[mgpwr]

i have stripped my website down to nothing but clean and simple, well i think so, i would like all your views before i progress

[brooks]

no offence but you could do with a redesign, the current body copy looks tits.

for this new'un i'm not a fan of the outrageous colour scheme, try COLOURlovers :: Color Trends + Palettes for a nice pallet. from the overall impression of the site i can't work out what you do, i mean i can read it but the finish of the design doesn't inspire me to want to hire you one bit in it's current state. the nav is rather plain and i think my main issue is using verdana for big text, it looks naff.

hope this isn't taken too harsh, but knock us up another one with a different header type, different colour scheme, more flowing nav and content, and your progress will shine through i'm sure.

[mgpwr]

be as harsh as you like, i want professional opinions.. how else do i develop?

[brooks]

i like how you're going for a grid like structure but if you look at other peoples work here like MAQINA Visual communication & Brand Identity Studio and // Subcircle Creative: Formulating brand identity and creative solutions. Brighton 0845 0525 333 you'll see it is less constricted with backgrounds, but more kept in-line with the body of text, which works better, lose the verdana instantly as well imo, keep it for the footer if you choose.

have you got a defined colour, like purple? which you want to keep? if so don't conflict it with naff orange and greens, make the purple contrast against stuff, bold headers of purple against normal dark grey copy looks nice. I'd be more inclined to show the whole image as well on your latest work bit.

[puzzle]

Just a question, how long have you been developing this design?

It normally takes me a good 5 days to get a design finalised. I can see the route your are taking with clean a simple but it needs a focus point. I find my eyes are drawn away from the main content, I would have the body copy on a white background. Its easier to read.

hope that helped a little

[Scott]

hmm, I'm not going to comment on the design side of things but, don't justify your text. I know you haven't on the example shown above, but you have on your current site.

Sort your copy (text) out please, nobody wants to know that you got beat on 'price' or you were up till 2am in the morning to send a logo. Or the fact that, the client in question then told a friend about you and you got work from them.

It's all a bit long winded and very kid like unprofessional (oh i built a website for my dads business using publisher, and i'm telling everybody the ins and outs about it).

Read through your content before you just stick it into the new design.

I'm not a fan of either the current or new design mind. If your going for 'simple' have a browse through this lot: Design Meltdown § Minimalism and spend a bit more time on the design and then come post that one. (I believe that you believe you can do better?)

[wheedwacker]

Its better than your current design, but still not that great.
I agree with Brooks: you need a good color scheme.
Why is the logo so high up?