percepts

play around with the gradient. Think very light grey with a slight inner shadow and you will have a much better version which I can post if you want but you'd be better off doing it yourself.

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ngray

Oh sure, yes I'll have a go. Thanks for the starter percepts

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Terra

Okay - after Matt kindly pointed out that none of us were born designers, I think I chip in with a proper review this time (minus sarcastic comments).

Only one off-topic remark: anybody else who doesn't like the waybackengine as it faithfully records that awful table-based, frame-layout blinking site design which was done years ago & should rightfully be buried never to be seen again? I just got reminded today and just hope none of customers uses it to look up our old designs.

Okay, but now to the site review:

1. Fixed box height for the main content: Not necessarily a negative element but I'd like a robust reason why this was chosen. For customers who spent good money on nice large screens it's a bit of a nuisance having to scroll when there's so much empty white space left below the box.

Also try increasing the font size (both FF and IE7 alllow this with CTRL +) ... text starts overspilling. For CSS compliant browsers it's better to use the minimum height command, but then a hack would be needed to give it a fixed height in non-compliant IE versions.

2. The tabs at the top - look at first glance like the standard tabs but don't behave like them (no change to indicate which section you are in). Normally I'd expect tabs to behave like this: http://www.wagamama.co.uk

3. A personal comment - the best advice I ever saw with regards to design is "be bold". How that's implemented can differ from site but I usually see whether I can create impact with a big heading, a bold image, a striking colour choice .. good sites usually have some really bold design statements. NB: not saying I'm achieving this, but I'm striving.

4. If your bookshelf still has space I recommend Bulletproof Design - it's a really good book and also explains why fixed heights usually are not a good idea. Also contains a really good guide to sliding backgrounds (bit like sliding doors but for divs) and is seriously easy reading with hands-on examples.

all the best - Edith

ngray

Ok, here goes *hides behind sofa*

3 logos

<edit>All based on percepts' simple idea, thanks for that. Grrr why can't I think of simple logical things like that?</edit>

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Patch

Good start - I prefer Logo 4 ! Looks the most professional.

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Tim

Logo 3 for me, but I'd try some other colours on the same theme as well.

Adam

Logo 4A for me! But I like logo 2 too (not sure about bg colour!)

nomish

logo 3 for me looks the best. my reasons:

text is the most easy to read and pleasing to the eye.

the drop shadow actually blends into the white background and doesnt cut dead like the others.

overall though all them look good but my vote would be for number 3.

percepts

when designing a logo you should remember that very often that exact same logo wil be used on letter headings, invoices etc. So it needs great clarity and should be instantly recognisable as that company. Gradients work fine on screen but can be a problem in print. I think your examples would not print at all well.

Often less is more. i.e. minimalism leads to better clarity. My examples with grads look OK on screen but may not look great in print.


If you look at the united hosting logo on this page, it would print great as it has clarity using bold colours.

Oh, and don't get obsessive compulsive about lining things up. i.e. "web design" being made the same width as "services" is not necessary or desirable IMO.
It all starts to get subjective so ultimately you must go with what feels right to you.

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percepts

I didn't think of it, I plagiarised it from seeing typography used in that way just as it is on the United Hosting logo on this page. Only they have added the representation of orbits suggesting data moving around the world. At least thats one interpretation. There may be others

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Terra

Good selection of design sites if anybody needs inspiration:
http://www.crestock.com/blog/design/...t-read-31.aspx

Edith

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ngray

Well thanks everyone for your honesty and advice (and links!), especially percepts for that graphic which inspired me. I think I know what to do now, and I can play with those drop shadows so they don't "cut dead".

BTW: I'm now doing all this on a shiny new Mac I treated myself to, flippin' 'orrible PCs...

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percepts

Ah, well now you have a Mac there can be no excuses

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ngray

Just got to pay for it now, with some design^H^H^H^H^H^Hdevelopment work

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Paranormal ghost map of the UK Thames Valley Paranormal Group

percepts

typography and design

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdzzVeIdwpQ

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Tim

Nice links

nomish

oh thats it you've joined the dark side - we can no longer communicate with you!

joke - hows the mac treating ya? where did you get it from?

ngray

Wonderful! Don't know why I didn't get one sooner, Vista just reminded me how bad the PC industry had got. You know, I switch on my PC now occasionally to get files I haven't transferred yet, and blunder my way through all those stupid "Ok" buttons and "Allow" and all those dink noises when things crash and fail, and then I wait forever for stuff to load, and eventually get to what I need.

Then I go back to the nice quiet mac........which just works...

Got it from PCWorld online - but there's loads of places you can get one from, cheap too.

__________________
Splattt there goes the 8:15 pie right on time. I hate mondays (Garfield)

If you drive you should be Smart Driving

Paranormal ghost map of the UK Thames Valley Paranormal Group

Tim

Never seen a cheap Mac!

corenominal

LOL - me either

On the subject of design I would advise [like I'm any sort of expert] not to get carried away with it too much and don't try too hard. Start really simple and build up if needed. Lose any elements that are not required or don't convey a strong message [green triangle, yellow square?]

One of the things I do to help me with inspiration when I'm struggling is to keep clippings/screenshots of designs that I consider to be good. I'll look at these in depth and consider the elements of each design, trying to work out how they have been used to achieve the effect of "looking good". It's not cheating, honest governor!

If you can't wait to build up your own archive of clippings/screenshots then you may be interested in visiting Design Meltdown which has lots of screenshots of cool looking sites nicely categorised and ready for consumption - if you're lucky you may find one of my sites in there somewhere

I've also read a few good books about traditional print design which has also helped me greatly. Basically I don't think there is any substitue for good research, as with any subject [programming, design, sex, drugs, rock n' roll] it is always time well spent.

Peace/.