My portfolio site redesigned

**jimbo_dk** · Sep 7, 2007 23:46

I've done a long due redesign of my portfolio site/blog. It's still not fully complete, but would like some reviews from everyone.

My target audience for this site is tech-savvy SMEs and web related agencies.

Thanks in advance.....

www.P163Interactive.com

**designabot** · Sep 8, 2007 04:26

hi there.
overall its not too bad. just a few things (my opinion only : )

the main font 'Aldo' i think it is. to be honest it looks a bit dated...maybe try something with a more web 2.0 rounder feel. or if not a bit more techy cleaner font.

Also maybe a bit too much blue. the main graphic is a good point of interest but maybe a deeper blue going into skyblue or white gradient behind would make it a bit easier on the eye and give a touch more depth.

one more thing....in your 'about' section maybe increase the leading in your paragraph a bit.

good stuff : )

**ejg** · Sep 8, 2007 04:52

Using images for text is a maintenance nightmare. If you really want an unusual font, take a look at something like sIFR.

**raphus** · Sep 8, 2007 05:54

I don't really like your logo, it looks like something that would be stuck to the side of a toy plane... Everything else about the design i do like though, it's very nice.

The portfolio could use a few more sites in it, but thats not a huge problem i don't think.

**Floomo** · Sep 8, 2007 15:34

Not much to say really about your website. Thats because I like it alot. I like the layout very much and the colours used.

However I would recommend that you use less images. Especially the ones used for your navigation.

**bradical1379** · Sep 8, 2007 17:21

The introduction (index page) could use a little more content. The visitor should not have to be clicking all over the place to find out where they are and what the site is going to do for them.

The top, the logo and menu are too busy, my eyes don't know where the logo stops and the menu begins. I think there needs to be a clear separation of state between the two vital portions of the site.

**jimbo_dk** · Sep 8, 2007 18:28

Thanks for the replies everyone. Your comments are appreciated.

Point taken about the use of images. The main reason I didn't use sIFR for the page headings was because of the background. But I see that sIFR can handle transparent backgrounds. Will give it a try. I don't think sIFR is a good idea for menu items though, because of the lack of right-click. Any suggestions?

bradical: thanks for pointing out the business of the header. I have to do something about it.

**XLCowBoy** · Sep 8, 2007 19:50

It's not sIFR you need, it's contrast and color balance. Really, really old-fashioned site. It also doesn't help that you logo icon is taken directly from a common font-face, and so is the typography used for the logo. You have a detailed upper left area, then nothing at all anywhere else.

If there's one thing missing, it's a real "theme". What "look" are you guys going for?

**faffou** · Sep 9, 2007 07:28

I think you should work a little more on the design. There are too much whitespace above and below the paragraph on the first page. Your logo is OK, it's looks like it's a 5 years old one, though, and it doesn't exactly fit in with the rest of the design.

**xkratosx** · Sep 11, 2007 06:11

Agreed with many of the comments above really, not a bad design but maybe a little too heavy on the images!

**weevox.com** · Sep 11, 2007 07:19

Hi! I think you should just get rid of the "splash" page. Remember, your audience needs information! And you want them to find it right away. So you might want to add more content on your homepage. It could be your design samples.

But if you want to keep it that way, i would've keep the height of the image shorter so there's no more vertical scroll, for the splash page that is.

I don't really like the font used.

Helvetica Neue is nice, try it.

As for the coding, actually you can use html text for the navigation links and replace it with images via CSS. I can see that you use a bg2.jpg image for the overall blue background. Actually, you can just use a hex code there, again thru css.

Hope that helps! Good luck!

**Shyflower** · Sep 11, 2007 07:46

I think you have a long way to go on this design. Your home page is little more than a landing page. It isn't going to fair well in the SE's. Being that this site is a portfolio site, that probably isn't a big deal, but if your target market is the tech savvy, you will leave them wondering if that's the best you can do on a home page.

At least try off-setting the little text you have with some type of color and/or design difference. IMO -- you really need more content there. What does your design company do that they can't find elsewhere, better done? Don't expect your visitors to know... they need to be told.

In your portfolio, on clicking the individual items they fly off the blue background and are askew. I don't know if that's the effect you intended, but to me it looks amateurish... as if you are using a blogging platform without full understanding of how it works and how to customize the active window to present your work in the best light.

I also think your thumbnails are just plain, too large, but that's subjective. It may work for some... not so well for others.

Why are you allowing comments about your portfolio? The only people that you should care about what they think are your prospective clients and I would assume you would want direct contact with them.

Again, it looks like you're using a cms or blogging platform without full understanding of how it works... not an impression you want to pass on to your prospects.

