layout for blacksmiths site. can you check?

[salvador marley]

this is my first layout for site i am making for a blacksmith. i stuck on an email form so you have a bit of content to see.

also, when i test this in internet explorer the jpg image is low quality but in firefox it is fine - which is odd. however when i test locally on my machine, it looks fine in both browsers. if you have both browsers, it would be helpful to know what you are seeing.

ok guys - thanks.

http://www.spree.us/irony.htm

[Rasper]

Looks pretty much identical in FireFox and IE for me. So no problems there.

As for the lay-out; I hope you slap in a background(color) or something, because it's a little dull/boring now. There's not really much to it. Seems a bit basic. But that's not necessarily a bad thing if you want a clean functional site.

[salvador marley]

thanks rasper. does the image look pixelated or ok?

[squishy]

hmmmmm I think it needs to look a little bit more exiteing other than that good job

[salvador marley]

exciting :) - ok i'll have a think

[lunatic]

Looks fine in both browsers here. :)

[Seb Hughes]

Its nice and simple salvador but theres somthng missing. It needs a bit more spicing up

Salvador Check out the 1001 thread i added another headswap it is really good mate. Im so proud of my self

[creativeFuzion]

I guess it's going well so far. Do you have any plans for advancement, or are you sticking with this? *shrugs shoulders*

I think it just needs something that says "wow, I think I'll come back again" to a visitor/customer. I would keep that layout, and experement with an all red/black/silver theme and see how that turns out.

~Philip

[simplistik]

I think it's to soft. Maybe add some type of hot poker like effect to it or somethin. Use some metals or somethin anvil like... just doesn't really do much theme wise. As for the look... for me on Mac OSX Safari, IE, and FF it all looks the same... good quality to the pic.

[Zach-E2]

so, salvador.. when, my brother, are you going to kick our butts? aren't you ready to yet? ;) nice job with using the side glow.. maybe add a glow to the top and bottom. i'd work a little on the nav.. it stands out, but it doesn't seem very professional.. kinda seems beginner.. maybe a use of a different colour or something? don't be afraid to design it's extensively in PS and then build it.

1. first thing i would do is this, get a pencil and paper and write down what you know this site will need and what information and what things it will provide. categorize them in order of importance.
2. secondly, i would draw out a basic layout on paper and try to lay it out according to your OI (order of importance).
3. take it to photoshop. don't worry about "can i do this?" .. don't worry about development.. make it look as kick butt as possible yet keep in mind that it needs to be effective and useful
4. once design is done, begin laying it out in either flash or in xhtml/css (copy merge is a great tool to use for this)

hope that helps, man!

[salvador marley]

to be honest zach, i'm not a trained designer. Doubt i'll ever be able to kick anyones butt here. this is a monday morning layout - probably the best i can do

[Zach-E2]

i'm not a trained designer either, mate!
school's too expensive.. ;)

[salvador marley]

:) zach

i've given this job up and told the guy i cant do it (sent him an email) quite a relief really :)

[Zach-E2]

ah, man, you could have done it! i have faith in you!

[playboyadonis]

Salvador - I think you did a great job in trying to design a site for a blacksmith.
However, I think you make him look like a killer or something.

You should take the time to capture the essence of masonry. In this case, try to capture the skill of blacksmithing as if it is the best field to be in --or-- make the guy look like he is knowledgeable about the trade. More than anything, make him look approachable to the people who will email him.

Right now, I would be scared to contact the person you have on that page because that particular image has him looking like a killer in somebody's basement. Like Keaunu Reaves in that serial murder flick.

Keep trying...

[salvador marley]

Well thank you for saying that zach :)

My skills as a designer are suspect and i cant do it like pro's do - something is lacking - i think partly the problem is - i never get any decent content from a client - they never tell me what they want on pages, this make designing a layout very difficult. I sort of have to make the site and put the words to it in my own way which is a real pain. I have to fight to get photos and dont know the size of photos. When i see really pro sites - it is obvious that content has been very well thought out. like this:

http://www.endurotraining.com/

imagine how much thought has gone in from the clients side - the designer can then think - ok, great - this is how it will look.

I get none of that - its just this from the client "ok i need a website and here's some jpg images, dont really know what to say - good luck with it - i'll send my 100 pounds"( 175 dollars) in the post.

it's hard work - and anyway - if they only pay that much - why should i really care :)

[salvador marley]

playboy - hmmm - great advice. I mean come on - what does that mean? i could only use the photos he sent me - i dont recall him sending me a photo of him smilling sweetly at us all. the only one he sent me was one of him working - which any sane person can see in the top image

[salvador marley]

playboy - i realise you are being sarcastic. you have gone straight onto my ignore list