Good Afternoon,

 

Please review this site. Before people state that this is a very dark site. Customer insisted on the colour scheme and there was no talking him out of it.

 

Site has been constructed within 2 weeks (on, off in the evenings)

 

What do people think - please dont be too harsh - i know some people on this forum are !

 

Regards

 

My link

It's better live then it was on the mockup.

 

I still think there are issues with the design being suitable for a debt collection agency/credit services but then no one can really say that every site in that industry should look the same.

 

A few things:

 

The social net working images are overlapping slider in ie8.

The header font (italic scrawl) is kind of hard to read and I think a clearer font would be more suitable.

Personally for me, I feel you have everything back to front in content area >> contact area >> callback should be on right and text content on left, this would draw the eye to these elements currently they seem to blend in.

 

The main content text is too much for the home page, this can be broken down more with spacing between paragraphs or an image.

 

I like the click services section but I think you should underline these so people know action is needed.

 

about page does not seem to work.

 

Again on contact everything feels back to front so form on right and content on left.

 

 

You probably don't want to change it at this stage but I defo feel you are not helping content with current layout.

 

Char

It's better live then it was on the mockup.

 

I still think there are issues with the design being suitable for a debt collection agency/credit services but then no one can really say that every site in that industry should look the same.

 

A few things:

 

The social net working images are overlapping slider in ie8.

The header font (italic scrawl) is kind of hard to read and I think a clearer font would be more suitable.

Personally for me, I feel you have everything back to front in content area >> contact area >> callback should be on right and text content on left, this would draw the eye to these elements currently they seem to blend in.

 

The main content text is too much for the home page, this can be broken down more with spacing between paragraphs or an image.

 

I like the click services section but I think you should underline these so people know action is needed.

 

about page does not seem to work.

 

Again on contact everything feels back to front so form on right and content on left.

 

 

You probably don't want to change it at this stage but I defo feel you are not helping content with current layout.

 

Char

 

Thank you for comments. I will be working on this until launch on Friday afternoon. I will be making tweaks here and there - the trouble is the client wants to say a lot but doesn't want to pay for the additional pages. any ideas on how i can keep the text but make it look a bit less cluttered. I think you are right with the contact - i think i might make some big bold areas to hightlight the telephone and address

 

Regards

Maybe part of the text can be larger like a quote to raise notice to that point e.g

 

Our experienced advisors and collection agents are able to communicate clearly with our clients giving business to business advice, providing credit reports and enabling the client to monitor new and existing clients.

 

 

I think some sentences could be made into points with brief explanations in list form as opposed to the current 6 sentences just thinking of ways to add interest to the words.

The social media icons are on top of a divider line and they're way too visible.

I personally would remove them as was suggested to you earlier, but if they have to stay (because of the client), make them a little less obstrusive.

Thankyou for the comments, i have now tried to incorporate them into the site - please let me know if it looks any better

 

Link to Site

yes but the quote image is not the best.

yes but the quote image is not the best.

 

 

I have changed the quote images , what do you think? Also can you check on IE as these seem to move for no reason ( i hate IE)

If you don't want people to be harsh, don't post your site up for review?! Sometimes it's necessary to be harsh. I'm not going to come on here and compliment a website I don't like. Harsh critique is just something you're gonna have to deal with and get used to dealing with, if not, this probably isn't the industry for you.

 

It's very important when working as a designer that you accept everybody's opinion and critique - whether you agree, like it, or not.

 

So, having said that, these are my thoughts, and if you consider me harsh then I'm sorry but I do not beat about the bush with my opinions, because if I'm not 100% honest with you then my review won't help you.

 

In essence, this is not a particularly good website. Whilst the customer has insisted on dark colours, I still think the colours here are wrong. It just looks so dated, I think you could have thought about injecting a primary colour to bring it to life.

 

I don't understand the logo. I'm not sure if it's your work, but I don't really "get" it. Why the globe? What does it signify? This company does not appear to even conduct its operations internationally, so if anything the globe is mis-leading. This is a classic case of a logo having a motif when it would have been better without one. If the logo wasn't your work though, then fair enough.

