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I just redid my site for about the 6th or 7th time in about 4 years! Got rid of the loud red and went to some blues and greens, which is more in line with my corporate colors anyhow. My old site was up for about 2 years, and worked very well. But I Was tired of the color scheme, and generally thought the site lacked a bit.
A big thank you to my dear friend Nettie, who gave me some guidance and inspiration during the redesign process. Nettie's in my speed dial on my phone, which is probably a bad thing for her, because I was calling her every two minutes with revisions "how does it look now".... "OK, I did that - now how does it look?"
My goals for the redesign of the site was to make the company look big, corporate, and have the design not be too over-the-top. I was forced to keep the black background for the body copy area so that I could just update my previous graphics easier (they are all dropped on black, so changing the background would have been a pain). I opted for a semi-non fixed width site (I just made up that term). My body area is fixed, but I bumped out the right table cell to fill in for bigger browsers. I still do not like to design the body area for non-fixed, as I like to control placement of graphics and html copy more precisely.
All told, the redesign took my about 7 hours. Now I can let it sit for another two years before starting over!
"Some are born to move the world, to live their fantasies. But most of us just dream about the things we'd like to be." - Rush Posts: 1192 | From: Washington, NJ | Registered: Feb 1999
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Sure is bright ... Didnt have time to go through it but the first page was ... bright.
I find the white text hard to read on the bright green (menu) ... the green looks good on the black ... maybe black menu text? The small white text on the black is dificult too ... try using a light grey instead.
Seems to lack the continuity of you other stuff ... the circle swishing top with hard horizontals sandwitching boxes in the middle with verticles at bottom thing.
Not my cup of tea ... not that there's anything wrong with that
-------------------- Compulsive, Neurotic, Anti-social and Paranoid ... but basically Happy Posts: 2677 | From: Rochester, NY, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Yep sure is bright but it does have a corporate feel to it. I looked at it and the only thing I might have done was go with a deeper blue instead of the electric blue. Otherwise it makes me think professional which I'm sure is what you're after.
-------------------- Bob Stephens Skywatch Signs Zephyrhills, FL
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Mark, I got a big kick out of your first impression. "Sure is bright".
That was my exact reaction when Dan added the apple green to the mix. It's pretty funny, because he had this nice "safe" calming blue I really liked before he replaced it with the green. He had just called me and I was raving about how much "I REALLY like that blue" (the blue that preceeded the now green in the menu bar). The very next sample he showed me nixed out that blue completely. On his following call to me, I was all over him saying, "hey ... so I like something and you nix it? .... what's with that?". heehee!
Seriously though, I had to kinda make friends with Dan's "brightness" in design. I've told him that his ways were more "in your face" (in a professional way of course) than mine, but then, I could probably use some encouragement to get bolder with colours myself. I tend to veer towards warm and more comfy colours in regards to the webstuff. I think I may be in kind of a rut there actually.
It's interesting how we all learn from each other isn't it? It's a cool give and take thing.
I had gotten pretty busy with clients this afternoon, and then with some friends, ... so now is the first I'm seeing this latest layout for several hours.
I don't see the issue with the white lettering in the green as Mark does ... but then I wonder about the differences in folk's monitors. Sometimes I'm thinking that may be something to consider? (cut me some slack, I'm a website design newbie here ok?)
I do however see that light grey may be an alternative to consider on the body copy in the black. I look at the green copy in there now, in relationship to the white ... and it is easier on the eyes. Not as harsh. (doesn't buzz as much) Maybe that would be something to look at.
I thought the swirlies on the top were a nice touch. I do think the body area itself is abit busy, but I find that Dan's style is like that in much of his stuff. He puts it all out there ... all his capabilities like a smorgesbord. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Like Mark says ... not that there's anything wrong with that. More over, it sells! You can't argue with that.
