Web Design Forums

Transmogrify · 06-09-2005, 22:03

Right, been re-"designing" my web site as I'm going freelance and need a bit of a portfolio going on. I'm not trying to make it overly "designed" as that's not what I'm selling myself as. Still a work in progress, needs a few things finishing off and a bit more content in parts but we're getting there.

http://www.transmogrify.co.uk/

I don't know why I'm doing this to myself, knowing what you heartless bastards are like, but go ahead.. comments/feedback.

pgo · 07-09-2005, 00:09

Looks pretty good. Although a version of my site (build back in the day with tables) had a header very similar to that. How funny.

Anyway, I think it's OK. Text may be a tad small as it seems the head/nav is overpowering it a bit. Also, why is the "news" wider than the "brief introduction" - doesn't make sense to me...

Maybe a different effect on rollover for the nav - maybe make the text contrast more...something. It's too bland right now.

Overall it's pretty good. Could use some fancy touches here and there.

adras · 07-09-2005, 00:33

The logo placement is not good - the gradient effect on the nav, get rid of it keep it flat. Make the nav text uppercase instead of lower case.

In the content area, your image headings look like shit, either change to a better font, or just use text headings which will be more appealing to search engines and be more accessible.

Content text, first of all I think that there is too much of it - I don't think people will read all that stuff; try to keep it shorter to the point - point form if you can.

The content font too small, and dont forget to style line-height makes the text much more readable and inviting to read.

Portfolio page, you are making the user to work there to figure out which photo is for which pharagraph. Put the photo beside the description so it is right here and with confusing or any work to figure out which one belongs to which.

Maybe while you are at it, center the whole thing, and drop some bgcolor around the white content area.

Add a footer, since your pages are long.

Hope this helps.

Contact page loose the borders thingies.

adras · 07-09-2005, 00:34

Oh, and your column setup is bad - switch the columns, put the wider column first and the narrow one on the right side.

emil · 07-09-2005, 03:40

okey.
- Either extend the header image or center the whole thing.
- Also make it a jpeg or png, gif compression looks out of place, since it seems you're not going for that worn/retro/gif-y type of look.
- I'm not too keen on the squares, they kind of look dated.
- I don't like the grey text on the nav hover.
- Yeah, choose another font for sIFr or try making it bigger.
- You need more content on the home page, now it just looks empty.
- Put some color on your links.
- I agree with adras on the portfolio layout
- The code looks nice.

On a side note, it's your personal site. Why don't you show what you really can do? Why make it so standard and kind of dull? Don't get me wrong, it looks okey, but you're not a recycling/mountain-hiking/flower-picking company...

finbarr · 07-09-2005, 05:08

take away the banner and there's not much design on the pages at all? Whats all that about? Some splashes of colour wouldnt go amiss. It looks far too corporate and doesnt compare at all to some of the work in your portfolio.

smallbeer · 07-09-2005, 05:16

while I agree with some of the comments on the design...from what I've read he's a developer not a designer.

My only suggestion would be to have the thumbs in your porfolio link to the descriptions below rather than direct to the sites. It would be key to me hiring you to know exactly what part you played in the project.

emil · 07-09-2005, 05:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by smallbeer

while I agree with some of the comments on the design...from what I've read he's a developer not a designer.

Aye, read that now. Always thought he was a designer, don't know why.

cam · 07-09-2005, 05:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by smallbeer

while I agree with some of the comments on the design...from what I've read he's a developer not a designer.

all the more reason for him to act on the comments given to him by designers

finbarr · 07-09-2005, 05:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by cam

all the more reason for him to act on the comments given to him by designers

agreed... the comments werent particularly harsh anyay. If design is not his strong point then he would surely want straight-talking criticism to point him in the right direction.

smallbeer · 07-09-2005, 05:55

yep. I can't remember saying any of the comments were harsh or unhelpful.

finbarr · 07-09-2005, 05:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by smallbeer

yep. I can't remember saying any of the comments were harsh or unhelpful.

never said you did? I just think he's fortunate not to suffer the fate of others of late

smallbeer · 07-09-2005, 06:03

what? blown up by a suicide bomber? drowned in a storm?

emil · 07-09-2005, 06:03

Quote:

I just think he's fortunate not to suffer the fate of others of late

that's because we like him

sub · 07-09-2005, 06:30

It's a refreshing change to see some constructive criticism. If my own site wasn't quite so shit I would probably offer my two cents too. Maybe one day.

d*d · 07-09-2005, 07:28

It's all been said before, change the roll over make your headings bigger and find a way to hold the content together- otherwise it's shaping up nicely

finbarr · 07-09-2005, 07:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by subcircle

It's a refreshing change to see some constructive criticism. If my own site wasn't quite so shit I would probably offer my two cents too. Maybe one day.

you should critique regardless... Everything you look at should be dissected visually and good/bad points highlighted - it helps you learn. And dont be afraid if someone disagrees with what you say... remember opinions are like arseholes - everyones got one

d*d · 07-09-2005, 07:32

what the fuck is that new avatar finbarr

dan · 07-09-2005, 07:56

Yep agree with all of the above. The first thing that hit was the text on the first page. Too much too small and the column width is too wide (certainly for that text size). More consideration to padding and line height. Sort the well pointed out thumbnail text relationship maybe bullet your roles / technologies used. Then people get a rapid overview without having to read the detail. Get those fundamentals sorted and you can tweek header images etc from there.

