New home page design. Need help

Looks great at first glance. I like the way you've used an appropriate font to represent your topic. I'm on a cable modem, so it loaded nice and quick for me.

One thing you should do is center the site on the page instead of leaving it crammed in the left corner at higher resolutions. Is that list on there articles or content sections of the site? I'm a little confused about that. I definitely think that you should do something different with the mouseovers - I'm guessing that many of your visitors could be rather newbie-ish, so you wouldn't want to confuse them by taking away the underline on mouseover. Change the colour instead.

I'm really not sure about the navbar along the top. That blue doesn't seem quite right and those options really seem to overshadow the real content. You might want to try to make those a lot smaller and lose the lighter blue blackground.

Othewrise it looks good - I really like the shade of blue you've used for the background. It sets a nice mood for the site and matches your location. The picture really helps with that too.

I agree with Megan, definitely center it on the page and change the blue boxes for the links at the top and introduce some colour with a change of colour on hover for the article links.

It loaded fast on my pc Win2k ADSL connection.

Hi,

1. On first viewing, what is your first impression?

I like the overall look and feel of the page. But then maybe that has something to do with that photo

2. How fast does it load? What is your connection speed?

Fast on dial-up (always a bonus!)

3. How does it look on a Mac?

Can't answer that one sorry.

5. Any recommendations on improving it further?

I agree with above comments. The page looks best on 800x600 but if you check it on other browser window sizes it doesn't look balanced. You can check how it looks at different sizes at http://www.echoecho.com/toolresizer.htm.

Not sure about the blue link boxes. They didn't stand out as a glaring unbalanced bad colour choice thing when I first looked at the site, but then sort of did after I read the comments. I would say that it would be best not to take any advice from me on this one.

Good luck.

The site make very poor use of the available page space, but saying that it does catch the eye.

I agree that the menu bar at the top of the screen looks out of place, try moving it to the bottom and perhaps space the buttons out (hmmmmm have to see how it looks?)

The picture is a good choice, makes me wish I was on Holiday, perhaps it would be better off becoming part of the logo?

The list of items on the site is ok, not quite right somehow though, try using a darker font colour, perhaps play on the theme of the site and have them on a peice of note paper, or scribbled in pencil? something along those lines.

Overall I quite like it 7/10

Site loads real quick (56k modem) and I like the initial impression, very relaxing...

I'm not too crazy on the font choice though and the bottom banner containing your copyright info, I personally have mad that slightly smaller as it detracted my eye from the main page, kinda dominating, bit like my wife

Overall, looks great!

Quote: Originally posted by gavin681
I spent considerable time trying to come up with a design concept for this writer’s web site. I ended up here but I feel there is something missing.

Interesting. I too am working on a writer's site and had trouble getting the juices flowing. This is my second writer and I had the exact same problem the first time as well!

What is it about working for a writer that creates "designer's block"?

I like what you've done here and since this morning, you've centered it as well. I was going to suggest that if you did center it, to use the blue for a table background and something else for the body background. Looking at it now, I'm not sure that's necessary.

I don't like the light blue in the nav and the 5th slot looks... empty. Have you tried the body blue as a nav text colour with white as a background?

Nice work.

Thanks everyone for the great feedback.

I've redesigned the layout slightly using some of your suggestions. I also decided to give it a more compact look: http://www.advancedwebsitepromotion.com/bahamaswriter.htm

All the best,
Gavin

first impressions - good, relaxing (the photo makes it)

loaded well with 56k

try verdana font for the articles, its a more editor type font
looks like the top right corner is missing as its the only square one.

like everyone else, that light blue line link bar doesnt do anything for me, maybe make it white and curve the ends? maybe place the logo above it slighty also.
the bottom copyright panel seems a little to big for the content in there to the rest of the page.

Id be interested in seeing the articles when your done, i was once a photojournalist and in my spare time used to write for fun, i still cant get by without spell check lol

Load time is great. My first impression is I am not crazy about how you have the links numbered. I like the colors but it needs a small amount of an accent color. Maybe a darker shade of yellow or the color that you have the link rollovers.

The nav bar definitely needs something. COLOR! How bout some flat rollover buttons?

You need a different font and the title doesn't seem to stand out enough. Color again.

Just some thoughts here but overall I like.
DM

NS4.6, IE4.0, 800x600, Mac, 33.6

Loads fast.

Slight horizontal scroll.

In IE, only the right hand column of listed links displays. "Select all" doesn't even highlight anything where that column should be.

In NS, both columns show, but the vertical spacing is uneven.

I don't think these are Mac issues per se, probably something to do with the browser versions.

say it but, while it loads fast on a 56k modem, the colors turn me off. Blue and Blue just dont work. This is coming out of my first impression, and to make sure I was seeing what the layout had to offer I clicked the links to check it out. Still that blue blue. I know you want it to load fast but a different color scheme might work.

About 10 minutes in photoshop and 20 slicing it out made this last night (A test site for a refresh I am doing)

http://www.kilclinefuneralhome.com/mcn

The example was to just show a more striking color scheme. Which may be what I prefer but it was my first impression. Yesterday morning I made this one.

http://www.kilclinefuneralhome.com/mbshost to work on a layout for a hosting company and they wanted a very soft look yet retain the striking feel of color. (Use the enter button, not the begginer, intermediate and advanced links)

The rollovers took the longest time obviously but it shows how a site can be striking yet reserved which is probally what you end up with, with the writers site.

