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Brutally honest design critique request =)

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DeaPeaJay New member Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 47 Location: USA - TN Status: Offline	Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 20:52 Hello, I just was wondering if you all could provide me with a brutally honest design critique for this site. My client sent it off to a friend of his who had pretty much nothing positive to say about it. He said the navigation was boring and the site in general was banal. And also that the branding looks like an accident the way it's at an angle. I'm all approved to develop this design but thought I'd run it by you all and see what you thought. Thanks for any feedback! Here's the main page: http://sandbox.exit42design.com/hfi/mockups/HFI-design2.jpg And if you're really interested, here's the sub pages. http://sandbox.exit42design.com/hfi/mockups/HFI-design2_about.jpg http://sandbox.exit42design.com/hfi/mockups/HFI-design2_blog.jpg http://sandbox.exit42design.com/hfi/mockups/HFI-design2_blog_comments.jpg http://sandbox.exit42design.com/hfi/mockups/HFI-design2_sponsor.jpg http://sandbox.exit42design.com/hfi/mockups/HFI-design2_contact.jpg

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krismarissens New member Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 41 Location: Belgium Status: Offline	Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 22:19 I think it's a nice layout. I actually like the navigation very much. Maybe it's a personal preference, but I like menu's that are easy to spot and to use and "tabs" that are large enough so you don't have to aim at a tiny 10px square text link or worse... The logo is bothering me, I'm not getting what it reflects and it isn't very nice, but I suppose there's nothing you can do about the logo... Maybe try to use a more interesting item to box it in, a bit more organic (a tag of a travel suitcase or even the suitcase; a badge;...) The font you're using for upcoming events looks a bit jagged (because it's at an odd angle) and I'm not really fond of the effect of the "wrapping around" the white box, it doesn't look clean... Anyway, that's just my humble opinion. Kris

DeaPeaJay New member Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 47 Location: USA - TN Status: Offline	Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 22:48 Yeah, the logo kind of threw me a bit. I wasn't sure how to properly integrate it, which is why it's in there the way it is now. This was my first approach that didn't fly: http://sandbox.exit42design.com/hfi/mockups/HFI-design1.jpg The Upcoming Events may need to be more customizable to the client anyway, so I might not be able to use that at an angle in the final site anyway =/ _________________ <a href='http://www.exit42design.com/'>My Portfolio</a> :: Exit42design <a href="http://davejay.exit42design.com">My Blog</a> :: daveJay's Blog

Natasha New member Joined: 12 Jun 2008 Posts: 25 Location: Slough Status: Offline	Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 17:40 hey, I like the color scheme. But the navigation buttons definately need some work on. Perhaps make them interactive and eye catching? use more of a fun font?

kelly86 New member Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 30 Status: Offline	Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 18:52 Hi, I agree with krismarissens about the logo, What is it surposed to be? I can make out the house but i dont know what the thing down the bottom is meant to be is it a baby, animal, a person?

Kiran New member Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 32 Status: Offline	Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 18:54 Hi, Not to sure about the color scheme that you have chosen... looks to army for me and I'm not sure that it is giving off the right impression... Kiran

krismarissens New member Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 41 Location: Belgium Status: Offline	Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 09:16 Also: Sounds to me your client couldn't be bothered giving you any input regarding concept and general l&f. What I generally would suggest in order to get this out of the way before production, is to start by first showing examples of existing designs you feel are appropriate and check with the client to grasp what it is he is expecting. Might help avoiding some frustration in future projects...

DeaPeaJay New member Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 47 Location: USA - TN Status: Offline	Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 18:15 The concept of the site is kind of tricky, because he wants it to have "bright light" and hopeful appeal, but he also wants to get across the brokenness of India. How do you make something appear broken yet hopeful? = / Yeah, the color scheme (orange and green) wasn't my decision. Using the light rustic brown background was my move though. I chose it to help make it look more rustic. The logo was out of my hands, I still don't understand what it's supposed to be. I would dump it if it were up to me. The navigation font is limited to the system fonts since it needs to be changeable by the client, so I chose Helvetica, something that would be neutral and help the design stand out. The header fonts need to be system fonts as well, I considered Georgia, but opted for Helvetica again :-! _________________ <a href='http://www.exit42design.com/'>My Portfolio</a> :: Exit42design <a href="http://davejay.exit42design.com">My Blog</a> :: daveJay's Blog

DeaPeaJay New member Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 47 Location: USA - TN Status: Offline	Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 22:23 All right, I've redone the design a bit taking cues from what I've heard here. @krismarissens thanks for the luggage tag idea! Here's the new design http://sandbox.exit42design.com/hfi/mockups/HFI-design3.jpg I have yet to run this by the client, hopefully he won't mind what I've done to the logo =!

krismarissens New member Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 41 Location: Belgium Status: Offline	Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 01:07 Logo looks so(ooo) much better now, especially in combination with the textured background. It looks so much more vivid. Love what you did with the background of the navigation, blending it in like that. Luggage tag: It may take a split second to suggest an idea, but usually it takes a whole lot of skill to make it into something that actually works. I like it... a lot. Nothing more to add: b&w picture grid is a very nice touch as well... (imho) Kris

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