And here are the first drafts of the site for client #1
It's PS images only and aimed to find colors and general balance and feel.
I need more work on the menu-part, like finding the right size for example.
Plus, the logo will be replaced with their existing one, this one is just a placeholder.
The thought is to swap the header between different themes all based on merging different things, I've got two examples, and it'll be at least one more, based on humans.
Well, here's my opinion:
I really like the ideas, nice images on PS, can improve the blue of the menu or try green maybe?
Something extra:
top navigation horizontal, under the PS banner (gif on layer on top) something on frameset? iframe?? flash showing extra pictures somewhere? flash logo 3D?
In the first header (Nature), the blending of images was very good. In the second one (Town), the images didn't transition as well. I'd try to make the collage smoother.
As for the site design, I think it's very professional and clean. Good design.
Thank you for your input.
I'm quite satified with the nature-header as well, the other one feels a bit to busy, but the client likes it...
The menu needs more work, I know. I'll tighten it up and adjust it in size for starters.
I don't do flash or 3D so that's out for now and I don't see the need for frames/iframes. In other pages there will be some more images to illustrate the text though.
Thanx/Dan
{cell 260}
-{ a vibration is a movement that doesn't know which way to go }-
The rollovers/submenus.
First, this is only images, second, I'll do my own code by hand.
the rollovers will be only css, the submenus is a couple of div's and some js-code ti hide and show them.
{cell 260}
-{ a vibration is a movement that doesn't know which way to go }-
DMS I'll be honest with you...the layout could be better. This being more of an organization, the design isn't quite so much important as functionality. However, it is very bland looking. Maybe you could incorporate some edge smoothing in there or something.
I guess what I really don't like is the borders you are using around everything. The text too, which is hard to read against the photograph. I'd lose the borders IMHO. It has a framey feel to it. The buttons could use some shape, or just freely-floating I think. I hate js pop-ups though (I think they are annoying).
The colors I won't argue with. However if they are company colors, you may try another secondary color to ease the flourescent stab of the transition to white.
The logo frame and the lower left navigation bar could use some alignment.
Thank god that isn't the logo you are going to use...The words are absolutely unreadable.
I think the site has potential, but there is really no flow to the design. It is clean however, and if that is what the customer wants...then by all means. Perhaps a sprawling graphic could tie everything in better? Dunno...
One last thing, put a space between "training" and "programs" in the right menu.
DmS: I have been slacking in my reviewing duties lately
Anywa my thoughts:
1. I like the nice clean design.
2. I think the menu could do with something to spice it up. It certainly needs tightening up as there is a lot of blank space in there especially around the main buttons.
3. I'm not overly fond of either header graphic.
a) The town one just has too many elements in it and looks to squashed. I think that it might be good to try and make the 'theme' work for you (hmmmm not well explained there) - I like the way the skyscrapers merge into the columns of the building but everything else is a little disjoined. I don't know what kind of pictures you have available but I might try columns into trees in a park into the flag poles something else - that kind of thing.
b) The nature one is better but I find the difference in horizons offputting between the middle and end elements - the viewer is also viewing these pictures at different angles and the composite image is slightly jarring because of that. I think one green view and two desert views is unbalanced. Possibly having the green going into the rocky arch (I'm sure that was on a 'gorges' calender I had a few years ago - there were some amazing pictures in there) and then that arch leading us into a snowy scene might work nicely.
Overall it is looking good - I like the big blocks of colour and the space you have in the lower area but it does contrast strongly with the top panel and it might work better if the transitions were more flowing and (in the case of the town) less hectic.
I look forward to seeing working versions of this.
Thank you for honest opinions!
To put it in perspective, this one http://www.adinitium.se/ is what they are comparing themselves to...
(This is actually a 1-person company so it's positive that you percieve it as an organisation )
Thumper: what do you mean with "sprawling graphic"?
The menu will be a lot more tightend up and I'll work some more on the header graphics.
Don't know about the borders though, I'll see as I can play a little with the css.
Right now I've been spending my time on the CMS-system the other client wants, I'll get back as soon as I have something that works on this one.
/Dan
{cell 260}
-{ a vibration is a movement that doesn't know which way to go }-
DmS,
As for sprawling graphic. That is just an idea. I have found that if my designed elements do not "flow" with each other, it is somtimes helpful to incorporate some kind of graphic that unites them (spanning across all elements). If you are using frames...argghh!...this may not be a good idea.
Update...
Here is a working version that the client will check the next couple of days.
The headers still need some work and it doesn't look that good in NS4 (what does...) but it works and that's the main point.
This logo is theirs, no can change.
Mozilla is ok, so should Opera 5 & 6 be. Unable to test in mac though.
Oh, and Emps; no meta tags yet...
Thanx, adjusted the menu (it was intentional).
The box on the right is what the client wants.
There is some more different headers in there, not decided on which goes where yet.
/Dan
{cell 260}
-{ a vibration is a movement that doesn't know which way to go }-
DmS: Looks good - one thing I managed to do by accident was break your DHTML naviagtion quite badly by waving my mouse up and down quickly over the navigation leaving the lower nav boxes quivering up and down. I doubt this is a big issue but it wasn't intentional and I can see circumstances where people change their mind about what they want and move to another nav box quickly.
Might not be a big issue though - nice work, good and clean and simple.
posted 07-09-2002 10:40