On your services page, what is the meaning of that huge orange graphic? It displays your tagline, but not your logo and IMO looks completely out of place. Additionally, because of the huge contrast between the orange and blue, it's really an in-your-face kind of thing. Again, if you are happy with the graphic, try something like offsetting it with a white border.

On your About page, I would rethink your second to last paragraph: "We are passionate about simplicity. We love bringing order out of chaos. "

It implies that your customers (who you say are web & tech savvy) are unorganized and chaotic. I don't think you want to imply a negative to new prospects.

In your fourth paragraph, the sentence about Our Moms makes me wonder if you're old enough to design my site or if this is an afterschool project. Although I see you are attempting to simplify a complex concept there (i.e. I take it you don't do porn or other adult sites), there are better ways to address this issue without being 'cutesy'.

Your Blog: Internet should always be capitalized (Don't ask me why, but it should" and 'internets' is incorrect. There's only one.

I'd also take the "more" function out of your present post. People don't want to click to have to read what's new. You can always insert it in a previous post when you add a new one.

**jimbo_dk** · Sep 11, 2007 08:57

Thanks for the detailed critique shyflower. Really appreciate you taking the time.

The orange image in the "about us" page was from my old site. Haven't done any changes to that yet.

I totally missed the fact that comments were on in the portfolio section.

About 'chaos', I actually meant the 'chaos' of managing a web project. I see it's easy to be misunderstood.

Will look into all the comments over the weekend. Thanks again.

PS> 'the internets' was written like that on purpose

**themightystephen** · Sep 11, 2007 10:20

One thing I love about your site is in the blog section when you put your mouse over the menu of blog categories on the left - that is one really nice effect. Maybe you could use it in other places in your website.

I actually quite like the logo however I am not sure I like the name of the business itself...I don't really understand it.

I also like the random swirls of lighter blue and white on your pages however your pages feel slightly bear. Also I'm a little iffy about your main home page slogan.

On the whole I would say there are some really really cool design aspects to your site however there are some bits that need a little work.

**Datura** · Sep 11, 2007 13:23

Hi there Dinu, I will be blunt -- first off, I do not think that color choices are subjective at all (as per your PM). Colors evoke certain connotations in the person that views them. Blue says clean and somewhat conservative, blue and white says clean and precise. Blue, white and gold is regal. Red is hot and exciting, purple is a color that gives an edge to things, etc.

Keeping that in mind, the color you chose for your site is a bit chlorine to me, a swimming pool springs to mind, especially with the white design elements on it. Raw. Cleaning product, not web design. This particular blue is dangerous to use, it has no sophistication to it. It is clean, but is that all you want to say?

I would choose a softer blue, grayed out some and a little more red in it and also a little bit deeper.

You have the star floating up there over your *logo*, that indicates as root for your design-idea the sky, and the design would be comets and space, milky-way, a potentially nice feel. A design does not have to be literal of course, but it also should not be full of contradictions. The tentacles coming out of your logo are uncomfortable, they have the feel of a jelly fish (stings), or if sky, then strange lightening; they do not have a clear identity, the shape just sits there to sort of outline the logo. If you do something like that, you should create a shape that gives interest to your logo, not just outline it, an independent shape with a pleasing outline to it. Weights balanced with the logo obviously. The shape of the surround and the logo should enhance each other, not fight each other.

I can see what you are trying to do, but you have to get a clearer concept on that design. The transition from design to background is also not smooth on the homepage. The design should look as if it floats in space there, not be cut off on the bottom, it is better on the portfolio page. I actually like the floating feel of the image on the background, it gives that space feel to it.

I also agree with ejg, text should not be an image. The font is not a great choice either.

XLCowBoy makes an excellent point as well: Clarity of direction is not there. There needs to be an explanation of what you offer, a vision of sorts right on the home page.

I also agree with Shyflower's comments

**CalebMingle** · Sep 11, 2007 16:46

Would P16:3 be a bible verse?

Also the title of the website should match the name as it says P163 and not P16:3.

I like it, but as said above that the font needs to be rounder and there needs to be an explanation of what all services you offer, so there is no confusion.

**jimbo_dk** · Sep 12, 2007 10:06

Thanks for the comments again everyone, and thanks for the detailed critique Ulrike.

All your points are noted. I'm hoping I'll have some time this weekend to work on the site.

Caleb> Yups. P16:3 is a Bible verse (Proverbs 16:3). However, after registering that name, I realized using a ':' in the name was not such a good idea, but I haven't been able to change the name due to some technical issues.

Ulrike> Were you using IE 6 by any chance?