Need some design help.

[Austastic]

Hey everyone. I want the design for my website to be simple and easy, however the way it is now it just seems bland. Can I get some advice from you guys? Should I have more bg art? Should I try to theme it more than just the boxiness it already is? Change the background color? Here is the site currently.

www.austastic.com


P.S. Even if you hate it...please do NOT tell me that. Im talking to you anogar.:rabbit:

[dec27]

I think you need to try different color layouts, try different color squemes and combinations, try different fonts and finally try different arrangements of information, move the menu from place to place, try to relate information, heights, widths…

things never come up at once, try, try and try and watch your evolution.

Look at some inspiring sites:

http://www.kirupa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62016&highlight=coroflot

http://www.colourlovers.com/

http://www.thefwa.com/

:thumb:

[Anogar]

Who has some sweet gentle advice for Austin? :love:

[Austastic]

Who has some sweet gentle advice for Austin?
Oh snap!

Anyways, I have tried to redo my site about a billion times and I am begginning to just want to say **** layout and just chug out new content. But then I realize that my website is also content, and I try to make everything else good, so why not make my website good. So I try to redo it, and then it still sucks. *******.:yoshi:

[Theros]

Oh snap!

Anyways, I have tried to redo my site about a billion times and I am begginning to just want to say **** layout and just chug out new content. But then I realize that my website is also content, and I try to make everything else good, so why not make my website good. So I try to redo it, and then it still sucks. *******.:yoshi:\

Calm down, did you take your ritilin pills this morning? Good, now just relax... Go find a quite spot and read a book on Zen... Then visit CSS Zen Garden. There, all better!

[SPAD3S]

sorry man you need a better color tone

[ApixDesigns]

Who has some sweet gentle advice for Austin? :love:

definlty not me, but if its any consilation, scrap it and start new

[Yakuza]

Ok...I'll do some a bit serious critque here...

I do like the grass at the title but.....

Firstly, change the title...make something fancy. Don't just slab a "Windows default font" and thats it...and people just came in and wtf.

Secondly, the buttons and the text are a bit out of place, and you might as well change the font choice.

Thirdly, I don't really mind the colours too much tho, but it looks really striking and it hurts
the eyes. Play around a few comfortable colours. I'm not telling you get rid of white background. You can compare to your site and the Kipura, and you might know what I mean.

Fourthly, I see you try to make a 3D effect on that text box...but personally...if I were you, I wouldn't do that. Also, type something which makes your site professional E.g. Copyright blah blah all these kind of stuff.



Web design is not meant to be easy. If it is an easy job...does this world still need us?:glasses:

[AndyM103]

Who has some sweet gentle advice for Austin? :love:
I believe the term is constructive. Not that constructive critiscism is some people's strong point. ahem.

And I realise that you're a perfectionist Anogar - I am too.

[hetlicht]

Hey Mate,

A couple ideas/thoughts that might help you out.

a. Font choices - you might want to look into some different fonts or make a custom font yourself. For your logo especially and explore fonts that have good readibility for the menu.

b. Color Palette - Explore different color combinations and you might want to look at works/websites from companies that are known for minimal color useage if eyecandy and the web 2.0 effect isn't for you. Later today I can post some links for you if need.

c. Layout and design - Not sure why you have so many links that open different areas for content, which the more I clicked on specific areas. Took me further and further away from your site. Not saying the entire site needs to be Flash/CSS or html with everything in one window. But you might want to build yourself a site heirachy and kinda plan out those links and navigation a little better. The overall layout of the site could be a litte more streamlined.

Design wise, take a look at these websites and companies, just to give you some ideas of what you may or may not like. -

http://www.jonathanmannion.com/main.html
http://www.uniform.pro/

http://www.websitedesignawards.com/
http://www.fcukstar.com/post2005/
http://www.2inside.com/
http://www.boghe.net/
http://www.kindnessandhumility.com/
http://gskinner.com/site2_5/

I also second the recommendation of the FWA Awards site.

5. Content - Give your viewer a little more and better presentation will also help them stay or want to revisit your site and pass the good vibes around.

Lastly - Don't get frustrated above all else. Don't rush it and don't bite anyones style or work. Just look within yourself as you have posted on your website and all the answers and what is right for you will eventually develop. Design and the perfection of it is a long process and yes there will be a frustrating moment or two, but don't hang on to that, just explore, build and then grow. Just remain passionate about your content and why you are doing what you are doing.

