Web Design Forums

djeglin · 24-04-2008, 18:55

Hi guys and girls!

So, I've had a serious case of designer's block for ages, and I have been trying to re-work my portfolio. I've got something... A home page design, layed out, which I just need to stick over my CMS system. Before I do that though, I wanted to get some feedback from my friends over here at DT... So be honest! I'm sure I can take it.

Incidentally, the only visual design experience I have had in the last few years has been standard fare e-commerce stuff... So being really free to do what I like is a bit unnatural to me at the moment!

Here it is: index

Cheers folks!

David

Yoyi · 24-04-2008, 19:01

I would get rid of the gradient in the logo. Leave the flat colors the butterfly would blend nicely into david if it was flat black. The eglin is hard to read with the gradient as well.

I like the header. The content section doesn't do much for me though. Try flipping the header bg upside down and using it for the bottom section.

illvibe · 24-04-2008, 20:14

Hmmm. I see you're working to a 3 column grid, however on the y axis it's a terrible mess.

bazzle · 24-04-2008, 20:37

My biggest criticism is the lime green headings, also the background gradients and pattern effects are too soft.

I really like the logo, but I'd go for a not so vivid green, and try using flat colour like yoyi said, might make the logo more prominent.

7am · 24-04-2008, 20:37

The first thing that I thought was that your recent work items were ads... I know they are not but that is what they jumped out at me as.

I do like the floral grunge though.

-Lee

djeglin · 24-04-2008, 20:40

In terms of what, illvibe? The baseline rhythm or just the spacing? I admit, the "Latest work" section has been giving me problems, in particular. I think the blog posts section looks ok at the moment... It looked shite until I fiddled with the balance by using the background there, and making the latest post be darker in colour than the others.

I am rather lost on the work section though. Maybe I could do something similar... Make the latest piece take two columns instead of just one, and just have one further piece shown on the home page with it?

Like I said... I've been having problems thinking about the design of this. Working on e-commerce for so long seems to have sapped my creativity (and my ability to use irregularity as a design tool... Everything in e-commerce is so uniform)!

Hmm... Any other comments appreciated. I'll work on this some more tomorrow anyway, and see if I can't do something about that work section up top.

Oh, incidentally, I'll take a look at leaving the logotype flat... Although if I remember, I wasnt too keen on it in flat colour. Maybe that's just a symptom of me not liking the logotype full stop, and trying to do something with it to make it more interesting?

I'm glad someone liked the floral grunge thing... that was kind of what I was going for! As for the grads and colours, I'll see what happens when I tone down the green for the text and logo, but the grads and backgrounds are tricky. At the moment, they are very light on Macs, but ok on PC gamma... If I change it then I'll probably find it goes the other way. As most of my market is still PC based (e-commerce doesnt really do Apple, yet), I think I need to stick to the PC market for this.

I totally agree with the "advert-y" look of the work items, too... I'll try taking different crops and see what happens.

joey · 24-04-2008, 20:56

If a logo sucks in black and white, making it shiny and glossy isn't going to make it any better.

Dusteh · 25-04-2008, 04:31

the bright lime green is horrific.

djeglin · 25-04-2008, 10:52

Right, so I've changed things around a bit... Toned down the lime green that was being used for headings, taken the shine off the logotype, and rearranged the latest work section completely. Think it looks any better, guys?

index

Cheers!

f-thom · 25-04-2008, 11:42

Didn't see the original but I'm sure it's beter as I quite like the current one! I personnally would put the about the author and flickr info part above the blog entries part because otherwise when you open the website you aren't told straight awway exactly what you are looking at!... also usually the info on the website is not down at the bottom. Oh, and a navigation part at the bottom is ususally seen in most websites... heres another idea: about the author bit at the top, then the past works bit and then blog section at bottom - just to divide it up a bit... other that the layout it looks really good and I do like the logo!

d*d · 25-04-2008, 11:42

Still not a fan of the green your using for the headers, also is there a photo of yourself where you're not looking so pissed off, bit more padding needed (especially around the 'about the author' text)

f-thom · 25-04-2008, 11:42

Just read what I wrote by the first line I mean i am sure the new one is better... it kinda sounds like i'm saying the old one is better...

jg9 · 25-04-2008, 13:04

Lose the 'web maestro' tag line.

Yoyi · 25-04-2008, 15:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by jg9

Lose the 'web maestro' tag line.

I agree.

Looks better

As mentioned not a big fan of the green either.

Reverse gradient box just not doing it for me at all.

Header looks good.

24-04-2008, 18:55	#1 (permalink)
djeglin goober :-) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Birmingham, UK Posts: 533	critique a sample of my portfolio Hi guys and girls! So, I've had a serious case of designer's block for ages, and I have been trying to re-work my portfolio. I've got something... A home page design, layed out, which I just need to stick over my CMS system. Before I do that though, I wanted to get some feedback from my friends over here at DT... So be honest! I'm sure I can take it. Incidentally, the only visual design experience I have had in the last few years has been standard fare e-commerce stuff... So being really free to do what I like is a bit unnatural to me at the moment! Here it is: index Cheers folks! David __________________ My signature sucks.

