10 replies to this topic

[Propax]

Hi guys

I am currently designing a layout for Boat services UK, I have been asked to design it by the company owner who is also a close family friend. He has various other companies and I am forever joking that all his websites designed by other media companies are rubbish and that if he used me I would supply the goods, well his asked and I've accepted.

When I asked what he was looking for he basically said "I just need a re-design" and that was it, He had no input into colours or design so I have just put it together as best I could, I am kinda liking it but feel it lacks that edge, I also can't find a nice colour scheme.

Have a look and tell me what you all think, some advice would be much appreciated.

By the way some stuff ins't finished yet, i.e Guide prices.

Thanks

Site

[albinoAZN]

I think one thing that would make it more appealing is a catchy background. Nothing too over the top, just a nice quite pattern that fits with boating. You could also make the iFrame for the news a bit taller, there's a nice gap between it and the intro paragraph. Maybe a subtle background change on rollover for the navigation on the left would be nice.

Also, there's a typo in the banner, it should be "The east cost's one stop...", note the apostrophe.

*also, maybe about 3 more px of padding on the left and top of the main text.

Edited by albinoAZN, 16 March 2007 - 03:00 PM.

[Propax]

Ok I wil try that tonight, Actually it is "The east coast's one stop shop", note the A.

[JoshHtml]

its okay, its real plain, i think it'd look a bit better if you put left and right border around the content and link area. just looks a little weird. after that maybe making the bg a different color.



something like that maybe?

Edited by JoshHtml, 16 March 2007 - 03:48 PM.

[Propax]

I see what you mean by that, I am having problems working out how to do so though, I am using dreamweaver and the site isn't a sliced template. It is probably real easy to do it is just I am struggling to find a solution.

Thanks for the feedback.

[Pax]

The first thing that caught my eye was the word "suk" in the url. Yes I know its not a real word, but imo, your url shouldn't have hidden words in it like that Its just as easy to read: "Boat Service Suk" as it is" "Boat Services UK"...not a big deal, its just somthing that bugs me...

For the design, I'd just use a clean organized way to showcase the content. That would do best IMO...just update the style a bit, make it a bit more trendy.

[N4Z.]

I don't like it at all..

Too plan, no real concept to it, the border lines are out of place and just looks like a bit of a mess.. Sorry..

It's not my sort of style.

Try a more busier background but less to look at

[Propax]

I cant think of a design for a background, I don't want it to look crappy (although the site currnetly looks like a pile of shit anyway). Any ideas would be kinda helpful.

[genozider]

Very plain indeed
I think a simple background with slight gradient effect will do
and the text links look very amatuer , try some simple rectangle buttons
and one big thing you gotten remember when doing business, people pay you for the site so you should not have a linkback to your own site in their website.
I saw this little link at the bottom right corner which s tiny flash movie (why is it flash? you can use simple link at the 1st point), you can add people website in your website portfolio but try not to link your website in their's.
Same logic as if i sell a handphone with all my website address and shops' address at the cover of the handphone, who will use it ?

Edited by genozider, 16 March 2007 - 10:12 PM.

[Propax]

But the company said it was fine for me to add a link, look at this site http://www.michaelowen.com/, it is a superb site and I am sure michael owen paid for this but yet there is still a link. I kmow there is a huge contrast between my design and that site.

I will try the gradient background aswell.

Thanks

[Pax]

Many people include a link-back when they build flash sites. You wont find it much with the big studios, mostly because they dont need it. IMO, its not much different than Nike slapping a logo on 13 different locations on one shoe. You just shouldnt make it that obvious

Dont force it either, ask, and if they say yes, then go for it. Or give them a few hundred dollars off (if you think there site will generate enough traffic to make up for that) to put a linkback on the website.