Website Review and Suggestions

**LGR** · 08-21-2005, 11:49 AM

I am in the process of forming a small-time, UK-based web design firm, and would appreciate your views on the proposed company website.

Only the index and contact pages are available at present, as I am only evaluating the overall aesthetics of the site at present, but the other areas will be uploaded in the near future.

Many thanks, in advance, for your input.

SODesign.uk.com

**nymka** · 08-21-2005, 11:25 PM

First, I want to say that your site is great but...

1. theres is some coding that should be redone since the text doesn't always fit in the content area.

2. add more CSS

3. your text isn't always really visible, change the bg color or the text color because for now it's hard on the eyes

**gringo** · 08-22-2005, 03:20 AM

Hi LGR,

that's quite a striking design. However, the text positioning means that in IE you can read it but in FF you can't very well (as pointed out by nymka). Also, the way you've coded the text on the homepage means it will be a real headache to amend it should you add/remove any content. I know that there are other ways of getting text to follow a curve by using css (floating the images) if that's any help.

**LGR** · 08-22-2005, 06:39 AM

I had originally used the image as a whole, laying tables over the top with little attention paid to their actual dimensions. As the described problems attest, this wasn't successful.

I have now separated the image into it's component parts and all previous errors seem to have been rectified.

**NuWeb.co.uk** · 08-22-2005, 03:51 PM

I love the design!!!!!

.. very very good. ALso i am sure that you will get some customers with the design also.. Its also a well writteren introduction

**Byzantium** · 08-23-2005, 08:06 AM

Visually striking design with great impact, and the text on your homepage presents a compelling and well worded argument for using your company above others.

By having such a conciously stylised look you will of course alienate a certain market sector - just as you will heighten your appeal to some: fashion, music biz, design etc - but I imagine you are well aware of this - and even more staid industries may be attracted by presentation like this in order to appeal 'to a younger market'.

You have quite a long way to go in terms of content - but what you have so far does exactly what you want it to: It makes your site stand out from the crowd and I'm sure it will be effective at driving business your way from others that want their site to stand out too...

I particularly like the way you make the navigation blend in with the overall look whilst still making it simple and clear to use. Style concious sites like this often suffer from confusing navigation, but yours is exemplarary.

Strong, clear visual message conveyed by the graphic
reinforced by compelling text
and all tied up with solid mechanics

Great work!

(I just wish I could find something more critical to say!)

**LGR** · 08-23-2005, 10:14 AM

Many thanks for your comments - they are very much appreciated (especially when they are so complimentary!).

Yes Byzantium, it had occurred to me that such a design could potentially limit the sort of companies who would look to acquire my services, but a 'rounded' portfolio will hopefully show that I'm not a one-trick-pony, as it were.

Thank you again for your help, and advice.

**TwiztedFake** · 08-23-2005, 01:16 PM

Very nice design, it does stand out from the crowd. Like some others mentioned the main text area is difficult to read. Maybe try to make the background a little more transparent to allow more of the white to come through, so that there is a greater contrast between the text and background.

Otherwise I give it 9.5/10 on the aesthetics

**Line** · 08-23-2005, 01:20 PM

If you are a design company, one of the important things you should know is to not have DARK text in front of a DARK background. For text to be easily read, the text must be light on dark or dark on light. Especially if this is your portfolio to get you work. If this were an artistic piece, sometimes you can get away with it, but of course, that would require it to be artistic.

If you are to seperate yourselves from another design company and you want your company's name to be noticed, MAKE IT NOTICEABLE!
Right now you just have the text displayed in the middle of the page which is not very flattering. It just looks like it's there as opposed to it giving off a presence or making any sort of statement.

The size and positioning. If your site is always going to be within that rectangle of a shape you have, I would say your menu location is fine, as people with 800 x 600 browsers and up will view your site easily and the menu will always be available. HOWEVER, if you should add more text without a scrollable area, the menu will drop very far to the bottom. I suggest putting menus on the left or at the top if needed.

You have more work ahead of you to be completed. Good luck and Fare Well.
-Line

**LGR** · 05:25 PM

I would have expected no other reply from you Line, but it's informative nonetheless.

The basic premise behind the design is that it remains minimalistic, whilst also leaving a lasting impression on anyone who visits it. With the short but succinct content (which also allows the navigation menu to be where it is), and striking graphics, it achieves this extremely well in my view.

The slogan 'stand out from the crowd' is obviously meant to make a statement, but it doesn't have to be in bright lettering, surrounded by flashing lights, to have the desired effect. The text blends seemlessly into the background image, to keep the general 'theme' going, yet is large enough that it is not at all lost.

To my eye the text is perfectly legible, but I do understand the comments made with regard to the background colour of the content area. Obviously I am not the only one who's going to be looking at the site, so it will have to be altered (but it doesn't hurt to give it a go in the hope that it will work out well enough!).

**LGR** · 08-23-2005, 05:24 PM

The content area has now been lightened significantly to make the overlayed text legible.

**BlackPheonix** · 08-23-2005, 07:43 PM

Really stands out from the croud, exelent design, doesn't need any changes.