24-04-2008, 19:01	#2 (permalink)
Yoyi Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Miami, Florida, US Posts: 345	I would get rid of the gradient in the logo. Leave the flat colors the butterfly would blend nicely into david if it was flat black. The eglin is hard to read with the gradient as well. I like the header. The content section doesn't do much for me though. Try flipping the header bg upside down and using it for the bottom section. __________________ www.spireconcepts.com My cat is on Prozac

24-04-2008, 20:40	#6 (permalink)
djeglin goober :-) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Birmingham, UK Posts: 533	In terms of what, illvibe? The baseline rhythm or just the spacing? I admit, the "Latest work" section has been giving me problems, in particular. I think the blog posts section looks ok at the moment... It looked shite until I fiddled with the balance by using the background there, and making the latest post be darker in colour than the others. I am rather lost on the work section though. Maybe I could do something similar... Make the latest piece take two columns instead of just one, and just have one further piece shown on the home page with it? Like I said... I've been having problems thinking about the design of this. Working on e-commerce for so long seems to have sapped my creativity (and my ability to use irregularity as a design tool... Everything in e-commerce is so uniform)! Hmm... Any other comments appreciated. I'll work on this some more tomorrow anyway, and see if I can't do something about that work section up top. Oh, incidentally, I'll take a look at leaving the logotype flat... Although if I remember, I wasnt too keen on it in flat colour. Maybe that's just a symptom of me not liking the logotype full stop, and trying to do something with it to make it more interesting? I'm glad someone liked the floral grunge thing... that was kind of what I was going for! As for the grads and colours, I'll see what happens when I tone down the green for the text and logo, but the grads and backgrounds are tricky. At the moment, they are very light on Macs, but ok on PC gamma... If I change it then I'll probably find it goes the other way. As most of my market is still PC based (e-commerce doesnt really do Apple, yet), I think I need to stick to the PC market for this. I totally agree with the "advert-y" look of the work items, too... I'll try taking different crops and see what happens. __________________ My signature sucks.

24-04-2008, 20:56	#7 (permalink)
joey Joey™ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: California Posts: 1,081	If a logo sucks in black and white, making it shiny and glossy isn't going to make it any better. __________________ Something here very soon.

25-04-2008, 04:31	#8 (permalink)
Dusteh Sir digby chicken caesar Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 4,828	the bright lime green is horrific. __________________ unconsolidated isoparms

24-04-2008, 20:14	#3 (permalink)
illvibe say werd. Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Japan Posts: 1,274	Hmmm. I see you're working to a 3 column grid, however on the y axis it's a terrible mess.

24-04-2008, 20:37	#4 (permalink)
bazzle Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Derby uk Posts: 584	My biggest criticism is the lime green headings, also the background gradients and pattern effects are too soft. I really like the logo, but I'd go for a not so vivid green, and try using flat colour like yoyi said, might make the logo more prominent.

24-04-2008, 20:37	#5 (permalink)
7am Resident Slacker Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 31	The first thing that I thought was that your recent work items were ads... I know they are not but that is what they jumped out at me as. I do like the floral grunge though. -Lee

25-04-2008, 10:52	#9 (permalink)
djeglin goober :-) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Birmingham, UK Posts: 533	Right, so I've changed things around a bit... Toned down the lime green that was being used for headings, taken the shine off the logotype, and rearranged the latest work section completely. Think it looks any better, guys? index Cheers! __________________ My signature sucks.

25-04-2008, 11:42	#10 (permalink)
f-thom Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Scotland, Highland Posts: 101	Didn't see the original but I'm sure it's beter as I quite like the current one! I personnally would put the about the author and flickr info part above the blog entries part because otherwise when you open the website you aren't told straight awway exactly what you are looking at!... also usually the info on the website is not down at the bottom. Oh, and a navigation part at the bottom is ususally seen in most websites... heres another idea: about the author bit at the top, then the past works bit and then blog section at bottom - just to divide it up a bit... other that the layout it looks really good and I do like the logo!

25-04-2008, 11:42	#11 (permalink)
d*d Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bristol Posts: 3,299	Still not a fan of the green your using for the headers, also is there a photo of yourself where you're not looking so pissed off, bit more padding needed (especially around the 'about the author' text)

25-04-2008, 11:42	#12 (permalink)
f-thom Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Scotland, Highland Posts: 101	Just read what I wrote by the first line I mean i am sure the new one is better... it kinda sounds like i'm saying the old one is better...

25-04-2008, 13:04	#13 (permalink)
jg9 Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Southampton Posts: 159	Lose the 'web maestro' tag line.

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