Hi everyone!

 

I've been working on the redesign of my freelance / blog website for many weeks now. A few of the mods have been following my progress over the last few weeks, and I feel it is now time to show you all where I'm at and to get an impression on how it's received.

 

I'd like to tell you a little about the website before I just chuck you the link.

 

The concept for this redesign was to give my website a sense of personality, but also to remain professional, while being fun at the same time. It has been a hard goal to achieve, and I'm hoping that I've cracked it with this design — I've certainly been working on it long enough!

 

Currently the layout is based on a grid system which allows me to make modular content areas. I've also spent a lot of time working in vertical rhythm on (nearly) all of the pages, so you will notice the content is evenly spaced out and aligned on all columns, etc.

 

The website is based completely around Wordpress, and has been tweaked with various plugins and my custom theme to get the features I require.

 

I also need to mention that the site is still in heavy development, so you might see things changing position and/or disappearing and/or not even there (eg. the footer!). You will also see that a lot of the areas don't have real content yet (eg, 'about' page, and the blog), this is deliberate. I'm still about a month away from release, so bare that in mind and please don't post comments saying there isn't any content.

 

I originally didn't plan to show the design to the public for a variety of reasons, so the link I'm providing will have to be typed manually as I don't want any search engines picking up on the design yet — I hope you understand.

 

I think I will leave it there, as I don't want to say too much about it before I get some feedback.

 

So without further ado, here is the link to the design on a development URL (type everything in bold, and no brackets): [http://]nibor[.co.uk]/discovery/

 

 

I look forward to hearing from you all!

 

Rob

*giggles at the RSS image yet again*

 

I love this design Rob, I think you have really pulled off your goals.

I'm really looking forwards to seeing it completed

That is looking absolutely awsome so far mate, really clean, I really really like it!

 

[edit:] if I HAD to change something, I'd say rounded corners, but thats just me

Thanks for the feedback so far EggMan (I would thank Eris too, but she's already seen it! ).

 

I made a decision early on to avoid rounded corners, as I feel they are getting slightly abused in current web design. It also just makes things that little bit more awkward with the complicated background I have going on.

 

I might change my mind if the general consensus is for rounded corners on the content area, though.

I think it looks awesome! And I agree with you about rounded corners. I think it looks good as it is.

 

The only thing I would do is increasing the padding of the content area. The text needs a little bit more space in my opinion.

 

Good luck!

I like it, its simple and i like the graphics especially the dark background picture.

I absolutely love the overall theme and design of the site!

Great job and it's really fantastic. It will definitely attract clients.

 

Now, you've even encouraged me to scrap my redesign (I've been kind of thinking about it) and get back to the drawing board.

i've seen the website...i love the background from your website...but hmm...sorry...from my first impression the layout..its just too blog layout and too plain...its like missing the detail. sorry robh if my comment is disappointed you...i just want to be honest with you...and i know you can do more than that...and make a greater website...

real nice website

Bah... thats far too good, it makes my sites look really mediocre. Great work, well done. Thats the sort of site I'd go to just for the sake of it to look at

*giggles at the RSS image yet again*

 

 

I really like that image as well. Still love the design as well....I'm jealous

Looks really good, love the design. I'm jealous too, really need to make my portfolio site, it sucks right now, but i've got other projects to get done first

I really like that image as well. Still love the design as well....I'm jealous

What image are you guys talking about?

 

EDIT: never mind, I found it on the blog page. And I agree, it is good

What image are you guys talking about?

 

go to the blog page and hover over the rss image its located top right

You already know what I think about your website...

 

Woah! I was dubious about posting the design, but you lot have blown those concerns well, well out of the water. Thank you all so much for the lovely comments.

 

 

i've seen the website...i love the background from your website...but hmm...sorry...from my first impression the layout..its just too blog layout and too plain...its like missing the detail. sorry robh if my comment is disappointed you...i just want to be honest with you...and i know you can do more than that...and make a greater website...

Hi Tobi,

 

One of the (maybe the) most important areas of the website is the blog, so the design had to incorporate this. Unfortunately this meant I was restricted with what I could do with the rest of the site, as I didn't want the site looking different in different areas.

 

Keeping the layout clean and simple was a main priority for me, as not all my clients are tech savvy, and bombarding them with cool looking and confusing content areas would probably not get me any business.

 

Could you tell me what your ideas would be for improving the layout to make it less plain?

 

I really appreciate the comments, so don't feel I'm having a dig — I'm just defending my decisions.

You already know what I think about your website...

 

 

Yeah I know, you hate it!!

Apologies if this is an inappropriate place to ask this, but RobH - would it be possible for you to give a brief overview of how you came up with the design, and how you created/produced/got the illustrations (the little rockets etc).

 

Illustrations and graphical elements is imo my weakest skill area, so my websites often dont have that soft smooth feel you seem to achieve - they tend to be more based around simple designs with less "polish". I'd love to be able to get that same effect sometimes.

No need to apologise, this is as good a place as any!

 

The idea for the design was a happy accident, as it always seems to be. I was playing around with an old concept which was nothing like this one (no space, no illustration), and decided to draw some stars. It sort of went from there, the stars led to the idea of having the website floating on the edge of space, which led to the background colours (the atmosphere), which led to the idea of having some sort of 'spacey' object in the background — the rocket.

 

Once I had the rocket, it occurred to me that I could use it as a sort of character for the website, and have it in amongst some various illustrations on each area of the website. The actual idea for the illustrations are just unplanned random thoughts that I've jotted down in a notebook over the last few weeks.