Transmogrify · 07-09-2005, 08:06

Wow.. that wasn't too painful. Cheers for the suggestions guys, some good points there. Am working on amends as we (or I) speak. Much that I'd like to make something more designed and clever, I can't. I think I used up my design mojo a while back.. all the same, handy being here, gives plenty of inspiration and ideas - just need to put the ideas into practice.

06-09-2005, 22:03	#1 (permalink)
Transmogrify Rough Creep Arse™ Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 1,888	Oh god.. here we go. Right, been re-"designing" my web site as I'm going freelance and need a bit of a portfolio going on. I'm not trying to make it overly "designed" as that's not what I'm selling myself as. Still a work in progress, needs a few things finishing off and a bit more content in parts but we're getting there. http://www.transmogrify.co.uk/ I don't know why I'm doing this to myself, knowing what you heartless bastards are like, but go ahead.. comments/feedback.

07-09-2005, 00:33	#3 (permalink)
adras Zły Join Date: May 2004 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 2,149	The logo placement is not good - the gradient effect on the nav, get rid of it keep it flat. Make the nav text uppercase instead of lower case. In the content area, your image headings look like shit, either change to a better font, or just use text headings which will be more appealing to search engines and be more accessible. Content text, first of all I think that there is too much of it - I don't think people will read all that stuff; try to keep it shorter to the point - point form if you can. The content font too small, and dont forget to style line-height makes the text much more readable and inviting to read. Portfolio page, you are making the user to work there to figure out which photo is for which pharagraph. Put the photo beside the description so it is right here and with confusing or any work to figure out which one belongs to which. Maybe while you are at it, center the whole thing, and drop some bgcolor around the white content area. Add a footer, since your pages are long. Hope this helps. Contact page loose the borders thingies. __________________ Be Crisp (tm)

07-09-2005, 00:34	#4 (permalink)
adras Zły Join Date: May 2004 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 2,149	Oh, and your column setup is bad - switch the columns, put the wider column first and the narrow one on the right side. __________________ Be Crisp (tm)

07-09-2005, 03:40	#5 (permalink)
emil dt immigrant Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bucharest - Romania Posts: 7,588	okey. - Either extend the header image or center the whole thing. - Also make it a jpeg or png, gif compression looks out of place, since it seems you're not going for that worn/retro/gif-y type of look. - I'm not too keen on the squares, they kind of look dated. - I don't like the grey text on the nav hover. - Yeah, choose another font for sIFr or try making it bigger. - You need more content on the home page, now it just looks empty. - Put some color on your links. - I agree with adras on the portfolio layout - The code looks nice. On a side note, it's your personal site. Why don't you show what you really can do? Why make it so standard and kind of dull? Don't get me wrong, it looks okey, but you're not a recycling/mountain-hiking/flower-picking company... Last edited by emil : 07-09-2005 at 05:46.

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07-09-2005, 00:09	#2 (permalink)
pgo Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 12,340	Looks pretty good. Although a version of my site (build back in the day with tables) had a header very similar to that. How funny. Anyway, I think it's OK. Text may be a tad small as it seems the head/nav is overpowering it a bit. Also, why is the "news" wider than the "brief introduction" - doesn't make sense to me... Maybe a different effect on rollover for the nav - maybe make the text contrast more...something. It's too bland right now. Overall it's pretty good. Could use some fancy touches here and there.

07-09-2005, 05:08	#6 (permalink)
finbarr who the fuck am i? Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: london Posts: 2,686	take away the banner and there's not much design on the pages at all? Whats all that about? Some splashes of colour wouldnt go amiss. It looks far too corporate and doesnt compare at all to some of the work in your portfolio.

07-09-2005, 05:16	#7 (permalink)
smallbeer I Ain't Losing Any Sleep™ Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 5,206	while I agree with some of the comments on the design...from what I've read he's a developer not a designer. My only suggestion would be to have the thumbs in your porfolio link to the descriptions below rather than direct to the sites. It would be key to me hiring you to know exactly what part you played in the project.

07-09-2005, 05:55	#11 (permalink)
smallbeer I Ain't Losing Any Sleep™ Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 5,206	yep. I can't remember saying any of the comments were harsh or unhelpful.

07-09-2005, 06:03	#13 (permalink)
smallbeer I Ain't Losing Any Sleep™ Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 5,206	what? blown up by a suicide bomber? drowned in a storm?

07-09-2005, 06:30	#15 (permalink)
sub Shitcasket™ Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Brighton Posts: 4,860	It's a refreshing change to see some constructive criticism. If my own site wasn't quite so shit I would probably offer my two cents too. Maybe one day.

07-09-2005, 07:28	#16 (permalink)
d*d Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bristol Posts: 3,409	It's all been said before, change the roll over make your headings bigger and find a way to hold the content together- otherwise it's shaping up nicely

07-09-2005, 07:32	#18 (permalink)
d*d Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bristol Posts: 3,409	what the fuck is that new avatar finbarr

07-09-2005, 07:56	#19 (permalink)
dan Iris Folder Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: smokey Posts: 2,650	Yep agree with all of the above. The first thing that hit was the text on the first page. Too much too small and the column width is too wide (certainly for that text size). More consideration to padding and line height. Sort the well pointed out thumbnail text relationship maybe bullet your roles / technologies used. Then people get a rapid overview without having to read the detail. Get those fundamentals sorted and you can tweek header images etc from there.

07-09-2005, 08:06	#20 (permalink)
Transmogrify Rough Creep Arse™ Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 1,888	Wow.. that wasn't too painful. Cheers for the suggestions guys, some good points there. Am working on amends as we (or I) speak. Much that I'd like to make something more designed and clever, I can't. I think I used up my design mojo a while back.. all the same, handy being here, gives plenty of inspiration and ideas - just need to put the ideas into practice.

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