Boat Trailer Website Redesign

Curtis

This is a vast improvement from the current, however there are a few things, that sort of stick out...

I'll add some notes...

Overall it's a nice improvement, I think with some tweaks it would look a lot better, and maybe look at some different color palettes.

Good Luck!

Well I don't mind this at all. I think it fits its audience well.

I like the raised pane effect and the header in the background. I like the black footer. It sits well above the fold. Footer could definitely do with some work. I like the colour scheme ... speaks boat to me.

Although I have nit picked it terribly on the diagram below, they are nit picks this is definitely miles better than what was there and it is headed in a good direction..

The page needs a Tag line rather than the welcome text.

I hate your buttons. More detail on the diagram. Get rid of the yellow arrows, reduce the text and design them a little.

My main overall thing is that it is quite dark. I wonder about the yellow and black welcome pane whether changing the colour on that would lighten it somehow.

Don't make the slider rotate ... it really puts people off reading the page. Either have just one picture or have the slider set up so that the user clicks through it. I quite like it when you put numbers inside the circle ... subtle ones ... just indicates that there is more to see.

I took the liberty of proposing a slightly different design. Love to know what you think. I am just learning to use Balsamiq (-:

Hope that helps Lisa

Hello Curtis - huge improvement from the current site. The overall layout is a bit generic, but alot more modern than the current site. The colors are ok, I like the use of Blues. here are my suggestions:

• lose the shadows on the address info in the header.
• The button for Directions is redundant and can go away. The image of the compass and map is enough to let users know it's a clickable link taking them to a map with directions.
• In the main navigation, I suggest removing the word "trailer" from each link. You have the word Trailer in the logo which should be enough. You could even combine Parts and Services into one link if they user is taken to the same page.
• The copyright links don't need to be underlined, just use an alternate color for your <a> tags instead.
• the piping used to seperate the copyright info shouldnt be used there either. Maybe use colon instead.
• The shadows in the main nav aren't necessary either.

Overall, it's a huge improvement, and you're off to a great start. Have fun!....

The first thing that jumps at me is that it is rather devoid of character. I checked out your portfolio to see if I could find a positive example and I think a perfect example where you did capture character, uniqueness, and branding recognition is http://www.jamesbuchananhotel.com/. The site is great, it literally draws me in and takes me on location to the hotel.

Now I realize here the subject matter is a bit more bland than a capital hotel in quaint town. However, I think there are areas you could focus on to help bring this out.

The logo for one could use much improvement. It is a cartoon illustration of a yacht, whereas all the photographs I see on concept show smaller fishing type boats. Now it is possible that they also manufacture trailers for yachts as well, since I don't know much about the company I'm assuming they do smaller trailers only. Additionally I don't feel the logo really draws me in and it doesn't have much chance for brand recognition. You need to think of a way to relate the customers product in a simpler format as Kari mentioned and then focus your efforts on creating something personal to the company while memorable.

A couple of other comments I have are:

1. Rearrange the top right directions area. I'm OK with this area being up there but I think a better format that wasn't wasn't as messy would be something like, move the image of the compass/map to the right, keep the address on the left. Remove the Get Directions button and maybe integrate some text over the compass/map image which says 'Directions' and then make the image a clickable link to the directions page.

2. I always frown on Search bars which don't provide clear direction on what your searching. Change the words Search Now to something more descriptive like Enter Product Name or Number, or Enter Keywords. Anything except Search Now since that doesn't give any clear idea on what choices the user may have to search.

3. Since I can't see all the slides I'm not sure where you ended up going, but with the one slide I do see it feels like you are essentially being redundant with the area called Reliable + Experienced = Quality (aka About Bob's Boat Trailers). I think a much better format would be to provide Benefit statements. On the entire concept the only real thing I see is that Bob sells boat trailers and he is experienced. Liven it up with bright and colorful imagery, put in some good taglines or benefit statements. If you must go back to Bob and ask him what makes his trailer's so special. Learn your customer's product and then showcase the product in all its glory.

4. Again I agree with Kari the major design elements feel very template like. Work out your logo first and then liven up the entire design with some similar design elements used in the logo. If you build the brand, they will come, and they will stick around. :)

Hope this helps! Good luck.

Hi Curtis,

I looked at the current website for Bob's Boat Trailers, and your mockup is a significant improvement. It looks much more professional, they will be so happy when you are done!

I like the images for the trailers and parts and the way you laid those sections out. It is very clear where to find everything.

I also like the gray on black logos at the bottom, but I think the footer overall is too big. Why do you feel you need to repeat all the links again? If you made this smaller by just putting the logos and copyright info I think it would be better.

I think this looks like a template, which may be okay for your client and audience, it just doesn't stand out in any way for me.

