Hi Folks,

 

I'm currently designing a website for a debt management company called Sink My Debt. I've uploaded a .png of my current progress and would love your thoughts on the design, typography, theme, layout and any other ideas or opinions you may have.

 

Thanks in advance and I look forward to your thoughts and opinions.

 

Regards

 

Gareth

 

An update and progress so far.

 

Corrected text and a footer element.

 

Corrected alignment on under water beams and copyright information.

 

Added a couple of elements to the header. I'm unsure though? I'd appreciate your thoughts?

 

Great stuff amigo, love the graphics- have you designed the online assessment too? Its a difficult job to build this site I think, you need to make it attractive but also professional as it deals with peoples money!

Hi,

 

Thanks Snoogins. Yeah, I've designed everything.

 

I agree. Getting the balance right is quite difficult.

ok, here's my tuppence worth:

 

color scheme: nice, but you might consider using a complementary/analogue color to highlight call to action buttons/links.

 

layout: there are two problems for me - first, the layout of the main content is split down the middle and so neither side dominates which makes the eye 'wander' and the layout looks 'split'. I'd try to go for a bit of golden section or rule of thirds. Second, the alternating text/header doesn't really work IMO, it just emphasises the split layout issue.

 

logo: nice idea - but the lower half of debt is a bit unclear (not that it's so important). My big problem is the name itself! The word sink and debt don't create positive connotations in the mind...

 

general: I like the message in a bottle, although I think you could use that more productively as a general thematic device. I think the fish is a bit large and the balloon is superfluous. Also, I don't see the point of having the URL for the site on the page you've arrived at.

 

Hope that helps.

Hey Sunwukung,

 

I agree, the balloon and URL are irrelevant and don't really have any place in the design.

 

When you talk about call to action buttons/links, what do you mean? The header navigation. There the only links. Can you elaborate please?

 

Do you have any suggestions for the main content area at all?

 

With regards to the sink and debt issue, I think that's the point. Debt isn't a positive thing, that's why anyone visiting the site would be there, because they're in debt. The sink is used in a positive way, to emphasise getting rid of the debt. Sinking it. Anyway, nothing I can do there really it's the company name.

 

Thanks for your suggestions and comments, I really appreciate them.

I think you could add a slightly darker text to the header items in the main content area to make them easier to read/stand out more.

 

I quite like the rest of the design, I agree with what sunwukung said about the eye wander issue, I'd maybe just have it set out in a list so it was more obvious where the user should be looking at.

 

I'm not sure about the balloon in the header either, possibly looks a bit out of place.

 

It's a really good and original concept though so keep with it

Hi, Great looking design, good colors

 

perhaps change the fish to ££££ symbols? and maybe bring the logo 'Sink My Debt' a little higher to make a bit more obvious.

 

Just a thought!!

Hi Guys,

 

Thanks for all the comments. Some great suggestions there. Will be tweaking more today and I've taken it all on board. Cheers.

 

Can a moderator please remove that spam comment please. Thanks.

OK Guys, I've removed the fish, the balloon, the URL and I've given the water more opacity so the DEBT in the SINK MY DEBT logo can be seen a little more clearer.

 

I've also emboldened the header links and removed the content from the middle content area.

 

Now I would really appreciate any suggestions on presenting the content. It's the same content as before.

 

Below the middle content when I have it complete will be a form with about 8 to 10 fields directly below it. Any ideas on how to present this would be greatly appreciated.

 

I've been trying to come up with a better use for the message in a bottle but at the moment I am stuck for ideas, so if anyone has any suggestions on this that would be great.

 

Thanks for all the comments so far, I really appreciate them.

 

Oh and I've added a shark to the design, not sure it's going to stay though.

Is this better for the content area?

 

How's this guys? Better? Worse?

 

a 'call to action' button is basically the most important button on the page - it is designed so that the user naturally wants to press it. For that reason, it should generally stand out more than any other element on the page after the brand:

 

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/10/13/call-to-action-buttons-examples-and-best-practices/

How's this? I'm really not sure on the colours but you get the general idea/theme.

 

a 'call to action' button is basically the most important button on the page - it is designed so that the user naturally wants to press it. For that reason, it should generally stand out more than any other element on the page after the brand:

 

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/10/13/call-to-action-buttons-examples-and-best-practices/

 

Hey Mate,

 

I know dude but there are no call to action buttons on the page yet.

I think I prefer this?

I like the blue and green bg on the 1, 2, 3 steps.I think the text to the left looked better with the dark blue bg box and lighter text

Thanks mteam,

 

Hmmm...I'm not sure you know. I think I prefer it with no box. What do the rest of you guys think?

I think I prefer this?

 

 

Loving this one best mate

Thanks Vivoo. I agree.

OK it's getting close to finished now. What do you guys think?

 

Here's an idea of how it will look online once coded.

 

http://sinkmydebt.co.uk/

Very nice

 

the process claim text looks at bit blury

Thanks. Yes you're right. I'll sort that out. Cheers.

the process claim would be a call to action button... personally I'd change the colour

as an aside, I think I'd try and make the sunburst and clouds a bit simpler - they're very detailed and seem out of kilter with the friendly design of the rest of the page.

I agree with sunwu, Theirs alot of irrelevance going on at the top which detracts a bit from the content. It's a nice layout, idea and theme.

 

I think the inner shadows on the numbered bits are a bit harsh, and i'm not so keen on the over rounded input boxes. But that's probably personal preference.

 

Overall though, i think it's pretty awesome. I think i say that about every design from you