[LukeV]

Hi everyone, finally reached 15 posts.

Anyways I am fairly new to web design. This is like my 2nd proper site design if you include my personal page which is here if you'd like to critique that aswell:
link
(It's still under contruction so some pages don't work)

This is my first commercial template for a web hosting company. I call it...MiNT! Check it out here:
link

All the icons are custom made and no stocks where used (if you exclude photoshop custom shapes).

Besides getting critique on the design I was hoping I'd get some advice on how much I should ask for the template if I plan to sell it as unique or as a template which I can sell multiple times. I never really sold a design so I'm lost when it comes to prices.

By the way I'll have sub-pages for the MiNT design as well but I'm still in the process of finishing those :P

Thanks!

[emil]

Originally Posted by LukeV

Hi everyone, finally reached 15 posts.

Great achievement. Congrats.

Read on grids and typography.
More design, less photoshop.

[LukeV]

Originally Posted by emil

Great achievement. Congrats.

Read on grids and typography.
More design, less photoshop.

Ummm could you be a bit more specific as to what you're referring to?

[pgo]

Great for a beginner. Keep it up.

Emil just means that good design doesn't have to have to look Photoshop-y.

[emil]

Sure!

Grid (page layout - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
Typography - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Don't compensate lack of creativity with software abuse.

[LukeV]

No i know what those two things are, but where exactly did you see that I misused those two?

And I'm not gna lie to you but saying my work isn't creative hurts...Alot

What do you want from me?

[luxbrand]

Originally Posted by LukeV

No i know what those two things are, but where exactly did you see that I misused those two?

And I'm not gna lie to you but saying my work isn't creative hurts...Alot

What do you want from me?

You had better toughen up that skin of yours if you are to start posting stuff for criticism.

[emil]

I'm sorry if you expected us to be dazzled. If you can't take the heat, etc...

First things first. I know it's a template, but I don't think it's a good place to start. First thing you need to do is get hold of the content, styling lorem ipsum isn't going to help you design.

There is no cohesion between the main content area, the right column and navigation. The whole composition lacks a focal point.

There is no grid. Left column is indented about 5 pixels from the header.

I can count at least 4 different typefaces.

Icons are from a different story.

Text on the live chat bubble is misaligned. What's with the copyright notice in the header? Centred text in the boxes on the left contributes to the overall messy look.

<div id="navbar">
<a href="#">Home</a>
<a href="#">Shared</a>
<a href="#">Reseller</a>
<a href="#">Dedicated</a>
<a href="#">Contact</a>
</div>

This is not a way to build a navigation bar (btw the background image gets chopped off on the right side). Code overall could be improved.

[emil]

Oh and never, never, never resize rounded corners rasters via command(ctrl)+t as you did for the header!

[Do Gooder]

if you don't know these things are, there's only one way to find out - read up on grid layouts and typography as emil suggests. there's plenty on the web.. and (better imo) some good books to.

but there's no catch-all 'tutorial' way to learn this - to learn it takes effort and time.

[LukeV]

Right let me clear some things up.

I know 100% that the site isn't revolutionary. No where near the standards of to quality web design. But then how could it. I've been designing for less then a month. I didn't make this thread so I can be praised - seriously.

But I also know that the design is not THAT bad.

First things first. I know it's a template, but I don't think it's a good place to start. First thing you need to do is get hold of the content, styling lorem ipsum isn't going to help you design.

What is a good place to start then? And I'm not sure what you mean get hold of the content.

There is no cohesion between the main content area, the right column and navigation. The whole composition lacks a focal point.

I respect your thoughts but I'd have to disagree. And I'm not sure if a web hosting site is even supposed to have some sort of focal point. There is no part of the site that deservers more attention then the other.

There is no grid. Left column is indented about 5 pixels from the header.

Right, this is all very minor stuff which can be fixed with a few edits of the css. I'll be sure to take care of that.

Icons are from a different story.

Once again, respect your thoughts, but I disagree. I think they fit in alright.

Text on the live chat bubble is misaligned. What's with the copyright notice in the header? Centred text in the boxes on the left contributes to the overall messy look.

Thanks for pointing that out. Copyright notice can be edited or removed by the user. And yet again, I don't agree. Having them justified is definitely not an option and I tried left align and it looked 10 times worse.

Yeh I should start using unordered lists...it's a habit but it's not a big deal, the bar works just aswell.

Yeh you're right it did get cut out. Must have specified the wrong width for the div. I'll fix that asap.

[emil]

it sounds like you have everything figured out then. Carry on, you're doing a great job.

[LukeV]

Originally Posted by emil

it sounds like you have everything figured out then. Carry on, you're doing a great job.

Somehow I'm not convinced XD

[brooks]

Emil's got a point, a big one.

One of the best things you can do now is read about Grids, Typography and Colour palettes. Read, and learn a lot, and take criticism to change your design, for the better, and learn to listen well.

Learn about how people read websites too. This'll help you in maybe 6 months time when you might be producing some half decent work.

[pob]

somehow i think emil was joking

[LukeV]

Why is everyone bitter and negative? Alright I'll read about Grids and Typography, even color palettes while I'm at it but how is telling me my design isn't even half decent constructive?

Have a frikkin mint. =_=

[Do Gooder]

the truth is a dish best served truthfully.

[LukeV]

mmm well...

I've seen some very very horrible designs, and yeh I could've made a mess of the "designer" by telling him that his site is completely messed up and that it is eye cancer. But no, I take into consideration that the guy probably tried really hard and spent quite a bit of time to do what he did and so I put it down as nicely as I can. I'm still not gna give him praise. Hell no. Just take it easy on the guy, he meant no harm.

[brooks]

I started off the same as you Luke, the reason I joined this place is because it told the truth, didn't sugarcoat things and from what Emil's written here, you've got a clear indication of things to correct, and improve your site, which I would have speedily corrected.

You've only been doing it a month, so we're trying to push you forwards, we've told you why it doesn't look right, and hinted at some design laws for you to read on, I must have read over 150 articles on typography and I'm still poor on it, compared.

Push forward, like we want you to.

[LukeV]

Yes I understand, I guess I wasn't prepared for this.

I do believe I am getting better though. I've been asked to do a design for a company. Check it out: link

Looks much more formal no?

BTW this is just the first sketch....