Which design do you prefer?

[Vertexity]

*Apologies for any confusion, this thread was originally started in the 'Just Starting Your Design' forum but qualifies as a site review and so has been re-posted here - sorry for anyone who voted already in the closed thread*

I am designing layouts for my personal site and i'm looking for some advice as to which of the two I have done so far you prefer. Feedback is greatly appreciated on either of the designs as I am more than willing to alter both of these before coming to a decision and finishing up/coding one. Some more details can be found in my signature. Below are the links to the two layouts.

Layout 1
Layout 2

Also if you dislike both, don't be afraid to say so! I am quite happy to scrap them both and start over.

Thanks

**Edit**
I have updated layout 1 to match the desired functionality if my home page.

[akritic]

Dave,

There are things I like in each of your designs and things I dislike also.
Overall, I like the darker layout more as it seems to have been thought through much more than the lighter one. Also, I think this one works better as a whole than design 2. Although some people have an aversion to dark designs I don't in many cases, however it can be useful to lighten up areas of a dark design for contrast. More on this further down.

One thing that strikes me already is that the two designs serve different purposes, one is a introduction/folio and the other is a blog. It is therefore sightly difficult to comment on both as there isn't much that connects them.

Layout 1:
1) Navigation looks more unified than layout 2
2) The green text stands out much better on layout one than the 2 reds you have in layout 2 in the 'blog' section.
3) The layout in 1 is easier on the eye and doesn't pull my attention in too many different directions, layout 2 has 4 different content boxes on the right and these are emphasised by the colour contrast and roundyness of them.

Layout 2:
1) The sub header here "ramblings of" tells me more about you instantly than the "home of Dave" in layout 1
2) The feel of layout 2 is more fun and impersonal than layout 1- What is your aim in your homepage? As mentioned you have two different types of homepage in the two designs, once you have your aim or purpose for the homepage, it will be easier for you to decide what 'feel' to give it.
3) Contrast between page elements is greater on layout 2. You can use this advantage in your final design to draw attention to what you consider important areas, and if you choose a dark design then it would be good to use a lighter background to emphasise a part of the page that way.

Hope this helps you out Any questions don't hesitate to ask

Andy

[Vertexity]

Thanks for your opinions

The idea behind the homepage came to me whilst I was designing layout 2. If I were to use layout 1, I would most likely be doing something along the same lines of that in layout 2 with maybe latest posts or something in the main section.

The tagline was also only thought of whilst doing number 2 and would be adapted into the first.

Overall, I want the home page to have some exerpts from my portfolio as well as latest blog entries with the focus being on the blog. The style should read as informal and friendly too.

Hope this clears things up more for future votes

[Dark Tranquility]

Well I prefer Layout 1 myself! it looks cooler and really modern if you compare to the second one!
Andy gave many good points there

[Vertexity]

Well I prefer Layout 1 myself! it looks cooler and really modern if you compare to the second one!
Andy gave many good points there

Thanks, I guess I should alter layout 1 slightly to include the newest blog entries instead of the introductory paragraph and see if it still works.

[akritic]

I don't know if the rules permit a new entry in a thread, though I would be good to create a comp that mixed the both as you say.

Can anyone enlighten us on if Dave can add another attachment for review? Or a slightly altered version of layout 1 ??

[Vertexity]

I too wondered that, I couldn't see anything in the guidelines saying I could not slightly alter one of the previews. I have not used the attachments feature, rather just uploaded the images myself.

As I could not find anything stating this was not allowed and considering that it is not a new element or a third design, I have slightly updated layout 1 to match my needed features. I do not see this as a third element as there are still only 2 designs and the new version of layout 1 only differs very slightly.

If there are any problems, I would be quite happy however to review some more layouts and post my own again.

