Hi Folks,

 

I posted a design for a website I had designed (http://www.sinkmydebt.co.uk/) to the forums recently for your opinions but I think the design is too quirky and doesn't fit in with what I'm trying to achieve which is to look professional, trustworthy and get people to fill in a form.

 

I've done a redesign concept in Photoshop and I would very much like your opinions please. Thanks.

 

Kind Regards

 

Gareth

 

The first one is much better mate - it has a much better depth to me.

 

The new concept looks OK as a wireframe, but as a finished design, it looks....well.... unfinished...

 

Sorry mate

Thanks mate.

 

I know the design of the first site is far more visually attractive but I think that this detracts from what the site is intended for, getting people to sign up. It has very little information on display and I didn't have usability in mind when I began designing.

 

With regards to the second site, in what way do you mean it looks unfinished. It has all the necessary elements? I'm a little confused.

 

Thanks dude.

Just that it looks unfinished from a design point of view - only my opinion, but it could do with some nice touches... maybe some subtle borders here and there, and some gradients...

 

In terms of content, it looks all good, but the design just feels a little loose at the moment

 

I hope I am getting my point across properly

Sort of get the idea mate but could you indicate on which elements etc if you have the time. That would be great. Thanks.

have you thought about using your sinking bottle design as the background of the header in your new one ?

@mteam

 

Not sure it would go mate.

IMHO first design is definitely better.

@Lev

 

Cheers mate. Can you explain why you think it's better please?

 

For those viewing this topic. One question I'd like to ask is:

 

What are the top 3 elements of the website your attention is drawn to first? In the order your drawn to them please. Thanks.

I agree with all of the above. I like the first design better but it isn't professional looking enough for a debt management website.

 

I would definitely keep the 1,2,3 steps, easier and quicker to read and understand than a block of text.

 

I would keep both tables of the first design actually and make the background a bit more professional maybe?

@MyshMash

 

Thanks.

 

With regards to the text. That's really just an example of where the main content will go. I will be keeping the steps on the homepage but there will be several pages, presenting different information.

 

My main concern is that although the first website is visually appealing and quite indicative of current design trends on say blogs etc to me it doesn't fit for the needs of the company and what the main goal is. Getting users to fill in the form.

 

Would you fill in the form on this site? Would you trust this site? Is it clear what the site is for? Are you immediately drawn to the form?

 

Thanks folks.

The first design has issues, as discussed here:

http://www.webdesignerforum.co.uk/topic/30726-new-website-for-review/page__p__199163__hl__sinkmydebt__fromsearch__1 & # entry199163

but it`s livelier, more natural, I`d say, more colorful, picturesque, interesting and more personal than the second, which is a simple set of flat rectangles, and dull text blocks.

I think people might be missing the point of this post and what I am trying to achieve. I'm not particularly after a comparison between the two sites.

 

I'm not really concerned with the website looking trendy, flashy or picturesque. I do realise that the previous website is far more visually attractive.

 

What I want to know is:

 

1. Does the website look professional?

2. Is it simple and clean?

3. Is the navigation clear? Is there enough contrast?

4. Does the form draw the eye?

5. Is the information in the main content clear? Is the typography good?

6. Does the website look straightforward to use?

7. Is there enough contrast on the breadcrumb navigation? Is it clear where the user is?

8. Do the colours work together to present the information?

9. Does the website look trustworthy?

 

Little things like backgrounds and gradients can be added later.

 

I'd also like to know:

 

What the top 3 elements of the website are your attention is drawn to first? In the order your drawn to them please.

 

Thanks folks.

tbh your follow me logo grabs my attention more than anything else

 

the form I'm not sure people would be keen on submitting some of the details on the form imo better to submit contact details and somebody gets in touch ?

@mteam

 

Thanks mate. With regards to the form, those fields are pretty much set in stone and can't be changed unfortunately.

 

What are your thoughts on the rest of my questions mate?

1. Does the website look professional? Yes

 

2. Is it simple and clean? Yes

 

3. Is the navigation clear? Is there enough contrast? Not sure on green with blue, maybe 2 shades of blue

 

4. Does the form draw the eye?no needs something eyecatching at the top

 

5. Is the information in the main content clear? Is the typography good?Yes

 

6. Does the website look straightforward to use?Yes

 

7. Is there enough contrast on the breadcrumb navigation? Is it clear where the user is?Yes

 

8. Do the colours work together to present the information?not sure ?

 

9. Does the website look trustworthy?Yes

 

 

 

I think the site is well laid out, it needs something on the form to grab attention

 

and like you said maybe gradient bg's its just missing something?

 

hth

@mteam

 

Thanks dude. Much appreciated.

I'm not really concerned with the website looking trendy, flashy or picturesque. I do realise that the previous website is far more visually attractive.

 

I just answered your question in

http://www.webdesign...post__p__204052

 

 

1. Does the website look professional? Not quite, I`d say

2. Is it simple and clean? Yes

3. Is the navigation clear? Yes Is there enough contrast? Not sure with white on green

4. Does the form draw the eye? I`d made submit button of the same length as input fields.

5. Is the information in the main content clear? Yes Is the typography good? Rather yes

6. Does the website look straightforward to use? Rather yes

7. Is there enough contrast on the breadcrumb navigation? No. Is it clear where the user is? Yes.

8. Do the colours work together to present the information? Sooner no.

9. Does the website look trustworthy? Yes.

 

 

PS: 3 elements - 1. logo, 2. form, 3. twitter icon.

PPS: I look forward to see "little things like backgrounds and gradients".

@Lev

 

Thanks mate. Your comments are appreciated. I'll continue to work on the little details.

Little update with some subtle gradients and an addition to the logo.

 

Working with colours for the white text and links, any ideas would be appreciated.

 

I think the look you're trying to go for is a professional financial-esque look that utilises a lot of white space, right? In that sense I like the design but I would always turn font anti-aliasing off for copy text in photoshop to give you a more realistic idea of how the site will actually look. The breadcrumb bit is a nice touch. Have you thought about spacing things out a bit more and using a grid? I think if you got rid of all the rounded rectangles and altered it to make it slightly more grid-based it would look more professional.

@Aaroniza

 

Thanks for the comments and advice. I appreciate them.

 

I'll have a go at spacing things out a bit more and seeing what it looks like without the rounded corners but I think I'll probably keep them to be honest. Thanks.

Concerning the form: I`d change backround to light gray (unsaturated green or blue), and text labels to dark gray(unsaturated green or blue) or even black. Then I`d added attractive colorful header at the top and made bottom submit button more click-appealing (maybe aqua-styled + icon). Although, I do not insist on this solution.

 

Previous problems with alignment and spacing (grid issues) remained.

 

Rounded corners IMHO are quite appropriate here.

Seems like it is hard to read #1 and #2 - too light background, the white font doesn’t stand out

I personally like the one you have live right now. I like the bottle and water motif.

 

-Seth

If it was me I'd look to the copy (cue collective groans!) - what you've got is a nice enough template (no offence meant) but it should be picking out things like "Cut your monthly expense by 60%" and "Become debt-free in 5 years" - these are the hooks that your design should be using.

That's not meant to be harsh in any way... design's got to help sell - I'd concentrate on that before worrying about tweaking colours and last-minute graphic touches.

 

I'll go crawl back under my rock now!