Good Vibes for realz - peace

[fasterthanlight™]

Designing a good website is no different from drawing a picture, attention to detail and the "Eye" is what makes good designers these days, and you can't learn those things without practising like a fiend. No one will ever be able to become an amazing designer over night, it takes months, even years before you know whats good. You can't be taught good design, the most you can do is look at ill websites, and i mean it when i say look. Think to yourself, "Why does that element look good there? What is it about it that looks good?"

WHAT YOU PUT INTO IT IS WHAT YOU GET OUT OF IT!!!!!!!!

Work hard!

[Jolly_Fat_Man]

Christ!
That burns the eyes!

I should be ripping them out right now to atone for seeing that!:pa:

Now that I vented drama towards you...

Your site needs loads of work.
You don't need to be too complicated to make a good looking site.
www.hattrick.org
Simple and nice, not that I made it...
Although I am making one with similar style.

You have the one color besides white. The only way you can keep that color, not that I recomend it, is to get a strong color to balance how simple the first one is.

You need to make a serious detox on the faces behind the page thing.
NO! NO! NO!:(

It's just too freaky. ;)

Example:
Bricks! That color worked well for so long because it's not an agressive color.
Don't be complicated at first.

A bird first needs to walk before it learns to fly.

[hkl]

hetlicht is right, break it down, fonts, layout, colours, images etc..

a good idea might be to look around at websites posted on design sites. and make a mood board of what u like.

basically u see a site and u think a type of bevel on a button looks good. take a screenie and paste it on a blank canvas.

you like how two colours go together, then take a screenie of the two colours together and add it to your canvas.

just keep adding and adding to your mood board. then play around with it.

as said before, it takes time and practice. good luck and dont give up

[andrewfitz]

If you stick with it long enough, eventually it goes from concious competent to unconcious competent. Basically that means indead of thinking about how to make things look good and going out an looking for inspiration, you just do it. No real thinking, you just design and it just comes. And that takes years.

Those are the kind of people who make sex designs everytime they open Photoshop, and make everything they do seem easy & beautiful.

Just keep working at it, don't stop. It's not night and day; it comes overtime, just like every other art form.

[Yakuza]

:ponder: I wonder if Austastic still care reading this thread?

[Vectortrance]

God, not even a blinking animated GIF? Hehe

Ok, sorry.
Here's my thoughts though in all seriousness.

Absolutely get inspiration through looking at what other people have done.
Check out CSS Zen garden. Hella amazing stuff there.
You've got plenty of content to be able to put up, but keep in mind, a website is an extension of your art, so make sure you impress people with your site before they even take a look at your stuff.

Couple of pointers:
Lose the tables, or at least get rid of the borders.
Graphics are your friend. Put photoshop to good use. "Simple" doesnt need to be synonymous with "bland."
Color scheme sucks. What are your fav colors? Use em.
The layout seems somewhat chaotic. Try and organize things. Either justify everything to the center, or to the left side. This act alone would be a big improvement in my opinion. But, above all else...

DONT GIVE UP! Web design is a *****, and every single person here can attest to this. Just keep trying, learn some new tricks and techniques and one day it will all click.

[Yakuza]

God, not even a blinking animated GIF? Hehe

Ok, sorry.
Here's my thoughts though in all seriousness.

Absolutely get inspiration through looking at what other people have done.
Check out CSS Zen garden. Hella amazing stuff there.
You've got plenty of content to be able to put up, but keep in mind, a website is an extension of your art, so make sure you impress people with your site before they even take a look at your stuff.

Couple of pointers:
Lose the tables, or at least get rid of the borders.
Graphics are your friend. Put photoshop to good use. "Simple" doesnt need to be synonymous with "bland."
Color scheme sucks. What are your fav colors? Use em.
The layout seems somewhat chaotic. Try and organize things. Either justify everything to the center, or to the left side. This act alone would be a big improvement in my opinion. But, above all else...

DONT GIVE UP! Web design is a *****, and every single person here can attest to this. Just keep trying, learn some new tricks and techniques and one day it will all click.

My favorite colour is bright blue and red :P

[Austastic]

I like those soft blue-tones. But I think you are right. It does sorta look like I put some sort of bright turqiose sharpie to the screen... All your advice seems really good. I am still reading the thread. I'm going to attempt to make another layout. Then I will post it here. Im thinking like...multilayered shades of blue with white accents on a grey background? I don't know. As you can tell I pretty much suck at graphical design.