 

You've got this flash, but it's ugly and totally pointless. It adds nothing to the site. The colours are too strong and it looks like an interactive element but isn't. It's just totally pointless and brings the whole look of the site down. Further, on iPads it isn't going to show at all. That may not be a huge issue as far as you're concerned but the bottom line with flash, which we should all be taking, is that you should only use it when there is absolutely no alternative. And in this case, there's no need for it.

 

Your header font is an issue too. It's a brush script. Again, this is the totally wrong look for this type of business. Brush script fonts do not convey professionalism, or trust; they convey childishness and art.

 

The social media icons, why are they so big? It makes them look ugly. Shrink them down! And make them occupy the same width/height space as the envelope icon. Having icons different sizes just looks dodgy.

 

The callback request. Again, it's poor use of icons, this time an ugly big blue thing. Why? What for? It adds nothing to the design and it looks naff. Also, you've made no effort to style the form, so it loads using default styling which is rubbish for usability.

 

So, overall, I'm not a fan. My critique is honest, but whilst I've criticised your work I have tried to be helpful and give you suggestions.

 

To sum up:

 

• Re-think the colour scheme. Yes, they want dark, but dark doesn't have to mean horrible bland colour scheme like this - it should still be fresh and professional
  
• If you can, remove the globe from the logo. Ugly and misleading.
  
• Shrink the social icons, align them properly with the envelope icon
  
• Apply styling to the form to improve usability
  
• Absolutely, at all costs, ditch that horrible flash banner. Consider replacing with a jQuery slider.
  
• Re-consider your font selection. Think about how different fonts are suitable for different applications
  

 

 

Good luck.

Edited October 14, 201114 yr by brightonmike

Glowbridge

 

 

Logo

 

 

Also, you don't seem to mind telling other people their work is 'poo'. Critique is valuable whether you agree with everyone's view or not. Good critique takes time to formulate.

 

Are you just going to keep posting things without taking a blind bit of notice until everybody says the work is excellent?

Edited October 14, 201114 yr by oakleaves

For me its too stretched.

 

I agree with what Mike says, but I think we've already established the clients strong request for dark colours.

 

Can the flash not be changed into js?

Char

but I think we've already established the clients strong request for dark colours.

 

Fair point

Glowbridge

 

 

 

For some reason I can't really pin down without possibly getting banned that really annoys me.

what does? im lost.

 

i agree with you. lol.

It's a case of, I think I took what Glowbridge said, and ran round in circles with it...!

i agreed with what people are saying, i have made some suggested changes - but then I get the client coming back saying " dont like it" then he comes back with i know what will look good - put a globe as the header, I have tried to talk him out of it but hes having none of it.

 

Some other suggestions made by client include - sounds on hover , alternating logo shades etc etc - obviously I have ignored these requests.

 

The only good thing that can come out of this is that a few months down the line they ask for a redesign and give me complete control - you can always hope !!

 

Has anyone else encountered similar clients?

i agreed with what people are saying, i have made some suggested changes - but then I get the client coming back saying " dont like it" then he comes back with i know what will look good - put a globe as the header, I have tried to talk him out of it but hes having none of it.

 

Some other suggestions made by client include - sounds on hover , alternating logo shades etc etc - obviously I have ignored these requests.

 

The only good thing that can come out of this is that a few months down the line they ask for a redesign and give me complete control - you can always hope !!

 

Has anyone else encountered similar clients?

 

Yes, and you have my sympathy to a degree.

For me its too stretched.

 

I agree with what Mike says, but I think we've already established the clients strong request for dark colours.

 

Can the flash not be changed into js?

Char

 

 

Can you suggest a js slider that is similar to what I already have?

maybe carousel try googling it but you want a fade effect i think and create images.

 

Have you tried showing them some examples of really great credit websites? So it might convince them to aspire to be that.

 

Char

here's some, I mean their not perfect but the image is there.... and its clear what they do

 

 

http://www.wescot.co.uk/

http://www.cbc-international.co.uk/

http://www.ccilegal.co.uk/

http://www.cashprotectionagency.co.uk/

Your design does not look very good for this type of institute.

 

dark colors ok, but now it feels almost like an old Atari wargames simulator.

 

It does not feel like a large credit corporation that I could trust with my sensetive information.

 

If this is the kind of design they wish for, then forget about it and sell it to them.

But if they do not like this design either you can/must appreciate that this design is not "professional" enough.

 

I think the design is wrong in any/every aspect.

Your design does not look very good for this type of institute.