Dan cracks me up. I admire that he just up and wants to revamp things so often on his site. I'm like that with my house, but heck, I'm just glad I FINALLY got a site (BIG thanks to Dave) We may add to mine, .... someday, ... but an over-haul? ... hah! not anytime soon! (wah! I don't wanna ... don't make me!!!) Crazy thing though, Dave wants us to. (whatta trooper!)
I marvel at Dan's drive and energy, totally envy his marketing and business saavy. I've learned a WHOLE lot from him. And mostly, I'm proud to be on his speed dial (i didn't know that till now) and very thankful to have him for a friend.
Wow ... sure got a mush attack going here don't I? Yeah ... Dan's all right in my book. Nettie
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Me, I wouldn't change a thing. I think it conveys the image Dan wants, and Im a big fan of bright colors. Just go look at my site! I dont see the issues described above, but thats what makes the board so cool, plenty of different, professional opinions. The re-do has good colors, readable text, easy to navigate links, and I like the drop down menus. I believe its a keeper.
-------------------- Maker of fine signs and other creative stuff. Located at 109 N. Cumberland ave. Harlan, Ky. 40831 606-837-0242 Posts: 4172 | From: Ages-Brookside, Ky. Up the Holler... | Registered: Jul 1999
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I think over all it's a good thing but the brightness squinted my eyes up when I tried to read it. I love cool colors too, but some folks are gonna realize they are getting a head ache and shut her down fast. I would go with a little less contrast if it were me.
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I'm not sure about the brightness, my monitor may not be set to what everyone elses is, but I think it was very clean and very professional. Great job.
The only one suggestion I would have is what another fellow web designer told me. When you do drop down menus, whether you have a drop down menu or not, make one. It is more consistent with the site, etc. For example, for testimonials, you would make another drop down with the word testimonials linking you to the testimonials page. It flows better and people expect it when they go to mouse-over the heading.
After knowing this, when I come across a site like this, he was right, I do expect a drop down and when it doesn't, my first reaction is "something isn't right". Other than that, the site is incredibly well done! Do you use templates or are all of these created by you? I can see why you design sites!
Great Job!!
-------------------- Jerid Hill The Design Shop 2827B Cleveland Rd. Wooster, Ohio 44691 330-345-5860 dzineshop@aol.com Posts: 6 | From: Wooster, Ohio | Registered: Mar 2003
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Dan, it looks great to me. Like Janette, I tend to go more for earth tones and a muted pallete, but that is just my preference. The site looks very professional and the case studies just continue that theme. Many sites say they offer quality, professionalism, etc, but then the examples do not reflect what the text says. Yours is not one of them - true quality throughout.
It's interesting to see the changes in the site over the years. You are growing and what satisfied you last year is not quite up to par this year. Like Janette, I envy your work....and your drive.
Who knows, in the years to come you may even advance up to a PC.
Dan has been after me to have him design me a web site, but I'm waiting until Wal-Mart has a special.
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Jerid - Thats an interesting point about the mouseovers -- I may consider that - it makes a lot of sense...
Mark (and others) - regarding brightness, I took your suggestion and made body copy light grey instead of white.... its funny - my previous site had the light grey and I went ahead and changed it to white - now, maybe I remember why it was light grey to begin with! The circles in top was me just fooling around with some transparent layers in FW - the site seemed a little TOO square without em...
Nettie--- I'm sorry about that blue I could probably change it.... I'll live with it for a bit and decide... I'm so damn impulsive some days!
I've shared the site with some clients and the response has been so positive! Makes me think my previous site really, really sucked - and no one wanted to clue me in that!
John - thanks for your compliments - I emailed you last week about your site-- you're doing some kick-ass work -
Perhaps, the brightness issue maybe some screen settings? My monitor is calibrated a little darker, and more in line with CMYK than RGB, so maybe thats why over here, it doesnt seem so bright...
