Classic Professional Look

[Yeldarb]

I have a client who wants a professional, modest looking site. He wants it to be subtle, and have the content be the main focus. I am having trouble getting this look without making it look too simple. Does anyone have any suggestions or any really good examples that I could look at for inspiration?

[DDD]

what I normally do is ask the client if they have seen a site that they particularly like, or an advertisement. Also if there are any magazines they prefer. ALot of clients preferences come from their likings. Or maybe you think of a site that you have seen that foots the bill.

[Yeldarb]

He's not really giving me any help lol


I don't have any preconceived notion of how the site should look, but it should be easy to use and navigate for the average joe.
and


I can't think of any sites off hand.

[DDD]

go to www.coolhomepages.com go to like the corporate section.

[Yeldarb]

ok thanks, i'll have a look

[bleutuna]

Check out some of the sites in my portfolio - http://www.bleutuna.com, but also:

http://www.bleutuna.com/tra_mpdesign_a.jpg

http://www.bleutuna.com/servicegroup_flyout_mockup.jpg

http://www.bleutuna.com/mmspecialevents_mainpage.jpg
http://www.bleutuna.com/mmspecialevents_interior.jpg


http://www.bleutuna.com/howardelliott_mainpage.jpg
http://www.bleutuna.com/howardelliott_interior_zoom.jpg


http://www.bleutuna.com/lauralewis_mainpage.jpg

[bayek]

http://www.favoritewebsiteawards.com/

http://www.internettinyawards.com/

http://www.mocnyweb.pl/katalog/show.php?gid=4 (some Polish ones:)) Good dose of inspiration from those sites...

[DDD]

also try www.netdiver.net

good stuff there. I would not look at one persons style as you may be tempted to copy a lil too much.....but put together inspiration from a few sources then tweak those and you should be good to go.

[Yeldarb]

grrrr, thanks guys but this client is pissing me off, now he doesn't want that

I don't need any navigation! All I want is the database! No layout. I don't need a layout.
He doesn't understand that for the database to do anything you need a front end
grrrr

[bleutuna]

Then tell him that. Tell him, "You have to have a way for the users to interact with the database."

If this is an intranet site, it can be very simple. If it's customer facing, then it has to be useable.

If you haven't taken money from him yet, back out of the project, and tell him you refuse to work with someone who won't understand simple, basic concepts. I'd have done so on my Aladdin job, but unfortunately, I had already taken the money.

[Yeldarb]

no, i haven't already taken the money, but i really need the work

i'm just going to make a simple layout, no big deal and not charge for it

[sintax321]

don't know how basic your client wants it but here is the site i use when some one wants basic and content focus.

http:www.jimeverettcompany.com


Basic, clean, easy to navigate.

[Yeldarb]

if anyone was curious, I ended up doing something extremely simple.

here's the link:
www.barbdwyer.com/dad

:P

[DDD]

that is a little too simple in my opinion. Dont forget when you release this site your name and reputation is on it

[Yeldarb]

yes, i know, but it's better than having it all be text based.

I may add a little flare to it when I'm done w/ the backend stuff though. Maybe a picture here or there... hmm, I'll have to think about that.