web site layout ( please critique)

[dravalanche]

hey, i've just started laying out a design for a musicians website and I'd like some 'yays and nays' (aka critiques) It's only early days on the design and there's a bit of content missing but I'd like to get advice from the early stages. There's to versions here, one with the sub nav on and one with it off .:D

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/8422/layout04ve7.jpg


http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/8071/layout05uw5.jpg

[leisuresuitlissy]

yay

Praps make the orange translucent thingy extend right down so it lines up with the bottom of the background picture.

But yay.

[pablosci]

the layout is fine
you should work on the text font and that scroll

[Anogar]

It's yea or nay, just for potential future reference. One of those really common mistakes. Anyhow. I don't like the scrollbar, and as Lissy mentioned some things don't line up properly, but it is a good start.

[simplistik]

It's yea or nay. :sure: Anyhow. I don't like the scrollbar, and as Lissy mentioned some things don't line up properly, but it is a good start.
next person I see correct someone's "spelling" or grammar is gonna get a temp ban, or I'm deleting their posts depends on my mood, it's gettin outta hand

As for the site... I think you should do something with the orange screen... it's a tad over bearing. I'd also like to see something more goin on in the nav area as well.

[dravalanche]

cheers guys, thanks for the tips (except for the spelling mistakes) here's a slight up date, i hope to have more to show in a day or so.

http://www.dravalanche.com/kierang/sitedemos/layout_04.jpg

http://www.dravalanche.com/kierang/sitedemos/layout_05.jpg

[orijinale]

It's yea or nay. :sure: Anyhow. I don't like the scrollbar, and as Lissy mentioned some things don't line up properly, but it is a good start.

I Agree with simplistik about correcting someone's spelling. More importantly, if you are going to correct someone at least be correct when you do it.
Anyways, this new layout is better that kick in the layout is missing. You need something on there that will make it stand out from other websites. Something that will make it portray the image of the artist. I can not tell who the artist is or what he is about.

[pyrophone]

My gut reaction to it is that it is too generic. The colors might work, but maybe try to make the layout tell more about the artist. The more a design in focused on one central concept the tighter it is IMO.

[Digitalosophy]

Only thing I don't like about it is the rollover menu. Kind of looks out of place. Other then that great job :thumb:

[Theros]

I think the concept and the site in general is good and it fits the bill for the type of site.. however, why are all music/artist sites in flash? There's really no amazing flash artist site that comes to my mind... Also, why do they all look the same to me?

[lorren.biffin]

I think the concept and the site in general is good and it fits the bill for the type of site.. however, why are all music/artist sites in flash? There's really no amazing flash artist site that comes to my mind... Also, why do they all look the same to me?

http://linkinpark.com/ - I've always liked anything linkin park has...

http://fortminor.com/site.php - Fort Minor aka Mike from LP has a nice site too...

On the site above:

Not bad, you're obviously a designer, but if i were you i would get creative. It's very "inside the box" right now. Look at the demographic(eg; who listens to this guy), the vibe his music puts off, etc... and come up with something to compliment that.

[Theros]

http://linkinpark.com/ - I've always liked anything linkin park has...

http://fortminor.com/site.php - Fort Minor aka Mike from LP has a nice site too...

On the site above:

Not bad, you're obviously a designer, but if i were you i would get creative. It's very "inside the box" right now. Look at the demographic(eg; who listens to this guy), the vibe his music puts off, etc... and come up with something to compliment that.

Honestly neither site really hinges on to me... maybe becuase I'm not their target demographic, but eh. Nothing is really special on either, the zooming effects on the LP site are decent, but it ain't like oh wow!?!? And the 2nd one is just weird. The grunge and moving part feels kinda ghettoish... Anyhow, I agree with your advice. :D

[lorren.biffin]

Honestly neither site really hinges on to me... maybe becuase I'm not their target demographic, but eh. Nothing is really special on either, the zooming effects on the LP site are decent, but it ain't like oh wow!?!? And the 2nd one is just weird. The grunge and moving part feels kinda ghettoish... Anyhow, I agree with your advice. :D

What i was getting at with those sites is that they dont follow much of a trend as far as band/musician websites go because they do have a target demographic and they play off of the music style/genre. (and personally i think they rock). Fort Minor is "rap" so that the ghetto grunge is what they went for. Linkin Park is more "urban rock" and the site reflects that.

Awesome point to make tho(about i like it and you dont). There's your case study right there :).

[SPAD3S]

sorry i like the colors but the design is just too bland

[matthewjumps]

i guess if he's some kind of slow, acoustic, chilled rock, or something like that - the site sort of reflects that....

it feels a bit flat tho....not sure what could give it some depth....

[dravalanche]

the client changed his mind:sleep: and wants a cityscape at the bottom of the screen with buildings as buttons ( which destroys my sub nav design) I've kinda played around but can't really form an idea.

http://www.dravalanche.com/kierang/sitedemos/layout_27.jpg

[lorren.biffin]

Nice, youre definately going somewhere with it now. I still say there's waaaayyy too much orange.

[dravalanche]

hmm, the client also had an idea of a handdrawn line around the buildings to give it an organic shape ( I not that thrilled about it)

http://www.dravalanche.com/kierang/sitedemos/layout_31.jpg

[HandyMan]

Better and better, man! Love the thing with the city as a menu, but maybe you should change the background to black, or a very dark orange.. think in could be nice.. brings forward the content in a better way I think...

Peace , Handyman

[matthewjumps]

i dont like the buildings in their current incarnation at all.

the idea could work, its just not executed the best....it looks to vertically monotonous - maybe try increasing the heights of the buildings on the right side of the screen to give it a bit of assymetry?

[lorren.biffin]

I'm not thrilled about the white outline either...

[anardodesign]

I like it :)

[dravalanche]

I'm not thrilled about the white outline either...

yeah, i think i'll be talking the client out of having it.

[dravalanche]

I like it :)

the white line or the design as a whole?

[dravalanche]

slight update

http://www.dravalanche.com/kierang/sitedemos/layout_33.jpg

[danulf]

I kinda liked the white outline, but as someone said, maybe a darker background... looking good!

EDIT: Changed my mind, don't like the white outline :)

[rille31]

Yeah, getting better and better

The city is cool but propably better without the outline!

[Icehawk]

i think it looks really good except i would change the looks of the scroll bar it looks very outdated

[lorren.biffin]

Still say there's too much orange...vary up the color sceme a bit.

It is getting better though...

I might not make the buildings so dark...cant really tell at first glance what it is exactly. and yea, scrollbar should be replaced.

And does he have a higher quality/better photo for you to put in the bg?

[dravalanche]

update

http://www.dravalanche.com/kierang/sitedemos/layout_35.jpg