Last thing I'm going to do is revamp my logo design section--- its a pain in the ass to navigate through my portfolio, so I'm going to drop in thumbnails on a sep. popup window, and then have them scroll through in the popup with the arrows, one logo at a time--- I'm also going to split the designs into corporate/institution and small business. Corporate people get turned off with the small business ones, and small business get turned off with corporate ones - so I figured it might be smart to break them --
"Some are born to move the world, to live their fantasies. But most of us just dream about the things we'd like to be." - Rush Posts: 1192 | From: Washington, NJ | Registered: Feb 1999
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If I switch to a PC, can I design your site? That would be honor.... How you've held off for so long without one is still a mystery...
It agravates me, because I'd like to be able to go to your site and lift some of your design ideas. Instead, I have to wait once a month for Sign Business. Thats no fun.
Don't be frightened of the Northern Color Scheme (I just made that up). I know it always hot and warm down there, maybe that why we use brighter colors up here (at least for 6 months of the year).
Ray - you teaching down at AC this year? I'm in on Friday again for the Logo Design workshop--- hope you're heading down again---
"Some are born to move the world, to live their fantasies. But most of us just dream about the things we'd like to be." - Rush Posts: 1192 | From: Washington, NJ | Registered: Feb 1999
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Perfect site Dan! Leave it this way. Looks very professional! I like it.
My only comment would be that if Pepsi would have change their logo as many times as you did, the customers would have probably complains that they can't find their bottle easily. And they would switch product because they mixed brand on the shelves and bring back home another product!
By the way, I am on a very slow connection (turtle.com!!!) 46 666 bps, and it's impressive how fast I can load it! What's the secret?
[ June 11, 2003, 12:19 PM: Message edited by: Pierre Tardif ]
-------------------- Pierre Tardif P. Tardif Inc. 1006 boul. PIE-XI sud Val-Belair QC. Canada G3K 1L2 418-847-4089 pierre@ptardif.com Posts: 800 | From: Quebec city | Registered: Aug 2002
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Pierre- Actually my logo's been intact for about 2.5 yrs, which is a long time for me... so I haven't messed with that, although I'd like to!
The secret to fast loading? I can't tell you - I'd have to kill you first!
No, I dunno - cut down your gifs, slice up as much as possible - and use flat colors whenever possible... I also use background fills for a lot of cells that call upon existing (or already loaded) images, so that they populate the cell spaces quicker----
"Some are born to move the world, to live their fantasies. But most of us just dream about the things we'd like to be." - Rush Posts: 1192 | From: Washington, NJ | Registered: Feb 1999
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I think it looks great! I like bright. I've been told more than once to tone down some of my stuff but what the heck, we need some "in your face" to stand out from all the others.
Your logo work is very cool. I love doing logos and these just show me how much I need to improve.
Thanks for sharing with us.
[ June 11, 2003, 01:19 PM: Message edited by: John Cordova ]
-------------------- John Cordova Gitano Design Studio Albuquerque, NM Posts: 268 | From: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I had more time today to look again at your site, and I was able to peruse your portfolio. You do flawless work Dan! I just wanted to tell you how great I thought it was! I feel like I was hard on you in my earlier post...I wasn't trying to be, just that I had a hard time with the tiny copy, but I wear reading glasses too. LOL.
Your imagination and creativity is marvelous and Wow! I hope when I grow up I can be a fraction as good as you've proven to be!
I dunno about flawless.... but thank for the vote of confidence.
Last week, after the initial redesign, I redid my logo portfolio section, and broke it up into a small businss and a corporate section, each with 50 logos each. What was funny is that I had to cut down the number of logos (isn't 100 more than enough!) so I had to go through and critique and delete older logos that I didnt think we're up to par. I'm going to keep 100 total, so as I add ones, I'm just going to delete other ones to replace it.
Its interesting to go back and review you work over the years, and see definite areas of improvement to strive for.
I took your critique to heart, and decided to go with grey body copy which has helped -- I may pump up home page body copy to 2 instead of 1, so that may help----
"Some are born to move the world, to live their fantasies. But most of us just dream about the things we'd like to be." - Rush Posts: 1192 | From: Washington, NJ | Registered: Feb 1999
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