blaw: new site
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- 30 Responses
- Corvo20
Good job, Brian.
I really like the "common hoarding" piece under drawing.
Those "cold frames" are also a great idea. Personally, I think your wood-work is great. I live in the country-side, so I find your pieces not only well-designed but also useful (you know what I mean). I didn't get to the dominoes, though ;)
I think I understand why you decided to promote your latest piece individually, with a nice description - but you could also benefit from a panel of works instead of having the user browse piece-by-piece under "older wood", to give an example.
I think when you have a lot to show, it's best to show it right-away.
Just saying. Cheers.
- Corvo20
I think it's a wise decision to have a blog tool, rather than a "style" site. Under a varied body of work you can't pull a "design" and integrate everything together. This doesn't mean you shouldn't consider other nav options and a lighter feel to the overall site.
- Fariska0
You won't like me after.
The site doesn't work at all, either in displaying your work and your approach to design. It lacks so many fundamental elements such as:
- Boldness
- Personality
- Visual order and hierarchy
- Clearness
- Immediate feeling that your work is great.There are so many details that look unfinished that the whole thing has kind of amateurish feeling.
And sorry, but the wordpress template is not an excuse, but most likely a chance to get the best out of it.So since your work is great and amazing, and for once you're the client of yourself, pull out a design that is in line with your personality and your approach. You clearly are capable of it.
The work displayed in there is screaming (metal-style) for a great site.
- Jaline0
First off, your work is great.
OK...let's start:
- Grunge seems 90s, just like the music genre. Personally, I like grunge stuff and darker colours, but it would be more clean without the grunge in there. Or at least get rid of the bottom grunge graphic there. It seems to be in an awkward place, between the main content and the footer information.- There seems to be an awkward alignment issue. I realize that your header graphic (with your name) is on the top left, and it's probably best to align the portfolio image (to its right) to that header img, but I think it would be better aligned against the top of the navigation. Same with the image caption / description on the very right. The "older ____" link (on the top right) can be brought down, underneath the image. Align it to the left (since the "view images" link is on the right, underneath the image). See if that looks better.
- Make the logo smaller, and the portfolio images larger. Think about making the description smaller too to fit more of the portfolio image.
- Make your logo lead back to your home page.
- I do like that Web2.0 black, glossy arrow button, I won't lie. But it doesn't go with the rest of it.
- Jaline0
- Regarding the grunge thing: think about getting rid of or changing either the background image or the content background image. You probably don't have to do both.
- modern0
Those arrows are proper Fantasy Interactive, lose em
- waterhouse0
-Bob Loblaw
- wordssssss0
eh. navigation is horrible.
- chossy0
I agree with skt unfortunatly.
I think if you are stuck for something to quickly get out there then, make the site look like your archives page it has all your smooth stuff.
Like skt says we want to see cool stuff you have done.
- blaw0
Thanks again to everyone that took the time to post. I really appreciate the feedback. Per typical, you folks are right on target.
- max_prophet0
it strikes me as odd that there's only ever one project at a time, to see anything else you have to find the somewhat hidden 'archives'
- totally agree with this. i didn't even see the other works until now.lvl_13
- it actually makes no sense, because you have to click 'older work' and not 'view images' to see anything elsemax_prophet
- ukit0
It seems like overkill to have a thumbnail, then a detail page with another thumbnail, then a popup. You should be able to view the screenshots on the detail page.
- agreed. screenshot on the detail page would be nice
plusminusbox
- agreed. screenshot on the detail page would be nice
- MrRemote0
You got a lot of wine in that bar of yours.
- skt0
don't like it i'm afraid. i really really love your drawings and that site does them no justice at all. and why is there only one on there anyway?
there is no coherent structure, no visual hierarchy, the colour scheme is dark and depressing. lighten it up. give the elements room to breathe, create a simple grid and stick to it. as with all portfolios the work should be prominent and it isn't here.
i want to see this
not a comment form.
- doctor0
I think you could improve your typography, by establishing a clearer hierarchy, and maybe use something besides that serif font (Georgia?), ie. for your navigation or small body text.
You should draw more attention to your navigation. Maybe live it up with some color, though being careful not to demolish the whole 'mellow' theme of your palette. I'd narrow it down to 5-6 links too, and come up with more intuitive titles. How is your average user supposed to know what 'wood' leads to? Things like this usually leeds to frustration.
Also I'd reconsider the use of curly brackets, and maybe enlarge the photos of your work a bit. The work pieces looks kind of interesting, so use them more.