Web Design Forums

lmclaney · 12-05-2007, 14:01

Im currently redesigning a website for a uni project as I accidently deleted the site on my server and I lost a backup when my laptop broke...ooops

So as I need a live site for at least a year for uni to mark my site I have to redesign it. Currently I have created 2 designs but Im stuck on choosing which direction to follow. So can you please helep me.

Iv first started coding this site into CSS and HTML - heres a screenshot:

http://www.liammclaney.com/layout2.jpg

But its looking a bit sparse at the moment and im not too sure I like it anymore.

And heres a random design I made which I like more but its a bit odd:

http://www.liammclaney.com/layout.jpg

Do you like the design or not? If you do like them which one should i try and follow and improve upon. Can you suggest any improvements.

Cheers, Liam

Do Gooder · 12-05-2007, 14:16

version 1
the solid black and stark white blankness is making things look a bit funereal at the moment. perhaps something like a large panel in a natural tone to lift things a bit and give a bit of structure to hang things on..... Either that or knock your black to a light grey and go all airy looking.

I don't mean to be arsey but your name is pixel perfection and your main visual is a halftone screen? I feel like I should be seeing perfect pixels! I just like to see a reason behind pretty images.

don't like version 2 at all. sorry

Do Gooder · 12-05-2007, 14:40

perhaps actually the halftone thing is OK

flipstewart · 12-05-2007, 15:14

The second one is extremely dated... and I don't think it can be improved upon either.

The first one is alright though, but the tabs need work, it obviously needs to be colored, I don't like it boxed, and your thumbnails could use a new aspect ratio and size.

Puzuki Studio · 12-05-2007, 15:49

layout.jpg
Blending the header/footer/border graphics with the content areas is a good idea, but the graphics themselves seem rigid and undeveloped. Perhaps there is a way to integrate the site destinations with the design instead of just a line of text?

layout2.jpg
The header curvilinear dot matrix works, but the text logo and asterisk don't appeal to my eye. The tabbed browsing is a good idea, but doesn't seem well-developed. I think the content area is too plain.

Not sure about you, but I have the worst time encapsulating my own work into proper design. I often check out other designers portfolio sites to inspire ideas.

Browse through some of the pages here:
stumbleupon.com/tag/design-portfolio/

lmclaney · 13-05-2007, 05:12

Hi thanks for your input, the name pixel perfection wasnt chosen by me and is an awful name as its got a lot to live up to and how do you show perfect pixels. But anyway I feel like both designs dont work so im going to try and re make the original site but just enhance the visuals. Maybe save the melting borders and content for another project.

Do Gooder · 13-05-2007, 05:30

the perfect pixel > .

true not the easyiest thing to show. maybe the old pixel art Lego Land stuff or better... a nice set of colours in boxes - as if you have zoomed right in to a bitmap image. have fun!

microdesign · 13-05-2007, 06:01

sorry to be honost i dont like both.

pat · 13-05-2007, 07:40

Being harsh but honest, both are dated, amateur looking and on the whole, terrible. Say this to everyone but have a browse through css gallery sites or something - there's no creativity or visual concept to these designs. They're bland and don't say anything about you - apart from you like black and white lines etc.

Start again, be creative.

R1gM · 13-05-2007, 08:30

I agree with pat both don't look great.

Lose the reflections they always make me think someone is a total wanker of a designer.

But onto a more important point get a shitload more content and you will find your page will take shape better as you can actually organise sections. Right now you have a box a few tabs and minimal page content. Without a focus your design will suck you need to organise data into how you want a viewer to see it and make your site have a point otherwise you are just making coloured shapes on a page with no meaning.

lmclaney · 14-05-2007, 07:35

Ok so I decided to scrap both ideas and have gone for a more modern look. This design is still in its early stages but can you tell me what you think, is it an improvement and can you suggest any changes.

By the way the preview box will be changed at the moment it has a the numbers "1" "2" "3" but this will change to a thumbnail of the preview.

