[chazthetic]

After some sort of hiatus, i'm back. I'm not a huge poster, but like this forum.

Anyway, enough of that shite, I wanted to get some critiques on the design of my new portfolio site:
http://www.charlesforster.com/dev/Ca...z-V03-home.jpg
http://www.charlesforster.com/dev/Ca...z-V03-port.jpg

here's the old one: CHARLES FORSTER | welcome

I'm changing the name of the biz to Call Me Chaz instead of just Charles Forster Design + Marketing. I'm working with a copywriter to create the copy on the site, and it's not finished, so don't worry too much about the wording, that was her first draft.

What do you think?

[Soup Of The Day]

I don't much care for the CALL ME CHAZ line, though I'm sure you're not up for changing that at this point.

I definitely like the new one better than the old, but that header just bugs me.

[LukeV]

I would work some more detail into the new design. It's still somewhat generic.

And I would change that "Design in the end..." thing to something more graphical. It's wasting alot of space and it's neither important nor aesthetically pleasing.

And on the portfolio page where it says Case Studies , branding etc, I would change the way they are divided or presented because as it is they look like ads from a distance, and if your clients are anything like me they will auto skip anything that looks like an ad.

[Tom_E]

Quite like the site overall, but I'd have to agree I don't like the whole 'Call Me Chaz' thing though, sounds a bit cheap to me.

Charles Forster Design sounds much more professional.

[doffy]

Drop 'call' and just leave it at 'me[,] Chaz' is my notion. - "Call..." sounds/reads like you're some breed of Artificial Intelligence, or maybe an asylum for the retarded. (no offence whatsoever, just going with the impression.)

[CharmingMan]

Second design is a much better layout, you need to sort out your grid lignment though

See jpeg

[chazthetic]

it's funny how polarizing the name can be. Charles Forster design and marketing just sounds so... blah. i just imagine being in a huge crowd of other freelancers rather than a full fledged studio. Call Me Chaz has been on my business card:
so it made sense to me to make it the name of the biz. It's friendly, inviting and a warm introduction I think, but maybe it gives the wrong impression?

@ Soup: is it the design of the header or the name that bugs you?

@ Luke: so you think I should get rid of that transparent box altogether or somehow make the typography of that bit a little more interesting?

@ doffy: doesn't Me, Chaz sound a little neanderthal and retarded? I don't really know what you mean.

CharmingMan, you know what, you're right. I had a grid set up into thirds, but it broke down with the portfolio since I was using images from the old site.

[i3lance]

Mate I love the business card, something about it - great tag line. People have this conception that web designers walk around in jeans and grunge fashion t-shirts, go to outdoor concert gigs and so on and your card kind of stays true to that; in the sense that this group of stereotypical professionals think and live outside the box.

The name does however indicate that you are a one man band, self employed one many show and so on, to get decent clients you will either need to know the right people or make sure they see past this. That's the only thing going against the name.

Am I reading to much into it; maybe so but you can bet your a$$ a half intelligent client will also!

[chazthetic]

i3lance, thanks! Honestly, I get great responses from that card. Of course, I need to redo the typography to match the site now, but the concept is still there.

That one man show part was part of my concern with the name as well. I've been on my own for a while, and it's been fine to say I'm a one man show, but now that I'm building my business beyond that, I'm not sure if it still comes off well. I'm not really a one man show anymore, and I'm possible going to be hiring in a year, so do I just have to make sure I explain the biz well or do I change the name. Tough choice.

[doffy]

Originally Posted by chazthetic

doffy: doesn't Me, Chaz sound a little neanderthal and retarded?

It does; - I admit it sucks, ultimately, and my critique was unwarranted there.

[chazthetic]

Originally Posted by doffy

It does; - I admit it sucks, ultimately, and my critique was unwarranted there.

any crit is appreciated, please keep em coming, I judt didn't understand what you meant here.

[jdickenson]

i don't dislike the new designs, and i think the 'call me chaz' theme has a personal feel that makes you seem more approachable and friendly. by the way, i noticed you're from philly. used to live there. miss the cheese wit's.

[chazthetic]

Thanks, Philly's great, I'm actually flying back today. I moved to Orlando about 4 months back, but I love going back to visit.

I miss the provolone wit.