 

I wish I could give you a guide/formula on how I got to where I am, but all I can say is that you should constantly play around with designs and ideas, however silly they seem at first. That silly idea might spawn the next idea, which could be 'the one'.

 

 

As for how I actually made the illustrations, they are just vector shapes filled in with various colours and gradients. I then put a texture over the top to give a grainy feel — this was just a 'noise' pattern which I tweaked with various settings to be transparent and not black/white.

 

 

Sorry I couldn't be more exact with how I came up with it all — I don't really know myself!

Well its very nice. I wish I had those graphics skills.

 

Be sure to enter it as a site of the month candidate once you've got it up and running. I have no doubt it'd be up there with a big chance

I'll make sure to do that. It probably won't be this months, though.

ive been working on the new version of my site and i just got the overall design done, until i put in on IE

Love the illustrations , the site has bags of character, and great to see someone grabbing Worpdress by the horns and doing something original with it !!

Thanks slimboyfatz!

 

I've worked with Wordpress previously, but nothing to this level of customisation. It's a very powerful platform, much more so than I previously thought.

Thanks slimboyfatz!

 

I've worked with Wordpress previously, but nothing to this level of customisation. It's a very powerful platform, much more so than I previously thought.

 

Yeah i think some folks still see WordPress as just a blogging platform , but its so much more powerful than that and growing rapidly with plug-ins etc... into a great CMS. The versatility of it for both developer and end-user is fantastic ! You have shown the kind of site that can be produced with it.

Could you tell me what your ideas would be for improving the layout to make it less plain?

 

I really appreciate the comments, so don't feel I'm having a dig — I'm just defending my decisions. smile.gif

 

hmm..in my opinion....maybe you should change the maincontent background(white) to be darker...so there is a 'feel of unity' between body background and maincontent background. and maybe you can make it half transparency between them,, and make the text more lighter then..so people can see the text clearly,,

Love it.. I like the way you've got your concept and built on it throughout. It's got individuality, character, plus it's all clear and readable.

 

Curious to see what header image you use for the portfolio section

I love this site! The graphics are great, The RSS image is brilliant!

That's well cool Rob! Love the rocket

 

You got a testimonial from Joe Bloggs!!!!

That's an amazing design. Full of personality. Once complete I'd be inclined to ship it round the usual CSS galleries. You'd win some prizes!

Agree with all of the above.

Fantastic site Rob, well done!

hmm..in my opinion....maybe you should change the maincontent background(white) to be darker...so there is a 'feel of unity' between body background and maincontent background. and maybe you can make it half transparency between them,, and make the text more lighter then..so people can see the text clearly,,

I wanted to avoid a feeling of unity with the background, hence the contrasting colours. I'm not sure a transparent background would be a good idea, as it would make it very difficult for people with bad eyesight to read the content — not forgetting it will add extra complexity to the website. If I make the text any lighter it will fail contrast requirements in the accessibility guidelines, so unfortunately I can't do much about that.

 

 

Love it.. I like the way you've got your concept and built on it throughout. It's got individuality, character, plus it's all clear and readable.

 

Curious to see what header image you use for the portfolio section

Thanks! I'm still thinking about what to do for the portfolio section (hence the mess), I've got a few ideas. I'll have a play around with it over the weekend/next week and ask for some thought on it.

 

 

I love this site! The graphics are great, The RSS image is brilliant!

What is it with everyone and the RSS illustration!

 

 

That's well cool Rob! Love the rocket

 

You got a testimonial from Joe Bloggs!!!!

Thanks mate. Joe Bloggs is my top client!

 

 

That's an amazing design. Full of personality. Once complete I'd be inclined to ship it round the usual CSS galleries. You'd win some prizes!

Thanks Badmotherz! You reckon I could win something with this then? I've never submitted anything to a gallery before — I always hate my own work (doesn't every designer?).

Rob - sorry I've only just seen this thread. Your design is fantastic - I agree with all the encouraging comments above, and disagree with any criticisms

It really is the business, Rob, very very well done.

Only downside is I know hate my portfolio design and feel like a hopeless loser

:OOO i love it man its very unique.

Rob - sorry I've only just seen this thread. Your design is fantastic - I agree with all the encouraging comments above, and disagree with any criticisms

It really is the business, Rob, very very well done.

Only downside is I know hate my portfolio design and feel like a hopeless loser

Thanks mate! Don't feel like that, though!

 

 

:OOO i love it man its very unique.

Thanks! That was the look I was going for.

I love it, very unique and eyecatching.

 

I have something like this in the pipeline a long way of yet. Will be realising the template once finished?

 

Love the unique images at the top of every page!

I love it, very unique and eyecatching.

 

I have something like this in the pipeline a long way of yet. Will be realising the template once finished?

 

Love the unique images at the top of every page!

 

Thanks Thomas.

 

What do you mean will be releasing the template?

 

You'll have to post your site here when it's done, I'm sure we'd all love to see it!

Thanks Thomas.

 

What do you mean will be releasing the template?

 

You'll have to post your site here when it's done, I'm sure we'd all love to see it!

 

Well its a wordpress site, therefore your background, colour schemes etc will be in a template folder (I maybe wrong lol) and am sure if you post your template on a few wordpress themes etc it will be great publicity, you could even charge for that theme.

 

Obviously on the free sites you would put a link back to your own site and have it under the free GNU laws (not sure if thjat is the right law) but it means the credit for design as to go to you.

I thought you meant that.

 

The design is for my personal freelance business and blog, so I won't be releasing the layout unfortunately.

I thought you meant that.

 

The design is for my personal freelance business and blog, so I won't be releasing the layout unfortunately.

 

I wouldn't realise it either far to good to be mass used.