New site theme-SITE WIZARDS

[jasong]

Hi!
In the next month or two, I am going to be opening a website, were we specialize in
*Instalation of scripts(php, cgi, asp, all other)
*graphic design(logos, banners etc).
*Making templates and selling them
*Buying reseller templates and selling those too
*From scratch web design
*Web site maintaning
*Custom php scripts by request
*developing php scripts and offering those for free
I dont know if i should go towards the fun, colorfull, playfull site; or if i should make it business like, and have those pictures of operators on the phone and office buildings and people smiling(you know what im talking about right?)
I personally would like to do the fun one, i made a sample thing that would go on the top of the main page, its not complete, and is really just a "sketch"
THe banner is at
http://www.geocities.com/jgslotrpage2/banner.jpg

(I havnt bought the domain yet or anything)
The thing is, is i this is going to be very profesional, and i think it might be hard for companies to take a site like this seriously. What do you think?

Please email me at: jgslotrpage@yahoo.com
if you have any coments!

Thanks~!
Jason

[azwaldo]

"Trust your instincts"
"Listen to the inner buddha"
"Go with your gut"
"Use the force, Luke"

How about a combination of whiz and whimsy?

[dlucas]

I agree with you. The cartoons wizards, while nice, do little for the credibility of your company. However I'd try to avoid stale stock photos (computers, binary code). I'd try to design a clean professional looking site. Use your site to show your business as legit and professional. Then use a portfolio page to showcase your ability to do "fun" sites.

[bradley317]

There's a wider issue here.

You say that you are just starting up, and you want to be as professional as possible.

If I were you, I'd look into creating a specific style for your company. Something that will work online, and in print format if necessary. You'll need a logo, typeface, colour scheme etc.

If you can settle on a style, then use it across the board, the consistancy will suggest professionalism and direction to your clients.

The web is full of crap jokes, I see no reason to add to them.

[trc]

Take some time and research the millions of sites out there that already "specialize" in what you want to do. Look at those sites that are successful, and use their design to help you develop yours.

The banner looks unprofessional and childish. It cute, but you are not selling cute. You are selling a professional service. If you were selling magic tricks, the wizards might work.

[sid egg]

I don't like the logo (personally), the wizards are too... Something is wrong with them, and the shadows are awful (if you don't mind me saying so :P) I don't really like the font or color selection either.

[deronsizemore]

I don't like the wizards either...reminds me of a childrens site for some reason....?

[Jay88]

I generally lean more towards being as professional as possible depending on who your target audience is. If it going to be white collar biz execs, go with conservative.

[kidrock]

Go for a neat sleek design. Doing too much of cartoony or too professional stuff is not advisable as you need to target all type of clients. Some people do not understand professional stuff and may avoid your site as a too expensive one.

[artistsneverdie]

The wizards really don't work in that environment, even though it is a sketch the text is very default photoshop. The wizards could work in a certain layout format, but it would take a serious amount of work and could prove quite difficult.

If you're aiming for serious corporate clients then try to either be "standard" web design fare, or go out on a limb and produce an artistic web design site, based around distinctive, creative and interesting photoshop work (some people are going to completely disagree on that one ), in which you could incorporate wizards and fantasy elements.

[Daniel287]

change the whole thing to a MUCH more professional looking banner.
for example, change the font-face and colour.

Also, IF your are going to keep the wizards, why have them where slightly different colours? and different patterns?
the colour would b easy to fix on PS.

[Daithi]

Hey,

Looks good to me :-)

[Ainslie X11]

Perhaps something with a bit more 'lord of the rings' feel to it. I kinda reminds me of the smurfs as it is...

[medicus]

Just an idea, how about making a smaller pick in general and maybe make it just a wand ...


Just my 2 photons ...

[Jack Matier]

You could do a SiteWizards with just a wizard hat leaning on something?

I agree with many here that people aren't going to get a very professional feeling from your site.

[abh0]

I think you need to determine who your target market is going to be. When I want to buying an idea or a service on line, I look at the web site to see which one best represents me. I would want to get my web site designed from a website designer that had a business image and a cutting edge.

[Lance]

There are too many garage site developers out there, this logo screams 'cheap' .... in my opinion people, whether they know it or not, are drawn to a professional, competent looking company, whether it be for site design or plumbing. Keep it clean, minimize the fluff, take care with your layout, and be professional!

[Dache]

Vectorize the wizard on the left, make him look ungoofy ( smaller eyes? ) and lessen the curves ; change the typography (dafont ) .

[PixelStyles]

I have to agree with leaving the goofy looking cartoons out of it. you are a technology site, you can still have fun while being more tech looking and savy. Move to more modern art styles or go with a sharp vector art like Dache said. Your going to be known by your logo, it speaks volumes. If I saw it on a page, I'd hit the back button and keep on searching.

Look at Allakhazam.com . He started with almost those same wizards, but would you really stick your nose in a site like that, or what he has now? That example doesn't apply to your company, but it does (I think) illustrate the importance of logo.

[htmlguy]

How about you intigrate a sketch of a a broom at the beginning letter and ending off with a wand tip off of the ending letter. It would be clean, and still match the theme you are trying to accomplish.

HTMLGuy

[MetalAges]

Agree about the wizard/cartoony stuff. It reminds me of a piece of shareware/low budget company.

If you insist on having a wizard as part of your brand, then make it really cool/modern. Something that could pass as a logo/brand as well as visually showing a wizard, without it being a cartoon. Toughy The key for you will be not to become a cliche' (if that makes sense).