Website Review and Suggestions

**3dmoss** · 08-25-2010, 11:31 PM

It has been a very long time since I have built a website, and the two I made before this were very "uninspired" for they were for a class. I am actually a 3D guy but I need to put together a nice portfolio website. I have already purchased the webspace and am currently trying to design the page itself. I will be using Dreamweaver to put it all together and publish it to the web. Here is my first concept of it. Any feedback or crits welcome, good and bad, its the only way it will get better. Anyway thanks for any feedback or suggestions.

**35173** · 08-26-2010, 07:52 AM

Area in which your main content text will go could really do with being a lighter colour to increase usability. Doing that will also set your content apart from the rest of the page

**eburza** · 08-26-2010, 08:15 AM

build your web for 1024x768 px resolution, use CSS, not just images, use simple colors,
make your web fast an readable.

on picture will be hart to read black text on gray background ... there is much work in front of you

**LadynRed** · 08-26-2010, 08:59 AM

The big buttons with the big drop shadows is very 1997, not at all modern. Take a look around the web, drop shadows, if you use them, are much more subtle. Gradients are also much more subtle. Take a look around places like http://cssmania.com, or http://csshowdown.com.

I have to agree, that dark gray with black text is bad for accessibility/usability, I'd lighten up the gray a lot if you stick with it.

**3dmoss** · 08-26-2010, 11:10 AM

thank you for all the input so far, I will be changing a lot of it it looks like!

**3dmoss** · 08-26-2010, 12:22 PM

question... A suggestion was to use CSS to build the site, I do not know html or htmlx, this is why I am using DW, is there a way to use this format with a design oriented program like DW?

**3dmoss** · 08-26-2010, 06:19 PM

Alright, I have taken the suggestions and tried come up with something a little more modern, clean. Still not sure what to do with all the negative space. The large grey area in the middle is the content area. Again crits are welcome!

**skyhighlnkr** · 08-26-2010, 10:03 PM

I would like to suggest better put it in a reverse way, logo is on the left side while the menus are on the right side?...

**chrishirst** · 08-27-2010, 01:46 PM

Quote:

A suggestion was to use CSS to build the site, I do not know html or htmlx, this is why I am using DW

So why do you not design it and get a developer to build the structure from your design?

**CSM** · 08-27-2010, 02:25 PM

It still looks like made 8 years ago. Especially the navigation. Sorry that I have to say it.

**3dmoss** · 08-27-2010, 07:21 PM

for the question why I dont just hire someone to build the framework,I would love to, but I dont have a lot of cash, I have a basic understanding of Dreamweaver so I was hoping to put something together that looks nice. I am not a web designer so I don't need it to be cutting edge when it comes to design and execution. I just want it to display my reel and illustrations and maybe an about me while not looking like the page was built when Windows95 was the OS of choice.

as far as it looking 8 years old on the navigation, should I just get rid of the individual box idea and maybe just have them float at the top or on a single bar?

**3dmoss** · 08-30-2010, 07:29 PM

Alright, so I threw out the large button thing. Not sure if the background is a little to loud or not. Am I still stuck in 2001?

**timsoulo** · 09-01-2010, 05:11 AM

yes, sorry... your design is still not good.. sorry...
if you're good at photoshop.. why don't you go through the so-called showcases and steal an idea of website design/structure from someone else?
smashingmag has a good collection - http://www.smashingmagazine.com/tag/showcases/

but in case you like some website layout and unsure how to design it.. maybe there's a point of going to freelance websites, explain what you want and see for how much ppl will do that?