Website Review and Suggestions

**Gilligan** · 05-26-2008, 12:45 PM

I am re-designing my website into something more professional that has that 'business' feel.

http://www.sgilligan.co.uk is my current design, as you can see its nothing professional or business like.

http://www.sgilligan.co.uk/new is the new design I'm doing, could I get some opinions on it?

Thanks

**aldor** · 05-26-2008, 02:25 PM

I like what you have produced so far, the only suggestion I would make is that your logo looks a little flat, could perhaps do with more contrast.
I assume when you have finished your CSS will be in a separate file.

**Gilligan** · 03:15 PM

Yeah it will

Thanks for the suggestion.
Here's a different version with a new logo (added emboss to make a bit more 3-D)
http://www.sgilligan.co.uk/new/index2.html

**Gilligan** · 05-26-2008, 03:46 PM

Much better than my old one though eh?

**chrislong** · 05-26-2008, 03:59 PM

Gilligan,

Just checked out your old and new site. I actually like the background on the old site, it can be used to your advantage dependent on the design.

I think the logo of a website makes or breaks the overall site, get a modern looking logo for your new design

Nice one

Chris

**aldor** · 05-26-2008, 04:33 PM

Surprising what difference a slight change makes, looks much better.

**Nike** · 05-27-2008, 01:43 AM

I do like it but it's just a little plain.

**arcel** · 05-27-2008, 03:58 AM

big difference.
the first one looks more of the streets... maybe because of the style and color... but the new design is more professional but the logo is kind the pale... but still looks good.

**journey08** · 05-27-2008, 05:02 AM

I like the new site. It looks more professional compared to the old style....

**Gilligan** · 05-27-2008, 06:46 AM

Thanks everyone.

Do you think I should start a graphic competition for a new logo??

**markstephan** · 05-27-2008, 06:53 AM

Dear Giligan,

I visited your both designs...what I found is the existing designed header is unique and the new design having some glossy look. My opinion if you can place the existing designed header of spatters put on the new layout header and place that glassy effect can make the look n feel more professional and much better.

Regards,

**lofty123** · 05-27-2008, 06:58 PM

i like the second one

**pushtiu_c** · 05-27-2008, 07:12 PM

Gilligan, I like the new one better then the old one ... of course the old one I think it looked good someday

... but the new one is better

... it looks more like a wordpress theme I think ... seams a little bit web 2.0 wich is good, and the grey shades from the banner are really nice ...

One suggestions if you want

... the text and title from the left content(I think) container ... give it a little more padding-left ... eventually use the same as you used for padding-right for the sidebar ... I don`t know about the resolution you use but I`m on 1440x900 and I would say that it would look good as about 1cm or if you want

as the diameter of a woman`s finger

) ...

Another suggestion ... if you want to complicate the things a bit ... on rollover on the buttons ... try to make the background of the button the light grey and the text of the button the dark grey ... or try a lighter grey then the light grey ... this is just an ideea and you`re the only one who can see if it is good or not

...

Good Luck!

**Gilligan** · 05-27-2008, 07:18 PM

yeah i was thinking about that with the buttons, but looked around and saw that most professional sites just have an underline on their button links.

I'm on 1280 x 1024

**PeachyJuice** · 05-27-2008, 07:36 PM

Is 'Contact' supposed to be on a second line? In Safari that happens, not sure about other browsers xD And aside from that I only have two comments.

1. Where's the color? If you're offering design services then you want to show people that you know how to choose colors together. What you have now is blah and boring and just shows me (the potential customer) that you can make pretty shapes in photoshop and code. That's only 2/3 of the design. Add a bit of color and it'll be great!

2. I see default colored links! I'm not sure if it's just the fact that you haven't implemented that yet or whatnot, but def make sure to color those. Who knows, someone might want tangerine links which would look kind of ugly.

I think the lines are awesome, and I have to agree with the rollover suggestion. It would make it look a lot more professional.

**Gilligan** · 05-27-2008, 07:41 PM

You know, colour isn't such a bad idea.

Perhaps a light blue?

Gonna try that tomorrow

**LadynRed** · 05-27-2008, 07:49 PM

I like the new site, definitely more "business-like" in appearance. I don't happen to think it's necessary to splash color everywhere just because you can, your portfolio should be the highlight for what you can and have done. I don't see anything wrong with the monochromatic look and feel, it's not at all uncommon.

Default colored links ? What difference does it make as long as they work with the rest of the design ? The menu links aren't default colors.

There's also nothing wrong with a relatively simple and clean design. I don't think rollovers are necessary for a 'professional' look, there's a lot more to looking 'professional' than that.

Nice work !

**Marc** · 05-27-2008, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aldor

I like what you have produced so far, the only suggestion I would make is that your logo looks a little flat, could perhaps do with more contrast.
I assume when you have finished your CSS will be in a separate file.

Agree...I think the new header looks great but adding some color to your name might make it jump a bit more. Great job so far!

Example: SGilligan.co.uk

**Deunan** · 05-27-2008, 11:23 PM

I like the old one better, quite honestly. The old one has a nice background, and because it has more color is feels more "active". The new one seems a little plain, but however, the good point of it is that it is very simple. There's no way someone could get lost with that navidation.

**vn5ltr** · 02:34 AM

Looks promising.
Drop shadows need some tidying up with their layout and positioning. They are also offset to the right, which i disagree with.
Colour scheme is boring, doesn't look inviting to me.
Pretty good start though