My advice on the logo redesign is to make it much simpler. With logos I think it is important to think about branding. A logo often gets reproduced on envelopes, coffee mugs, sponsor sections, etc., where you may have small space and limited colors. Try to challenge yourself to do a design with two colors.

• The shadow of the text in the logo and statement were not any good.

  also did not like the gray gradient.

  The buttons below the images could be fixed size, proportional to the image.

  The button on the side of the map was none too good, too.

This is certainly looking more modern than the current website, but what exactly is the client looking to improve? Did they give any specifics? That would help aid in this critique...

I think the logo shows too much boat and not enough trailer. I like how the boat hangs over the center - this adds some depth and works well. Perhaps you could bring the trailer back from the original logo, add the boat, but through the use of contrasting colors and dimming you could accent the trailer so that sticks out. As others have mentioned, I think you need a more playful font. This font is way to standard. Search on the web for boats, water, ocean, fishing, etc.. and see what kind of fonts are used on websites, logos, posters, brochures, etc...

The compass and map icons in the header are a little distracting. You may want to scale them up, but fade the right side and move it over so the address sits on top of the faded part of the image. This will blend the 2 together, remove the icons as a focal point, and give more emphasis to the actually text. I also don't think it's necessary to have the get directions in the header. Save this for the contact page.

Lose the drop shadows on the logo text, address text, page container, and nav text.

Open up the middle of the page by losing the black message container. Show the image across the whole container and lay the text in black over the white part of the boat. you can use a semitransparent block if you need to. Then, move the slideshow controls to the right to balance the page with the logo in the left.

The trio of boxes below the main image looks good. However, the image borders are a little too busy. Keep 1 shape (looks like you have 2 containers slightly rotated from one another). The call to action buttons could be a lot more playful to match the style of the logo that you'll tweak.

The footer is good and I like how you slide the black under the page content.

You're almost there. A few tweaks and this will look great. Let me know if you'd like me to review again.

I've looked at the old website and this is certainly in improvement. There's some things that could be better though, but you've made a nice start.

My primary concern, which does not reveal itself in the notes, is that the website looks like a generic car-parts or mechanical stuff site. It's a bit out of touch with the whole recreative aspect. I'm missing some clues, visually, that it is about boat trailers. Throw in some feel-good images, do something with the color, just try something. Perhaps changing the black to a more ocean or beach color would do it.

Apart from the overall appearance, when I look at the details a little more, I think the shadows are too much. Especially in the header, but practically everywhere where you've used shadows, I would consider it too hefty.

On a last note you could work on the things that stand out a little more. When I open the page, first thing I see is the image, the 'Welcome to...' message and the logo. It's good that you've put the opening times and the telephone number under the name, but I feel the contact-info page could be even more appealing to click on. I mean, that's the primary goal right? So I think you could make some space for a call-to-action for the contact-info.

I do like the 3 column structure and the positioning. Footer is fine I think, apart from the underline. Don't know why you think that needs work. I think it's the best part so far. You can keep it like that.

I'm positive that you can fix most, if not all, issues I have with the concept and that it will come out just fine.

The Logo: You've already pointed out the logo, so I'll start there. Yes, it sucks. No argument there. I think it needs to tie in more with the silver at the bottom of the page rather than with the blues at the top.

Since the company is in the business of boat trailers and the overall look of the site fluctuates between blue, white, and a heavy slate with white/silver text; the change should probably be more dramatic. If you're allowed to change the graphic as well as the text/colors, then I'd drop the boat entirely and just use a trailer - or de-emphasize the boat to make it smaller and emphasize the trailer underneath. I'd then go with more silver/gray in the overall design. Perhaps go with a chrome on the trailer rather than blue.

The text itself should tie in with that. I wouldn't get rid of the drop shadow, but I would make it much more subtle. Since the top of the page already has a gradient, the drop shadow needs to be opposing that rather than working with it. So it should be a lighter color - like white, rather than gray.

Address and Directions: This is a little over-emphasized. I think the page would be better served were this space more open. So I'd make the whole thing about 2/3 the size it is now, especially the address text. The colors are off as well. The dark blue text should be more closely matched to the lighter blue used elsewhere - specifically the "Reliable + Experienced" text down and across. That would build more balance and push the eye towards the logo.

Everything Else: As for the rest of the page's design, I like it a lot. It conveys good information - the first thing I look for in any site is whether it does anything other than look good. This one not only looks good, but it immediately shows the viewer what the business is all about and gives prominent, easy-to-find links to the commerce/information.

The text is well-balanced and the whole site has a great look overall.

Great work.

I quite like this site, but it has quite a 'dated' feel to it