6 Reviews3 Votes1 Favorite658 Views
Concept Reviews
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Alex
I say go with homepage 22, it's got all the right touches of what it is that you want to portray. A few little teaks and it will be perfect for you.
I like the cartoons, but I think you have way too many, there really should be only two or three, unless of course you are offering cartooning as a service.
Shadow's some are good, and some are extreme
Padding keep it consistent, eg social icons, agin, it has to do with the cartoon, pushing it over.
Quote box, make the left corner sit under the fold, and remove the cartoon... Watch the padding between email, enquiry and "get a quote button"
Remember consistency i the key!
Overall nice so far, keep up with this design...
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Aaran Casey commented:I don't think you need to take out anymore actually than that, maybe just look at positioning and reducing the size a bit
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Aaran Casey commented:
Alex, as per your message I have had a look at it and hacked your design a bit see image above, 25 & 26 seemed to be lack in the footer, and I like the other contact form better, as it gave weight to the footer, I also thought that the "it's like we have our own..." was better without the underneath part it looked like it was floating, and putting that statement in inverted commas, makes it look as though the photo next to it is talking to you...
Hope this helps
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Alex Colina commented:
Nice! yeah I like the quote form there but I got many suggestions that it should be closer to the top. maybe I'll make it a page tab as well. And yes, that little blurb you took out contributed to the business without adding to the message. Thanks Aaran.
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Observations:
homepage23.jpg - All major elements are above the fold (except quote module). If quoting is a major call to action - you will need to bring it higher up (possible area in the banner area) - Banner area has no call to action button. The woman's image would be more powerful if it was not in a frame. Try to select an image that can be integrated with the copy. - Ensure that the fonts are not small (see annotations)
homepage22.jpg - All critical items are above the fold - Treatment of the call to action "CALL TODAY" works really well. - I recommend changing the image at top to be something illustrating some work asset -- or staging in the marketing design process. In other words, creating a information map or diagram. - Careful on font size in the task panel area (where Home, Portfolio, About, Contact) Remember less is more. The cartoon images compete with the screen images. - Readability may be difficult for the fonts on the orange background. Use this tool to gain an understanding of how text looks on saturated color backgrounds (http://colorschemedesigner.com/) Some of your audience may have issues reading because of color blindness issues (http://www.vischeck.com/vischeck/) - Place quoting module in the task panel - which will eliminate scrolling - Consider using the traditional social networking icons - versus illustrated icons.
- Consider studying the psychological affect of the color orange. (http://psychology.about.com/od/sensationandperception/a/color_orange.htm)Overall - this is a good start in the redesign process, and a marked improvement over your current website.
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Alex Colina commented:
As usual some very astute observations, many thanks. I think I should explain better what concepts lie behind my decisions in this project.
our clients look like you.
I want visitors to feel that WE are neither to big to too small. Current clients range from landscapers and hair stylists to very large non-profits like CTIA and NIGP.we can do it all (most anyway)
simplify the process with straight froward packages (Yet, I am beginning to think it's not such a great idea.... I might abandon Startup, Refresh, Expand or move it to the bottom and put the quoting there)
The top banners are meant to suggest an actual customer (print) photograph sent along with a hand-written testimonial. I intentionally want to walk away from beautiful people in offices as my "heroes"(that is a great term I learned from you!). I do understand your thought about showing the actual "marketing department".
I am enamored of homepage22.jpg, but the concept I fear is too cute and busy. (supposedly is the marketing's department desk at work, with doodles and such as the cartoon are unfinished and the lettering is HANDvetica - difficult to see in this reduced version)
Also homepage22.jpg is meant to be exactly what orange inspires, warm, inviting and familiar. We are like the guys in the back of your store working on your marketing.
About color blindness, I understand, but i doubt that even if someone assigned a colorblind person to find a web design company that those clients would be a good match for us.
Sorry for my long reply. But I have just one more question for you:
If you had to choose just one concept to develop further, which would you choose?
Again I value and admire your advice here and in other's concepts
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Alex Colina commented:
Really?? wow..I was not expecting that at all, somehow I thought you would prefer the blue one. Thank Michael
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Alex Colina commented:
Oh by the way..about my existing site...it's been there since 2004!! truly embarrassing(got some praise back then though)
I just throw some portfolio pieces into a folder every once in a while.
The funny thing is that I never relied on my website to generate business, we were always so busy with just word-of-mouth. But now things are different so I have been forced to look at it more carefully.
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Michael Rawlins commented:
homepage25-W-QUOTE.jpg - Quote capability - a great use of space - The photos in the 'task panel' are displayed really well (right size, correct placement) - the task panel has a clever 'desk blotter' metaphor (easy to see and recognize now)
homepage02.jpg - I like how the space is used in this design - Make certain that you establish clear visual affordances (great book: http://books.google.com/books?id=l0QPECGQySYC&pg=PA16&lpg=PA16&dq=visual+affordance+universal+design+principle&source=bl&ots=M58YfBcJw&sig=LS7qIf6iivL9Fcq791pUwUOODrI&hl=en&ei=YiEITav2J4n0tgP7272pDg&sa=X&oi=bookresult&ct=result&resnum=3&sqi=2&ved=0CCcQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q&f=false) - great banner space (it wold be good to see a pagination control - for additional banner images) - I would love to see a level 2 page
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Alex Colina commented:
OH BOY! thanks for the kudos on ALEXCOLINA2-pg2_02.jpg but the desk blotter concept is now in full production!...hmmm...now you got me thinking!! ha ha ha
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I like it much better than the previous one! Would like to see picture of the girl higher, it just doesn't look right for me where it is now. Are you going to put the "get a quote" (or something like this:) ) button in the top part? Good luck ! :)
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Alex Colina commented:
I wish I could be this short and laser-like in my responses! Fantastic advice! You are right I don't know why I left that photo hanging like that. And YES "get a quote" will get a space at the top and generate a pop-up form so the form does not take up space and does not require a new page.