As I dont have much content and this is a fake company for uni its a bit sparse and im not sure what to do to fill the white space.

http://www.liammclaney.com/design.jpg

12-05-2007, 14:01	#1 (permalink)
lmclaney Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Oxford Posts: 426	Design Choice Im currently redesigning a website for a uni project as I accidently deleted the site on my server and I lost a backup when my laptop broke...ooops So as I need a live site for at least a year for uni to mark my site I have to redesign it. Currently I have created 2 designs but Im stuck on choosing which direction to follow. So can you please helep me. Iv first started coding this site into CSS and HTML - heres a screenshot: http://www.liammclaney.com/layout2.jpg But its looking a bit sparse at the moment and im not too sure I like it anymore. And heres a random design I made which I like more but its a bit odd: http://www.liammclaney.com/layout.jpg Do you like the design or not? If you do like them which one should i try and follow and improve upon. Can you suggest any improvements. Cheers, Liam __________________ Please can somebody change my username?

13-05-2007, 05:12	#6 (permalink)
lmclaney Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Oxford Posts: 426	Hi thanks for your input, the name pixel perfection wasnt chosen by me and is an awful name as its got a lot to live up to and how do you show perfect pixels. But anyway I feel like both designs dont work so im going to try and re make the original site but just enhance the visuals. Maybe save the melting borders and content for another project. __________________ Please can somebody change my username?

13-05-2007, 07:40	#9 (permalink)
pat jorge regula Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: B'ham/Leeds Posts: 4,860	Being harsh but honest, both are dated, amateur looking and on the whole, terrible. Say this to everyone but have a browse through css gallery sites or something - there's no creativity or visual concept to these designs. They're bland and don't say anything about you - apart from you like black and white lines etc. Start again, be creative. __________________

14-05-2007, 07:35	#11 (permalink)
lmclaney Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Oxford Posts: 426	Ok so I decided to scrap both ideas and have gone for a more modern look. This design is still in its early stages but can you tell me what you think, is it an improvement and can you suggest any changes. By the way the preview box will be changed at the moment it has a the numbers "1" "2" "3" but this will change to a thumbnail of the preview. As I dont have much content and this is a fake company for uni its a bit sparse and im not sure what to do to fill the white space. http://www.liammclaney.com/design.jpg __________________ Please can somebody change my username?

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12-05-2007, 14:16	#2 (permalink)
Do Gooder Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 5,480	version 1 the solid black and stark white blankness is making things look a bit funereal at the moment. perhaps something like a large panel in a natural tone to lift things a bit and give a bit of structure to hang things on..... Either that or knock your black to a light grey and go all airy looking. I don't mean to be arsey but your name is pixel perfection and your main visual is a halftone screen? I feel like I should be seeing perfect pixels! I just like to see a reason behind pretty images. don't like version 2 at all. sorry

12-05-2007, 14:40	#3 (permalink)
Do Gooder Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 5,480	perhaps actually the halftone thing is OK

12-05-2007, 15:14	#4 (permalink)
flipstewart Am I doing it right? Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 145	The second one is extremely dated... and I don't think it can be improved upon either. The first one is alright though, but the tabs need work, it obviously needs to be colored, I don't like it boxed, and your thumbnails could use a new aspect ratio and size.

12-05-2007, 15:49	#5 (permalink)
Puzuki Studio Phreaky Geeky Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Pacific Northwest, USA Posts: 18	layout.jpg Blending the header/footer/border graphics with the content areas is a good idea, but the graphics themselves seem rigid and undeveloped. Perhaps there is a way to integrate the site destinations with the design instead of just a line of text? layout2.jpg The header curvilinear dot matrix works, but the text logo and asterisk don't appeal to my eye. The tabbed browsing is a good idea, but doesn't seem well-developed. I think the content area is too plain. Not sure about you, but I have the worst time encapsulating my own work into proper design. I often check out other designers portfolio sites to inspire ideas. Browse through some of the pages here: stumbleupon.com/tag/design-portfolio/

13-05-2007, 05:30	#7 (permalink)
Do Gooder Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 5,480	the perfect pixel > . true not the easyiest thing to show. maybe the old pixel art Lego Land stuff or better... a nice set of colours in boxes - as if you have zoomed right in to a bitmap image. have fun!

13-05-2007, 06:01	#8 (permalink)
microdesign Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 195	sorry to be honost i dont like both.

13-05-2007, 08:30	#10 (permalink)
R1gM Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 276	I agree with pat both don't look great. Lose the reflections they always make me think someone is a total wanker of a designer. But onto a more important point get a shitload more content and you will find your page will take shape better as you can actually organise sections. Right now you have a box a few tabs and minimal page content. Without a focus your design will suck you need to organise data into how you want a viewer to see it and make your site have a point otherwise you are just making coloured shapes on a page with no meaning.

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