Just my two cents.

I give your site
4 yorkies

edit: fixed link

Personally, I think I liked it better before. You've taken the one thing I didn't like (the light blue) and made it a major component of the site.

Do you still have the original up somewhere for direct comparison purposes?

>>Do you still have the original up somewhere for direct comparison purposes?<<

No. I decided to go with an even lighter blue than the original. I still would like to add another color but can't think of one right now. Does anyone have a sugestion for a color that could go whith this design?

Gavin

I have just tried your page with a background colour of #99CCCC picked out from the water in the picture & I think it looks really nice as a contrast, instead of the light blue.

Thanks for the color suggestion. I think I will stick with the light blue. I would like to add another color to the web site though.

Any ideas?

Gavin

The colour I suggested is a nice contrast colour to the blue. Where do you want to add the colour?

To the body. I just changed the text color (too much blue)and reduced the table width from 760 to 720. I think it looks better. What do you think?

http://www.advancedwebsitepromotion.com/bahamaswriter.htm

Gavin

I see what you are struggling with, you possibly are fighting against a very simple layout that you have chosen, mixed with not keeping with design perspective. Your corners arent the same radius which is subtle, but it is throwing people off about the current layout. If you are going to keep it simple then try embelishing the simplicity of it like this.

http://www.kilclinefuneralhome.com/wf_posts/bahama.jpg

K

Hi Busy,

I hope you weren't affected by the terrorist attack.

http://www.bahamaswriter.com is online.

Only two articles are finished so far but just about every day a new one is being added.

Take care,
Gavin

Looks good, I'll have a read of the articles in a bit

Thanks Gavin681, I think we all were affected by the attacks some way or another.

I'm looking at an article now but that light blue is bugging me, its kind of taken that relaxing, professional edge away.

its always hard to pick a background color that isnt used. I'm using Netscape 6 which has dark blue to light blue (faded) toolbars so makes it worse.

its all personal taste, but have you tried:
white
very light grey
mid grey
very pale blue
a similar color to the persons chair

once within the site it looks the same as the index, maybe have the page name your on underlined, or bold. change the picture per topic. I think the links need to be another color, esp at the bottom of the becoming a writer page, it all looks like text, maybe add a "top" link to each page

The blue does make it feel colder, I still like the look whith the original colour I suggested (which is very similar to the chair)

Just read 'Becoming a writer' and a jolly good read it is to. I didn't know you were born in Scotland & bought up in England.

>>I didn't know you were born in Scotland & bought up in England.<<

No. I'm not the Bahamas Writer. Fay Knowles is.

>>its all personal taste, but have you tried:
white
very light grey
mid grey
very pale blue
a similar color to the persons chair<<

Yes tried all those colors. Actually I even redesigned the layout and color scheme completely to give it a very professional looking appearance. But the Bahamas Writer didn't like it. She said it wasn't fun enough. I think she's right. This type of web site is not a business web site it is a personal web site and should be fun. For my business web sites I now even staying away from rounded corners as they make a web site look unprofessional. But they do make a web site more fun.

I am in the process of designing my new FAST Sites web site, which will replace the very basic one I have now which is hosted on a free server. Just got the color scheme and layout done. Much more work to do but the basic design idea is complete. I could have designed something complicated but that doesn't represent what FAST Sites is all about: "Web Site Solutions Made Simple". So therefore the design should be simple and the information should be clearly apparent on first view. If you want to check out the first draft of the template click here:

http://www.advancedwebsitepromotion.com/fastsites.htm

Note: most of the text you will notice will of course be replaced with images. Lots more work to do.

Gavin

Re: >>For my business web sites I now even staying away from rounded corners as they make a web site look unprofessional. But they do make a web site more fun.<<

I'm just learning how to do rounded corners because I thought it would add something. Can you please explain to me (a beginner) why they look unprofessional (that is, provided the rounded bits are not jagged)? Thanks.

I wish you luck with your new site - looks good. And not a rounded corner in sight!

Annette

Annette,

Rounded corners look ok and may be useful for a "fun" site but for a business site rounded corners will not add anything to the design. The best thing about not using rounded corners is that you can easily change the background color if it is not working. However if you are centering your site you may need to use rounded corners. Go to http://www.webbyawards.com You will notice that most of the winning web sites are either set to the left or set at 100%.

Also if you do use rounded corners stay away from making the top and bottom of a web site one large image. Split the table into 3 columns and insert the corners on the ends. That way if you decide to change the width of your site you wont have to make another image.

Gavin

I think there needs to be a distinction between a professional looking site - in as much as it doesn't look amateurish & a professional site - belonging to a business as opposed to a personal homepage site!

I disagree that a business site shouldn't have rounded corners and that it only works with 'fun' sites. If the design is good, the site works, it's easy to navigate and the client likes it, then it is a professional site whether it is centered, 100% rounded corners or otherwise. As a web designer I like to come up with different ideas to make the site as unique as possible for my client rather than sticking to the 'normal look everyone else uses'. At the end of the day it is down to personal tastes and ultimately what the client likes and we all know how funny they can be!