One more question: if you must pick one now, which would you pick?
Thanks
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Oksana commented:Hi there! I would pick 23. I like the idea of 22, but it looks cartoon-ish for me. Just too much graphics, but at the same time it will work for daycare or moving company or office supplies company. Good luck Alex! :)
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Alex Colina commented:
yeah, Ive kinda come to that conclusion myself too. thanks Oksana
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Alex Colina commented:
A more specific question about the picture..
do you like any of the two that I have in each design? OR are you saying I should not use a picture? (current project perhaps like my last concept) OR you just meant "position it appropriately"?
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Oksana commented:
23 - Yes, it needs to be positioned appropriately :) move it up!!!! I don't like that girl in the picture...( not because she's brunet :) ) I would like to see some-one just a little bit less happy and more proud. 22 - that picture is ok. But the guys shirt color is wrong. You already have lots of orange.
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Alex Colina commented:
thanks. We are in complete agreement about the facial expression. I want to stay away from pretty smiling models, and need to find more authentic looking people...I might just have to take the pictures myself, if so I'll make sure it is proud looking blonde ;-) thanks
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Oksana commented:
:))))) nice, LOL wait... what??? :) Good luck! :) Hope to see your new website soon.
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Oksana commented:
Hi Alex! About the new-one, I like it. Its fun, its fresh, not sure about logo, its blending with orange line. Social network icons - do you want to have only 4? Don't know how you want to fit them there with the pencil... Nice job :) Thumbs up for bold guy :)))
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Alex Colina commented:
Thanks Oksana, it is now in full production..some minor adjustments will invariably happen. I will beta it here before it goes live.
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Hi Alex,
I ♥♥♥♥ the way you laid out design, they look so nice to me and I would love to see homepage22 coming to life.
Thanks, Haider
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Alex Colina commented:
Thanks Haider! I appreciate the (how do you make the little hearts?..hmmm) Anyways, thanks man. And yes I am now working on 22. Unfortunately (or fortunately?) we are too busy this week so it wont be for another two weeks, but I plan to show off a pre-launch to all of you who have been so instrumental in helping this redesign come to life.
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I like the text "It's like having out very..." font. Works well.
The orange boxes are a nice touch (Startup, Refresh, and Expand)
Footer grabs my attention so thats good. Liking the Quote form and style.
NICE JOB!! ;)
- Peter
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Alex Colina commented:
Thanks Peter! too bad I have let that quote box go in favor of a pop-up version at the top (checkout me new iteration)
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Hello Alex,
I would definetly go with the lay-out of 22 but i realy dont like the color scheme. It makes it very hard to read some stuff. (See notes) and it looks a little bit unprofessional (even though the design is great). It also looks a bit restless/crowded because of this color use. Another thing to keep in mind is what you see above the fold, wich isnt all the important information right now.
I would change that lay-out to the way design 23 looks like. That design is way more readable and it is not so hard on the eyes.
See notes for additional opionions.
Edit: I cant add notes to this review so i will put them here:
"Now our business": This doesnt have great contrast because of background image. Makes it difficult to read.
Start up, Expand, Refresh. Low contrast: Bad readability.
Same goes for the white on orange text on the bottom.
Call today: I would put this higher on the page. (Above the fold) Shows that you are a genuine company (trust) and makes it easy to contact you.
Logo: This is orange on orange. Wich doesnt let it stand out much. But you are trying to build brand recognition so you might reconsider this.
These are my 2 cents. Hope they help!
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Alex Colina commented:
Very helpful Buskes. Ive come to the conlusion that white is about the only color I can use over orange that is readable and does not hurt the eyes.
>>I would change that lay-out to the way design 23 looks lik
Funny you should say that! take a look at this earlier version :-)
http://www.conceptfeedback.com/concept/4770/redesigning-my-webste/
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Geert Buskes commented:Hello Alex,
Here is the extra review i promised you for your redesign. First of all i think you have come a long way considering your old designs. Great job so far! Few things to keep in mind though:
Stick to standards, people (especialy older people, no offence) tend to depend on known structure in websites. Thats why i always tell everyone to go with a logo on the left top side of the website. A horizontal menu with horizontal submenu (7x7 items max here) below that (unless your site is exceptionaly large). Below that provide visitors with answers to the following questions:
What does this company do? (your products, services etc.) Why should i pick them? (your unique selling points) Why should i trust them? References, certificates, or other quality indications. And when they are convinced, how can i contact you (or order or get a free quote)? call to action/contact information
You should try to get that message across as much above the fold as possible. While doing this you must keep some basic usability rules like readability in mind. In your last redesign you made some very cool adjustments (to the quote for example) but im afraid they are not realy what you call standards.
I suggest using the cool cartoony stuff and features as support for your mainly standard website design. Try to stick to standards as much as possible but within this room play with the funny things. (hard to explain this in good english for me :))
I would suggest using design 22 as a good base for the design and get artistic with it with the cartoony stuff without forgetting the basics.
Hope i have explained a bit what i mean!
Good luck!
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Alex Colina commented:
Great points. Emphasize selling points above the fold and distinguish myself from competition, keep in mind standard navigation. Check! thanks so much.
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great comments Aaran!
Question: I will take out the Quote and Social Icons cartoons...I want to take out more, but I cant decide between the ones in the STARTUP..etc (they illustrate the point or the ones on the paper (they tell a compelling story).. Any advice?