Now that the vote is over...

[FlawlessDog]

I can find out what you really think of my website.
http://www.flawlessdog.com/

I know...
I got so much to learn, but I have learned some.

I worked hard on the nav system.
The browser back buttons should work on most machines,
though it may not record the page name as well as IE7 does.
I think it shows errors on some too...

This site was also my final project in our Portfolio Class (http://www.graph-art.matc.edu/portfolio/) at MATC (http://www.matc.edu/)

[hybrid101]

heavy scanlines, love the nav, the splash font is UGLY.
it's fairly decent, but lags. i like it though:D

[FlawlessDog]

Thanks for the feed back.
Don't like that font?
I don't know, my client on this job wasn't much different from any other...
Couldn't make up my his mind up about it. ;)

any other comments most welcome :thumb2:

[Pasquale]

Lags a lot for me, and the main title font really hurts. Hit up dafont :)

[Anogar]

The intro looks cheap and amateurish, as if you just checked some boxes of cheese text effects, and the site is sluggish and uninteresting. It looks like a stock site, except it isn't good enough to be one.

edit: Usually I'd be a tiny bit gentler, but if this is your final class project before you go out into the real world - make no mistake - you need a lot more practice.

[FlawlessDog]

:hurt:
ouch, but valuable feedback.
Thank you.




edit:
I guess that's what happens when I don't get to work as part of a team.
I think I do better, when I am a part of a team.

[sekasi]

I think the intro looks decent tbh. I like the scanlines too.

The menu is very dull though, it definitely needs a remake of some sort. The transitions are pretty bad unfortunately.

[doctor_funk]

Before anyone makes anymore comments, look at the other links he posted, particularly the portfolio class link. Check that out and look at what's coming out of their graduate class. At least he's coming to the right place and asking questions on this forum. The least we can do is point him in the right direction to help eliminate/erase whatever teachings that place gave him. I won't put that college down much more, but I am disappointed with what I'm seeing on their portfolio pages.

Alright, here's what you need to do Flawlessdog, as you are far from flawless at this point. I highly recommend one of two things:

1. get to the biggest book store you know, take out your credit card, and invest in these books:

a. The Design of Everyday Things
b. Making and Breaking the Grid: A Graphic Design Layout Workshop
c. Sagmeister: Made You Look

Then think about what makes design tick. Think about how your efforts affect the people around you. Think about why you chose design as a career path.

2. Give up graphic design and web design. Buy a ticket to a country you've never thought about living in before. Go there and spend a year doing something. Come back, inspired and driven. Think about graphic design and web design again. Recommended locations: India, Tibet, China, Russia.

Surprised? The designers that make the most money are the ones that initially cared and loved design as they would their left hand or right leg. In fact, many of the ones that make the biggest changes in the design world don't make much money at all. Design is something that comes naturally to them and becomes almost an instinct. Start thinking outside of the box and think about how you can help people and make people's lives better with design.

[doctor_funk]

Oh, and one last thing. To satisfy the developers reading this thread, you should skip Flash and do this in CSS and XHTML. The only thing you've done that requires Flash is the top page animation. Consider, CSS, XHTML, and AJAX if you absolutely must animate something.

[shane-c]

So I'll never be a good designer until I move to a different country? Dammit, I'm going to Travelocity RIGHT NOW.

Just to clarify...

1] Buy Three books about design
2] Read them
3] Think about them
4] Forget about them
5] Move to Russia
6] Grow a beard (OK, I added that one, but it seemed appropriate)
7] Don't use Flash - if you need to animate something, use the JavaScript XMLHttpRequest object (what?!?)

Dr. Funk, I love your long and complex critiques... they tickle me :beer:

But yeah, FlawlessDog, I do agree that a little more exposure to some more up-to-date style and technique could do you some good. I'm sure you'll do great, though :D

[doctor_funk]

you forgot the part about buying AND riding a pony. The pony is a source of infinite wisdom and nutrition.

[shane-c]

Wait.. is that before or after the beard?

[FlawlessDog]

Now this is some great feedback!
Thank you!!!

I know all too well...my sense of design is somewhat old fashioned, I guess.
Ok...a bit clumsy, ham-fisted, and lumbering, even.
I started learning this stuff pretty late in life, but I still want this so bad I can taste it.

To travel would be very cool, and someday I hope to do just that.
Many places I would like to see.
I just don’t think my pocket book will allow anything like that, right now.

Of all the Doc’s suggestions, I think that is the only one I’ll not be able to do.
Well, that and taking a year off. I have sacrificed much to get where I am now, even if it’s not where I want to be yet. I know I have a ways to go, but I gotta work to get there.
Besides, I am hungry! That portfolio night cost me in excess of $800, and I need to recoup some of that. Did I mention I was hungry?

I used to travel quite a bit, in my youth. Did a bit of hitchhiking in the old days. Kindof like I took my retirement while I was young enough to enjoy it. LOL check my school writing page.

I saw a lot of things, and met a lot of people in those years, but how do I translate that into my designs? How do I show how it affected me in such a way as to affect those looking at my work?

[Counterproductive]

Why did that cost you 800$?

[FlawlessDog]

new suit, printer, fine letter head, envelope, and business card stock. Enough cds, and cases, and ink to print it all up...I kindof went all out on this.

[Counterproductive]

I see.

[Pasquale]

whoa, I wish I could splurge on that kinda stuff !

[FlawlessDog]

Yeah, I wish I could too :rabbit: