ZoomConcept Reviews
Minor Problem on main-design_r1.jpg 1 don't really like this - color blends too much 2 these are ok - but ho do they tie in with the beach theme? -
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Evert Van Dansen commented:How about a shell?
3 too big Serious Problem on main-design_r1.jpg 1 hate this - it obstructs the view 2 these all active states? consistency 3 go fo amore papery bg... like a treasure map Critical Problem on main-design_r1.jpg 1 major alignment issues Summary:
Penn
I don't really like it that much to be honest, it's quite boring and doesn't really make me want to explore it. At the moment the Jquery thing in the header is all a bit too much, and there's all a bit much going on.
The font in this version is ok, but not fantastic (hand of sean) I know it well, I think it could be executed better, like the "current state is dull, and has no effect to it. Maybe it would be better if you gave the effect of a current state like a line in the sand or a sand castle behind it.
See notes...
Good Luck Penn!
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Penn Folio commented:
Hi Aaran, Thank you for your helpful review. I just use "hand of sean" font just to be safe. Honestly, I'm not sure about my fonts. I also will try the treasure map paper you suggested. I agree with your nav suggestion, the sand castle is genius idea. I'll try that. Aaran, If you more creative ideas, just shoot me with them :)
Thanks :)
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Minor Problem on main-design_r1.jpg 1 This doesn't feel like it blends super well for me. Possible some different shadowing affects would help fix that? Serious Problem on main-design_r1.jpg 1 Menu doesn't pop out very well for me. We everything that is going on I over looked it a couple times. The font is perfect tho. -
Penn Folio commented:
totally agree! any suggestions? :)
Critical Problem on main-design_r1.jpg 1 Logo doesnt stand out enough for me. This is especially the case on my wide screen display where it floats way off the the left. Here is a screenshot for reference: http://screencast.com/t/9VM4Ot3w5hst (safari, mac) Positive Feature on main-design_r1.jpg 1 Love the integration of this feature. New Idea on main-design_r1.jpg 1 I would kinda like to see this background be a dark one. 2 I can't help but wonder if this wouldn't look better being the full width of the lower two columns. -
Penn Folio commented:
I've stick to that standard dimensions of ads, because some parts would be Google Ads.
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Tyler Byrd commented:Ah that makes perfect sense. I was thinking it was some kind of internal call to action, but this is still a very good point.
Summary:
Ok so I really like this design. I had a couple questions about scalability and the size of the header but those were answered by visiting the live site. I love the mouse over affects for the header, it's pretty sweet.
I have included a couple thoughts, but all in all great job!
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Penn Folio commented:
Hi Tyler, Thank your for your review. I agree with the navigation, it doesn't pop right now. I'm still experimenting different approaches... If you have cool idea, I'm open to your suggestions for the navigation. Thanks!
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Tyler Byrd commented:
I'm not sure what do to about the menu. Possibly add a background to it, something like the paper one you have behind the social media area?
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Penn Folio commented:
Will try to experiment with that approach to... seems good idea... I'll also try Aaran's suggestion. Thanks Tyler :)
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Minor Problem on main-design_r1.jpg 1 This section is decent, but it's just "bloggy". Nothing original, intriguing or creative about the design here. I've just got titles, blog posts and a sidebar. Can we think of a more intuitive layout? The "blog" layout is becoming dated, and it's not ideal for home pages where content needs to be presented in a way that's easy to scan. Think about how news websites and magazines present their initial content on the home pages. It's not like this... -
Penn Folio commented:
some good points here... yeah, I agree with the bland structure. I'll try to see if i can improve it. thanks :)
Serious Problem on main-design_r1.jpg 1 On my 22" screen, this is so far to the left top corner it doesn't look part of the design. The logo should be within the container so that this doesn't happen. The logo is also pretty poor tbh, though that may not be your fault. -
Penn Folio commented:
lolz. i'm also guilty with the logo design :P. I'll also fix the logo position.
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Michael Gunner commented:main issue with the logo is it's pixellated :P
2 With @font-face supported on all browsers, why are you using images for your nav? They add load time, you should be using fontface. I presume the font is free. -
Penn Folio commented:
I'm planning to use either cufon or css3 for the fonts. no css sprites for the texts
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Michael Gunner commented:
good to hear! I prefer fontface, my issue with cufon is you can't really select it properly.
3 This typography isn't great, I can barely read it -
Penn Folio commented:
agree!