[liam_uk7]

I voted for #1, but i really like the colours on Layout 2, the only thing that bothered me is the dropdown shaddows, they look a little too obvious and i think if you made them a little more subtle it would improve it quite a lot. Maybe change the Blending Mode to something like Overlay, try decreasing the "spread" and "distance" in the drop shaddow options. And try lowering the Opacity. Personally I would like #2 best if those changes were made i think.

Nice work tho, i think you could really use either and still be comfortable that you have a well designed website, well done.

Edit: Your Logo is very nice and works with Both Layouts and colours very well.

[Vertexity]

I voted for #1, but i really like the colours on Layout 2, the only thing that bothered me is the dropdown shaddows, they look a little too obvious and i think if you made them a little more subtle it would improve it quite a lot. Maybe change the Blending Mode to something like Overlay, try decreasing the "spread" and "distance" in the drop shaddow options. And try lowering the Opacity. Personally I would like #2 best if those changes were made i think.

Nice work tho, i think you could really use either and still be comfortable that you have a well designed website, well done.

Edit: Your Logo is very nice and works with Both Layouts and colours very well.

Thanks for your feedback, I really appreciate it

[xboxkiller88]

i perfer the first design it is much smother and more likable in the color area

[Vertexity]

i perfer the first design it is much smother and more likable in the color area

Thanks for your feedback

[dc dalton]

I like version 1 myself, it's cleaner (#2 is a bit cluttered) ....

yeah, number one, definitely number one

[Vertexity]

I like version 1 myself, it's cleaner (#2 is a bit cluttered) ....

yeah, number one, definitely number one

I'm curious. Does that shifty look mean you prefer number one but actually dislike both, simply disliking number two more so? Or do you actually like number one?

The reason I am asking is that if, in general, people dislike both, I am going to scrap both and make a new one entirely.

Thanks for your opinions

[godlover]

prefer this http://www.vertexity.com/img/preview_layout1_ver2.jpg

[Vertexity]

prefer this http://www.vertexity.com/img/preview_layout1_ver2.jpg

What is it you prefer in Version one over Version two?

[TannerC]

The first version is much better than the second.

Why? Because it has a clean, easy to follow layout grid.

It's easy to define the website in three horizontal sections (header, content, footer) and then divide them into vertical sections (left and right). While the version two concept doesn't have an easy to follow layout based on a grid.

In-fact, it looks like you just threw the second version together to have something for us to vote on. The first design is clearly a winner, with a little tweaking it could be a great website.

[Vertexity]

The first version is much better than the second.

Why? Because it has a clean, easy to follow layout grid.

It's easy to define the website in three horizontal sections (header, content, footer) and then divide them into vertical sections (left and right). While the version two concept doesn't have an easy to follow layout based on a grid.

In-fact, it looks like you just threw the second version together to have something for us to vote on. The first design is clearly a winner, with a little tweaking it could be a great website.

Thank You

Finally, some actual feedback rather than someone just replying in order to post their own review.

It is quite strange to me that you feel this way, I actually finished the first layout much quicker than the second. It is clearly apparent though to me now which one is a winner. This being the case, I have already starting tweaking, finishing off and coding the first version.

Thanks again to everyone that provided some feedback!

[TannerC]

Glad I could be of some help Dave. I can't wait to see the final product.

[handyman103]

Layout 2 would be my choice.

It seems to read better. The last 3 posts get the largest screen space and the previous entries is positioned nicely for further reading.

Perhaps the main red could bit a tiny bit brighter with a more emphasised gradient.

Lots of nice space between the elements as well.

[blazzar]

I also think layout 2, though if you can get the logo on the left hand side of the page.

[Vertexity]

Thanks to everyone for the feedback

I have decided on layout 1.

[creativity]

Good selection I was also convinced with layout 1..
_______________
Change doesn't come overnight

[flashop]

Necessarily choose version 1. It is valid the best version.

[designabot]

yep....i think 1 for sure!
clean, crisp....readbility is the key....should work well.

good luck

[ChrisMorrello]

I personally would say the 2nd version looks better.