist it. I think it could be a great site with the right attention - looking forward to seeing V2

I went through exactly the same process with my portfolio site; posted it here and everyone recommended adding more colour/style as it was too bland. You'd think I'd learn

I'd agree with banksy. The footer is particularly hard to read due to the contrast.

Okay, I've taken all your comments on board and have come up with this. Again, be as harsh as possible

Edited April 27, 200917 yr by Tom

I love it so far - but too dark! bit more of the blue would be nice

Hey,

 

I'm sorry to say but i've seen this style of template much to often in blogs like wordpress etc.

Looking at it for more than 10 seconds i started to notice that the txt is infact REALLY thin. The main 'Lateral Studios' pointed that one right out to me. It's just not all there just yet, i like the layout alot its just more on the colour side and quite plain still.

 

But hey, it all depence on what look your going for and what people your making it for!!!

Well .. I like it =) Maybe because I have no taste in design xD

 

But yeh, what Gemma said - try more blue?

Thanks for your comments

 

I've updated the image above with a slightly modified navigation and I've brought the blue strips at the top out a little bit more.

 

@Gemma: I decided from the outset that I was aiming for a dark site, and although the colour I've added has made a huge improvement I don't really want to lighten it too much more. Personal choice

 

@Chris Watterston: I'll see what I can do with the font. We are both pretty set on this one though, so it may just mean increasing the tracking a bit

Well .. I like it =) Maybe because I have no taste in design xD

 

But yeh, what Gemma said - try more blue?

 

Thanks... I think

Any comments on the new version above?

Hey mate,

I noticed a lot of people here have been commenting about the lack of colours being used.

 

But you know what, I love it as it is. I really like dark websites and a bit of colour on it, like yours.

 

It's looking good dude, it seems to me that you have focused on the main aspects of web design, it's clean, sleek, easy on the eyes, and from what I can see it's user friendly.

 

Well done

Hey mate,

I noticed a lot of people here have been commenting about the lack of colours being used.

 

But you know what, I love it as it is. I really like dark websites and a bit of colour on it, like yours.

 

It's looking good dude, it seems to me that you have focused on the main aspects of web design, it's clean, sleek, easy on the eyes, and from what I can see it's user friendly.

 

Well done

 

Thanks Pedro, I was getting worried I'd gone seriously wrong somewhere. It's really good to hear you like it

Finishing is simple but proficient. Overall it is dull. The colour scheme is fine, but there is no colour in the feature slots or header breaking it up. Colour could be sparingly used to really make key elements and headings stand out. Page doesn't communicate - 'lateral thinking' is ambiguous and is at expense of a clear statement of what you do.

 

'Jquery content slider'... is that a USP?

 

What do you do? What's the angle?

 

Doesn't answer either of these questions very well.

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2007/01/13...-shouldve-seen/

Finishing is simple but proficient. Overall it is dull. The colour scheme is fine, but there is no colour in the feature slots of header breaking it up. Colour could be sparingly used to really make key elements stand out. Page doesn't communicate - 'lateral thinking' is ambiguous and is at expense of a clear statement of what you do.

 

'Jquery content slider'... is that a USP?

 

What do you do? What's the angle?

 

Doesn't answer either of these questions very well.

 

Lateral Thinking refers to the blog - the jQuery Content Slider is an example of a blog entry. The site is a web design portfolio site, the blog is a seperate section that has been featured on the homepage. I might get rid of the Lateral Thinking and replace with Lateral Blog as it might not be obvious enough that it's a blog.

 

It seems people are focusing heavily on the blog, so I'm thinking I might switch the sidebar to the left to give it more emphasis. What do you guys think?

The blog highlights are the most prominent thing on the page. They dominate the main white page of the page, which jumps out of the dark background. The work at the top is recessive, given its position within the dark header section.

 

The design encourages the user to look at the two blog items. If it's a web design portfolio/service site, shouldn't the homepage communicate and promote that - the work, the services, rather than those two blog entries?

The blog highlights are the most prominent thing on the page. They dominate the main white page of the page, which jumps out of the dark background.

 

The design encourages the user to look at the two blog items. If it's a web design portfolio site, shouldn't the homepage communicate and promote that, rather than those two entries?

 

It should, and I'm definitley going to look into this. I want the blog to be a central part of the site, but we are selling a service first so I need to work on this.

 

However, I think having content on the site would help. As designers we naturally skim straight over lorem ipsum and I think this has an effect on how you're seeing the page. If there was real information about the featured site at the top and the "Surrey Web Design" area had content do you think it would affect how you were seeing it?

 

I definitley need to integrate some sort of header introducing us as a design company though, I'll look into this tonight.

Actual content might help show how it communicates, as would movement of the featured work item(s) at the top. However, I'm not sure why you want to give the blog so much prominance. It should backup the core purpose of the site rather than compete with it.

 

Do you want clients to view this site and talk to you about your services, or do you want people to read your thoughts on a range of topics? The two aren't mutually exclusive, but, they're not the same thing. Maybe you aren't clear about this in your own mind and that's coming through in the layout and design?

 

I'd replace the main content area currently occupied with the two blog entries with an engaging summary of your key services. This should make the 'surrey web design' bit redundant and that smaller, subordinate right area could be used for feauring the latest blog entries, with the testimonial remaining below perhaps.

Actual content might help show how it communicates, as would movement of the featured work item(s) at the top. However, I'm not sure why you want to give the blog so much prominance. It should backup the core purpose of the site rather than compete with it.

 

Do you want clients to view this site and talk to you about your services, or do you want people to read your thoughts on a range of topics? The two aren't mutually exclusive, but, they're not the same thing. Maybe you aren't clear about this in your own mind and that's coming through in the layout and design?

 

I'd replace the main content area currently occupied with the two blog entries with an engaging summary of your key services. This should make the 'surrey web design' bit redundant and that smaller, subordinate right area could be used for feauring the latest blog entries, with the testimonial remaining below perhaps.

 

The funny thing is I said the exact same thing to my colleague when I was drawing up the initial sketches - we wanted it featured on the homepage but didn't want it taking over. I didn't really get that right did I

 

I'll have another look at the content later and will post a new topic when it's done. Thank you all for your help!