[forbes]

been workin on a design for an online shop for a surf clothing company here, am about to submit my visual to the client, looks good to me but thought id get some critique before i email it...

second opinion an all... the square pic in the middle is gonna be a flash thingy

http://www.bakeyournoodle.net/visual1.jpg

[doodler]

Looks kind of empty to me. Perhaps have some subtle indication of separation between the t-shirts and the big negative space.

Also, I don't really like the navigation as it stands now. That tone of red on that shade of gray kind of hurts. Also, all of your text is anti-aliased. Are you a safari user, or do you intend to make everything individual graphics?

Finally, do you expect there to be any text in paragraph form on this site?

Cool.

[Herr Kurm]

doodler perhaps you should check your display, i cant see anything wrong with the colours.

Overall it looks nice and neat. usually the patterns on the back of the page make me puke but you have balanced it just right.

[doodler]

My display's supposed to be really accurate (Samsung 215TW), but I'm also extraordinarily picky. I think if you just made the nav bg a tiny bit lighter, it'd do the trick.

I think those shirts on the bottom need to be smaller or be separated by something. There's a confusing hierarchy with this page since the thumbs and product graphics are roughly the same size. But the design overall is good, don't get me wrong. I'm just an ass.

[forbes]

Originally Posted by doodler

My display's supposed to be really accurate (Samsung 215TW), but I'm also extraordinarily picky. I think if you just made the nav bg a tiny bit lighter, it'd do the trick.

I think those shirts on the bottom need to be smaller or be separated by something. There's a confusing hierarchy with this page since the thumbs and product graphics are roughly the same size. But the design overall is good, don't get me wrong. I'm just an ass.

haha no honestly i appreciate your crit

yeah the visual still needs some work i.e some clear separation from products, nav etc but at the same time i still have to work with what im given. they didnt give me much to work with

[doodler]

Since they didn't give you much, you have the opportunity to place content in that area however you wish. I mean, it might get changed, but at least you have the excuse that it is just temporary, and they can go with it or think of their own thing. I imagine if it looks good they'll do what you feel is right.

I think if you have a dividing sub-header beneath that large center image and a few rows of three or four smaller thumbs .. or a larger thumb and a few smaller ones next to it, it'd give the page some nice flow and useful whitespace. Eh? *shrug* Give it a shot, do what you want, I'd like to see what you have in mind.

[amitrampal]

Nice...the alternating colors that you have behind the left navigation is not clear....hardly visible. Increase the opacity.

[fetusface]

over all i like the design ......my only comment would be to give the content and photos more whitespace. more air.

[bgw]

Hi forbes,

I'd first thing that comes to my mind is the links (about, shopping cart, etc.) I don't like the font too much. Maybe if it was serif instead, and, I'm not sure if it's bold or not, but remove the bold.

Make the Mens/Ladies headings stand out a bit more. Maybe consider image replacement with the logo typeface (or the spiny rose one that's in the image). Basically, something a bit more rock and roll.

Lastly, I'd say to wrap those items in a box of some design, make them stand out, and move them further up the page, towards that center image. (or slap in a "latest products" heading).

[forbes]

cheers for the comments

the fonts, colour schemes were given to me by the graphic designers from the surf company to use

i have to stick within the guidelines they gave because its their corporate identity and i cant stray from that...

but yeah the featured products area below the main pic in the middle needs alot more work , just hope i can improve it without making it too cluttered

cheers again

[i3lance]

The site (content area) is pretty standard.

But I am loving the background dude. That's what makes the difference. Nice touch.

[polardesign]

I like it alot, but is it already coded or is it just a psd mockup, because if you have to code it using standards, its going to take a LOT of work

[bgw]

Originally Posted by polardesign

I like it alot, but is it already coded or is it just a psd mockup, because if you have to code it using standards, its going to take a LOT of work

What do you mean? The only problem would be with the CMS in terms of web standards. Doesn't look to have anything complex looking in it, at least that I can tell from the image.

[bigperm]

there's endless potential with a surf shop's site, but your design/layout is very generic. Do they want to look rad or straight edge professional??

[forbes]

il be using trading eye for the e-commerce engine and that will be web standards compliance, even the CMS...

the brand (gotcha) are strict about their CI (Corporate Identity) so i designed to fit the brand - not what i think looks like a 'cool surfer dude site' that doesnt represent them...

surf companies are picky like that!

[RaelRode]

Nice. I like it. Did you get the tshirt images form the client?? Because I dont like the fact tha the tshirts are creased. Puts me off wanting one.

[forbes]

yeah client gave me them and thats a good point! havent seen the rest of the pics though its ont the way

[freelancr]

Looks nice, but for the top static links use image replacement to make use of a nice font with rollover effects.

Also make the shopping cart more obvious, like have a box with it, not just a link