Hi all

 

I'm working on a new site, and I'd appreciate your feedback. It's only the one page at the moment, so don't go looking for deeper links cos they're not there

 

Open to all criticism!

 

Site

 

Thank You

nice design.. clear reading and nice colors.. quite fitting

I was going to slag it off, but I just can't................ It's Beautiful! Lovely muted colours and everything from the font to the header fits in so well.

Looks great!

Very nice notbanksy

I like your choice of colours. It all seems rather soothing.

I agree it looks great. My only comment would be the white page background, somehow it makes it look a bit unfinished... mabe adding a dark grey background will help bring it out more?

I really like it

I would lose the mottled (?) bg as it looks like you will be showing off some work and I feel it will interfere with the pieces.

Did that come out right?

I like it too. But unfortunately, I have to be the annoying one with a critism... I dont like the weird hover-drop-down menus. Using them in Firefox 3 RC1 it was almost impossible to actually get into them with the mouse as 8 out of 10 times they disappeared. I had to pull the mouse down really fast and accurately to ensure I got onto a link in there fast enough to stop them vanishing and without overshooting the mark. Very difficult indeed - not sure I've described it very well though. Perhaps they need a bit of work?

 

Edit: just had another play with them and sometimes they act fine, sometimes they act as above. Very strange...

I like it mucho!

Apart from something not quite working with those menus I think it's very nice and fits the subject well - it does look like it's on silk.

 

I've got to agree with Bluedreamer about the white background - especially the sharp edges on them, and the slightly 'fuzzy' contrast of the text. In my mind's eye I see a mock transparent effect, something that can give the impression that the content itself is printed on silk and draped-over the background. Maybe style the edges so that each content block looks like a strip of fabric? Who knows.

 

On the copy front... the only thing that I would definitely change is that every paragraph starts with 'Beth' and it gets on my nerves! Apart from that it's nicely, smoothly written... if this is going to be a commercial site then it needs some bite, something to grab my attention, to make me respond - a call to action.

 

Very good though - these aren't 'mistakes' just ideas.

It's really nice - the masthead image is gorgeous and the whole thing is restful and seems appropriate to the subject.

 

I'd make 2 teensy suggestions based on my personal views:

 

1. I'd lose the gap between the two content panels (e.g. push the main content panel against the sidebar and give them slightly different background colours), and match their heights.

2. I'd make the green links in the footer a little darker for visibility's sake.

 

But it's really nice

Thanks for all your encouraging comments everyone! I'm going to start tweaking now, and it's great to have some suggestions to work with,

 

@Wizely - thanks for your input re the copy. I agree, and I'm going to have a proper look at it once I get the full info from the client.

I like it too. But unfortunately, I have to be the annoying one with a critism... I dont like the weird hover-drop-down menus. Using them in Firefox 3 RC1 it was almost impossible to actually get into them with the mouse as 8 out of 10 times they disappeared. I had to pull the mouse down really fast and accurately to ensure I got onto a link in there fast enough to stop them vanishing and without overshooting the mark. Very difficult indeed - not sure I've described it very well though. Perhaps they need a bit of work?

 

Edit: just had another play with them and sometimes they act fine, sometimes they act as above. Very strange...

 

Heyy... I just noticed that too!

 

Also, one little comment.. On the drop down menu, I think each text link is to close together.

Yey, finally i get to comment on one of your sites

 

I really like it , it suits the content. only one thing i noticed was an issue and thats the text is a bit hard to read on the white background , I wouldn't know what colour to suggest for the text but maybe something a bit deeper.

 

in a bizzle

Its very nice, but the typeface in the drop-down menus looks as though you put in there when you first started laying out the site and have forgotten to go back and style it, if you know what I mean... I'm rambling, I know... What I mean to say is... have another look at the typography for the main menu, I think you can make it a lot easier on teh eye, and more in keeping with the rest of the site.

OK, had a bit of a play, very minor changes so far - is it an improvement so far?

site - (different URL from previous version)

 

Thanks again.

I like it. Very nice and professional.

 

I stick by my suggestion to remove the background and there still seems to be a problem with the dropdown.

About the dropdown link I think the link would look better if you align it properly to the left.

Overall it really is a beautiful design.

 

The typography could use some work.

I still feel the text is a bit light for the background colour, doesn't seem to be enough contrast. If it passes the test though I'll accept it http://snook.ca/technical/colour_contrast/colour.html

 

Other than that, the script-style font you are using for headers needs anti-aliasing, it's really pixelated on my screen even with cleartype on. I'm also not digging the font & caps your using on the menus. It looks better with cleartype on than off, and I'm figuring it looks slightly nicer on linux. I suggest trying a font with proper smallcaps and using them?

 

Only non-type-related thing is that there seems to be a faint white line going down the grey background off-centre between "paintings and cards" - see screenshot

Overall it really is a beautiful design.

 

The typography could use some work.

I still feel the text is a bit light for the background colour, doesn't seem to be enough contrast. If it passes the test though I'll accept it http://snook.ca/technical/colour_contrast/colour.html

 

Other than that, the script-style font you are using for headers needs anti-aliasing, it's really pixelated on my screen even with cleartype on. I'm also not digging the font & caps your using on the menus. It looks better with cleartype on than off, and I'm figuring it looks slightly nicer on linux. I suggest trying a font with proper smallcaps and using them?

 

Only non-type-related thing is that there seems to be a faint white line going down the grey background off-centre between "paintings and cards" - see screenshot

Thanks for that, Eris - excellent advice! Well spotted on the white line too - must be a glitch in my background image.

 

Now, time to roll up sleeves and get to work on my typography

Glad to be of service, Sir!

 

P.S. Just noticed my notebook in the screeny... lol

It's crap.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nah, just kidding. I actually really like it.

And I kinda like the white line on the background that Eris pointed out tbh. It's different lol.

 

The one thing I'd suggest is maybe darkening the main text a little bit, as with my display brightness turned down, it blends into the background. Other than that, nice job!