 

dark colors ok, but now it feels almost like an old Atari wargames simulator.

 

It does not feel like a large credit corporation that I could trust with my sensetive information.

 

If this is the kind of design they wish for, then forget about it and sell it to them.

But if they do not like this design either you can/must appreciate that this design is not "professional" enough.

 

I think the design is wrong in any/every aspect.

 

 

I think a few of the credit companies are now trying to "break the trend" take a look at this site - its not a typical credit agency site either Site

yep but that doesn't look like this site you've design for your client lol.

i didnt say it did, but what can you do when your client doesnt want to budge !

I am with you with breaking the standard, I do not like to have to redesign a boring template whilst keeping it boring.

 

Your design is daring, especially for the type of company it is.

 

Only problem is that it lacks modern design aspects, and still leans too much towards disco and glitter.

 

You should start with convincing them to modernize their logo, perhaps incorporate a globe in their logo but keep it print friendly.

 

Ask them how they invision letterheads and brochures, this should be similar in layout to their website.

 

Seperate content with containers, borders, backgrounds etc.

 

But, keep trying to be different, that is a good thing, unless a customer knows what he wants is simplicity.

 

P.H.

I am with you with breaking the standard, I do not like to have to redesign a boring template whilst keeping it boring.

 

Your design is daring, especially for the type of company it is.

 

Only problem is that it lacks modern design aspects, and still leans too much towards disco and glitter.

 

You should start with convincing them to modernize their logo, perhaps incorporate a globe in their logo but keep it print friendly.

 

Ask them how they invision letterheads and brochures, this should be similar in layout to their website.

 

Seperate content with containers, borders, backgrounds etc.

 

But, keep trying to be different, that is a good thing, unless a customer knows what he wants is simplicity.

 

P.H.

 

I know the logo isn't great , but I will probably work on this as part of the Maintenance contract I have set up with them.

 

I will try and add some colour to content containers to spice the site up a bit.

 

Thanks for comments

Hi

 

I don't know, for me, true logo design takes alot of time, effort and knowledge, I hope you've charged them an appropiate amount.

Hi

 

I don't know, for me, true logo design takes alot of time, effort and knowledge, I hope you've charged them an appropiate amount.

 

I have charged them a set monthly fee - for minor adjustments to pages etc, if the need arises I will charge appropriately as stated in the written contract.

 

All bases covered lol

Carbon fibre removed and changed for more simpler design. I have also removed horrible script text. Do the changes make a difference?

Much better, big improvement you are on the right track now.

 

I would create a stronger header, perhaps a horizontal bar with a solid grey background, this would seperate your header and nav. from the rest of te content.

A bit like your footer but with a darker color.

Then put the world map in an image slider with a large font text and phonenumber.

 

This would/could bring this design in tyhe 21st century.

 

Getting better though.

 

P.H.

much better but font is personally still chunky for me.... just a nice simple, clean font will do.

Please don't give your header a grey background. Grey and black is a terrible combination in most cases.

i think i will leave nav like it is. I will change font on homepage to just a bold arial i think. I think i might lose the reflections on the main headings, or make them into a gradient. I would like to change the map into a slider ( but client wont let me )

To be honest this client sounds like a complete idiot who instead of hiring you to design a website for them, has hired you to basically be a jumped up puppet for their ego.

 

If I was you, I'd cut my losses and ditch the client. Clients like these only give you headaches, frustrate you, cause you problems, and stump your development. You do not need this.

 

Let them have their black website with the crappy flash animation. You need to move on now and find something more worth your while. This work has not allowed you to improve your skills and create really good work which is what you need to be doing atm.

 

Just my two cents.

Edited October 18, 201114 yr by brightonmike

well i have a contract agreement with them which has been signed, i think i might just use this to my advantage and over time keep adding bits and pieces until the design is how "I" like it.

Yes, and your contract should cover you for these types of clients and include clauses that you can use to get out of the project if need be.

Yes, and your contract should cover you for these types of clients and include clauses that you can use to get out of the project if need be.

 

 

How?

 

I have a contract with my clients, and no where does it say if you're an idiot and come up with rubbish ideas I can fire you.... interested to hear how you get around this cause I've had 1-2 like this.

Of course you can fire a client, contracts can be terminated. You just won't get the money for the job.