website layout

[colombianking]

Im making a website for a client so what you think (its a marble company)

http://img293.imageshack.us/my.php?image=templatelayout0nn.gif


(http://imageshack.us)

[bwh2]

i know it's a marble company, but that's way too many textures. i would go with something a lot simpler that showcases the marble textures rather than just randomly covering the page in them.

on another note, the navigation may prove challenging because there are so many options. i tend to favor vertical navigations when there are this many options because it's easier for my eyes to follow from one option to the next. i would probably get some more feedback and then start from scratch.

[IMJ]

I dont quite agree with bwh2 with the problem of the horizontal navigation. I under his point, but im not encountering that problem. In fact, I think many users are used to such menus.

However, he does make a good point about the textures though. It could work two ways, either it'll look fantastic or it'll look rather cheap, like those "home-brewed company sites".

The design isnt bad in any way, there's a bit too much Bevel & Emboss for my liking. Need to see more to make a final judgement.

And a little tip: make sure the background texture repeats itself flawlessly.

[Seb Hughes]

I dont quite agree with bwh2 with the problem of the horizontal navigation. I under his point, but im not encountering that problem. In fact, I think many users are used to such menus.

However, he does make a good point about the textures though. It could work two ways, either it'll look fantastic or it'll look rather cheap, like those "home-brewed company sites".

The design isnt bad in any way, there's a bit too much Bevel & Emboss for my liking. Need to see more to make a final judgement.

And a little tip: make sure the background texture repeats itself flawlessly.I agree

[colombianking]

thanks for the feed back but my client says he wants it with a lot of textures and stuff and ill make sure about the background :thumb:

[jnstevens87]

Don't know whats up with the random dove, but I'd lose it.

I'd love to see a big beautiful picture of some marble in a house instead of the white marble.

I'm not wild about the buttons. Too simple, and I might make them all caps.

And where you have the green marble line and the tan marble line, the green goes all the way to the left edge but the tan doesn't.

Hope this helps.

[Vexir]

Its a lot of rock, even for a marble company. I'd say make all those stripes of rock nice white tubular sort of designs. Overall though I'd say it was a tad too simple, but if it gets the message across I guess it works.

[bwh2]

thanks for the feed back but my client says he wants it with a lot of textures and stuff and ill make sure about the background :thumb:
if i were you, i would try to explain to the client that it's better to showcase the marble than to just have different kinds all over. imagine a house with all different kinds of marble in a really small space. it would look goofy and overdone. instead, the marble would be used selectively and appropriately to fit the design of the room, lighting, etc. same goes for a website. you can still have large photos and graphics (=> a lot of marble), but use it more appropriately. anyway, that's my 2 cents.

[BoonDock]

A little too intensive on the "marble" theme ya have going...knock that down a bit and get rid of the swerves you have towards the right...

[G]

I don't really like it but this is because of so many textures but if that is what the client wants then what can you do????

[Vamp9190]

I don't really like it but this is because of so many textures but if that is what the client wants then what can you do????

I agree.

[Jeff Wheeler]

if i were you, i would try to explain to the client that it's better to showcase the marble than to just have different kinds all over. imagine a house with all different kinds of marble in a really small space. it would look goofy and overdone. instead, the marble would be used selectively and appropriately to fit the design of the room, lighting, etc. same goes for a website. you can still have large photos and graphics (=> a lot of marble), but use it more appropriately. anyway, that's my 2 cents.

He says it best :thumb:

[=guinness=]

go check out some highend realestate magazines that showcase modern high price homes in places like La Jolla,CA and San Francisco,CA as well as New York Penthouses. Look at how they present the interior spaces (which usually include a wide angle shot of a kitchen w/ countertop).


those magazines usually have a very clean simple look that promotes the subject over the page layout and font. look at those and try to come up with a style that incorporates the prime aspects, not copy but use as inspiration.

when i think of a company that does marble (i assume its counter tops, maybe its just a quarry company specializing in marble.) i would expect to see a clean showcase of the product in action / context in a room rather than mostly close ups which could be done in a specific section.

go for more of a clean white look and check out some ritzy living magazines.

[Vexir]

Where do you find all these magazines that you use??

[=guinness=]

me?


the last post i think your talking about was a scan from a university text i used.
for the magazines, i browse for free at bookstores like Barnes & Noble and keep tabs on things i like. you don't need to spend money on them, you can just browse them or pick up one for a few bucks every now and then. a habit i picked up from an old instructor.


what better way to be competative then to read the competition and play with ideas in practice?

[Vexir]

Smart moves ;)

[kylaapala]

Hi there, I've been reading the entries about too much marble and how thats what the clients wants. The challenge as a designer is to make things work based on what the client wants. If he wants lots of marble and there is no talking him out of it, then you have to find a way to make it work. The way you have done it now does not work. It is tacky and makes the company look cheap. Marble is generally a bit expensive and you should make the site reflect the nature of the product. There is more to a product than just the texture or look of it. There is an image surrounding it aswell as the company. I beleive that if you pin point these things you will have an easier time coming to an effective solution. Another note might be to work on your technical skills, and perhaps consult someone who is more artistic to achieve a more professional look. Right now the execution of the site is quite poor.

Peace :)
K

[IMJ]

Hi there, I've been reading the entries about too much marble and how thats what the clients wants. The challenge as a designer is to make things work based on what the client wants. If he wants lots of marble and there is no talking him out of it, then you have to find a way to make it work. The way you have done it now does not work. It is tacky and makes the company look cheap. Marble is generally a bit expensive and you should make the site reflect the nature of the product. There is more to a product than just the texture or look of it. There is an image surrounding it aswell as the company. I beleive that if you pin point these things you will have an easier time coming to an effective solution. Another note might be to work on your technical skills, and perhaps consult someone who is more artistic to achieve a more professional look. Right now the execution of the site is quite poor.

Peace :)
K

I'd love to see a photo in the site. One that has the focus on the marble and with a lot of depth in it. To me that's a better option than textures.

Good luck :)