4 Looks really ugly on my screen. Don't bother putting your logo, just put your name 5 Even on my big screen, this takes up far, far too much space. There's no CTA, no grabbing headline, no grabbing content. Shrink it right down and please, please get rid of that banner, you need to think about the function of your website and how your users will interact with it 6 The parallax effect is kinda irritating here, I find it difficult to click the links as they keep moving Summary:
Penn, what really strikes this site down is....what is it for? I don't get it, what is the website? What am I going on it for? What is its purpose? The design is so vague I've no idea, just by looking, what this site is for. There's no CTA, no user engagement, no interaction, nothing that tells me what it is. There's not even a tagline. Added to the typography which is a big problem and I think, regarding layout, you need to start again. Reduce the size of that header, and make it abundantly clear what the site is for, what it does, and how I use it.
In its current form, I struggle to see this website achieving.
Good luck!
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Penn Folio commented:
Hi Michael, Thanks for your very helpful review on my design :) Tsk tsk i think i need to re-design it again... but this is an old design I just wanted to polish... This is more like a Philippine's travel blog that focus on topic like travel, food and hotel.
The goal of this website is to increase the traffic of a resort website that is affiliated with that blog. The parallax will also have links to the services ('drink', 'swim', 'ski') the resort offered. Some of the Ads will also be pointing to the resort website.
Thanks Again! :)
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Michael Gunner commented:
Sorry if I seem overly negative. You are very talented, there's a lot of artistic merit here that should be credited, and the colours are lovely. It just doesn't quite pull together yet. I'm sure you will crack it though - best of luck! :)
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Critical Problem You should add background behind menu I do not like logo - it is boring. You should add sun etc Minor Problem on main-design_r1.jpg 1 This text is hard to read. Do something to emphasize it. Or do something to separate this column from the background. 2 This text is also hard to read. But I think it will pop out more if you darken this a bit. Serious Problem on main-design_r1.jpg 1 This isn't what it looks like is it? As a potential customer this unrealistic image doesn't show me what I could be buying. New Idea on main-design_r1.jpg 1 Darken this area. Its too similar to the color above the bamboo divider. Summary:
please correct me if I'm wrong....but this design looks way similar to a concept Nick Glavin did not too long ago....
If I'm wrong, I will gladly eat crow.
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Penn Folio commented:
nope, no idea of his work... It's some of my old project that I haven't touch for a while. I'd like to clean it a and include it on my portfolio.
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Rebecca Perry commented:you reviewed his concept
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Penn Folio commented:
Hi Rebecca, I checked Nick Glavin's concept and here are some of the closest concept I can associate.
http://www.conceptfeedback.com/concept-page/5215/theme-template/
http://www.conceptfeedback.com/concept/2604/focus-mk1/
This design was first featured here http://www.conceptfeedback.com/concept-page/5105/portfolio-version-2/
I don't think it's similar to any of his concept. This concept was already up before I even got here on CF. I just need to polish it.
:)
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Penn Folio commented:
yeah, I just realized that.. lol :)
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Michael Gunner commented:
Bit of a waste of a review tbh, they look nothing alike.
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Minor Problem on main-design_r1.jpg 1 I wouldn't use the same font as the logo for these headings. I think it lowers the impact of the logo. 2 Excellent use of Division. The bamboo is a perfect form of division. It separates the footer from the rest of the design without being too intrusive. 3 The navigation here feels out of place. When I move my eyes from the header to the content, the navigation gets in the way. I'd put up at the top near the header. I think it would flow better. I'd also wouldn't use the same script font as the logo. It lowers the impact of the logo. Positive Feature Integration of Content and Background
I really love the Integration of the content with the background. It looks superb. Well done!Positive Feature on main-design_r1.jpg 1 I love the way this is buried on the sand. It adds a subtle, but clever pun, as it suggests the user is "looking (i.e. searching) for something". Great stuff! On the site you linked to it is placed on the left, but it should really be on the right as in this visual. Summary:
Overall this is an excellent design. There are just a few minor things that it would tighten it up, but overall it is excellent.
Minor Problem on main-design_r1.jpg 1 Sand colour is too pink I think. New Idea on main-design_r1.jpg 1 Swap ad-space with navigation/searchbox and make navigation bigger and perhaps part of paper? Other on main-design_r1.jpg 1 Coastline is too linear. Try to make it more "wavy" (is that a proper word?) 2 I don't feel that the bamboo works for me. bamboo is more east (china) while the rest of your design feels more pacific. Summary:
Nice and clean, perhaps a bit too narrow? Is is that what you want? If not I would create some space between the main content and the side-bar.
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Penn Folio commented:
Thanks for the review.
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Minor Problem on main-design_r1.jpg 1 Serious Problem on main-design_r1.jpg 1 Critical Problem on main-design_r1.jpg 1 Summary:
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Penn Folio commented:
wow! your review is very detailed. How can this be helpful?
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William Angler commented:lol
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kinda random.. lolz, i'll try to figure it out,