Another iteration of my web site - feedback please!

[snorris]

Hi All,

I plan on adding muted tabs/icons just above the cut out.

http://norrisoft.com/swifter/

So, what do you think? I'm just talking about the look and layout - not the code implementation. I will re-factor the code later - just trying to get a good look and layout right now.

TIA!

Steve

[excogitator]

Impressive. :)
Just remember to check the alignments. Right now the three icons are not in the center of the below screenshot area.
Only I think instead of the rectangle box below it should be a round edged box.

[Syous]

I don't mean this in a negative way but you should consolidate your site updates to one thread!

As excogitator said, alignment is off. The typography on the other hand is great, your old bird (the plain blue one) was better in my opinion.

This looks much better than before, add some stuff to the bottom to make it seem a little more legitimate as a company.

I'm not going to knock you for the heavy influence of panic.com/coda because sometimes you have to copy or imitate to become better.

“The bad artists imitate, the great artists steal.” - Picasso/Banksy

[excogitator]

panic.com/coda

Jeez I just saw that!! :zipper:


because sometimes you have to copy or imitate to become better.
But that is quite true too.

[snorris]

Thanks Excogitator and Syous!

It's an "homage." :liar:

So which should I center, the Icons or the Icons plus text? If you look at the Coda site, the icons are not centered. Since the icon/text combinations are different sizes, I was going for what felt centered rather than what was actually centered - kind of like the optical illusion in the Parthenon if I may be so bold.

I will keep the site update on this thread from now on.

I still have lots to add to the site - including links and copyright, etc. I just wanted to show where I was so far to make sure I was on the right track.

Thanks again!

Steve

[excogitator]

The icons look off centered only because of the rectangular box below.
The icons in the Coda site are centered but the logo isn't.
So in your layout the icons and the logo seem perfect. But just coz of the rectangular screen shot area. It seems off. So either shift the top half(logo, icon, icon text) little to the left or shift the rectangular bottom area to the right.
:)

[snorris]

The icons look off centered only because of the rectangular box below.
The icons in the Coda site are centered but the logo isn't.
So in your layout the icons and the logo seem perfect. But just coz of the rectangular screen shot area. It seems off. So either shift the top half(logo, icon, icon text) little to the left or shift the rectangular bottom area to the right.
:)

Ahh! I see now. Thanks!

[Anogar]

It's a super weak ripoff of Panic, not sure what else I can say. If you're going to steal something you'd better make it better, you just did a crappy job of stealing it and made it worse. This is not 'inspiration', it's straight up thievery. (Just bad.)

:td::wasted:

[snorris]

It's a super weak ripoff of Panic, not sure what else I can say. If you're going to steal something you'd better make it better, you just did a crappy job of stealing it and made it worse. This is not 'inspiration', it's straight up thievery. (Just bad.)

:td::wasted:

It isn't done yet. I am not a designer. I am trying to learn. You see, there are these things called specific suggestions and then there is worthless bull****. See above comment. How about trying to provide some useful feedback? You just took your ball and went home.

Here's the latest iteration.

http://norrisoft.com/swifter/

[Syous]

Snorris, he's right.

This forum is called showcase and CRITIQUES. We don't have to hold your hand or baby you. He critiqued your site, and if you have any intelligence the obvious suggestion he is making is that your site shouldn't be a bad rip off of panic.

People like you really annoy me. No one here owes you anything at all so stop acting like we do.

[shane-c]

Yeah, this is a straight-up rip off. First thing you need to do is scrap this 'design' right now, because it's making you look really, really bad.

If you like their style and want to learn from it, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. What is it you like about their design? Think about the specifics of why elements of their design work for them, and try and come up with your own solutions with those ideas in mind. Right now, it's a stolen design, there's no other way to put it. You may be new to the design world, but let this be a lesson that stealing a design is one of the worst things you can do. Cut your losses and start over, right away. :|

[snorris]

Snorris, he's right.

This forum is called showcase and CRITIQUES. We don't have to hold your hand or baby you. He critiqued your site, and if you have any intelligence the obvious suggestion he is making is that your site shouldn't be a bad rip off of panic.

People like you really annoy me. No one here owes you anything at all so stop acting like we do.

I don't believe anyone owes me anything but I have every right to let people know that non-constructive criticism is a waste of my time.

He also suggested that if I am going to "steal" something I "better make it better." Since I am OBVIOUSLY here for assistance, anyone with intelligence would provide suggestions as to HOW to make it better. Telling me I need to make it better without suggestion HOW is absurd. Crapping on someone without providing specific suggestions does nothing for the person seeking help but does give the person doing the crapping an ego boost - ESPECIALLY since I am getting feedback from others that copying other sites while learning is OK.

[Syous]

I think you fail at reading comprehension.

Don't become Timmytots 2.0

[snorris]

Yeah, this is a straight-up rip off. First thing you need to do is scrap this 'design' right now, because it's making you look really, really bad.

If you like their style and want to learn from it, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. What is it you like about their design? Think about the specifics of why elements of their design work for them, and try and come up with your own solutions with those ideas in mind. Right now, it's a stolen design, there's no other way to put it. You may be new to the design world, but let this be a lesson that stealing a design is one of the worst things you can do. Cut your losses and start over, right away. :|

Shane, if I were an up and coming designer trying to pad my portfolio, you would be absolutely right. I am not. I am a business man trying to launch a product. I plan on LINKING to Panic in an obvious place on the site and crediting them with the original design.

In the marketing and business world, companies "borrow" from one another all of the time. You are telling me that Cars, and clothes and music and anything else you can think of don't look or sound alike?

I am not trying to build a reputation as a designer. I am trying to get a good product exposure.

I appreciate your opinion, and you may be right, but I don't have the time or resources to start from scratch and create the next incredible design concept.

[Syous]

When you steal a design and use it as a basis for learning for your own personal use, not for selling a product - it's deemed somewhat acceptable.

When you steal a design from another site to push your own product, the original owner would probably sue you if they felt like it.

Contact them and ask them if they feel ok with you using their design before you publish it.

[shane-c]

Shane, if I were an up and coming designer trying to pad my portfolio, you would be absolutely right. I am not. I am a business man trying to launch a product. I plan on LINKING to Panic in an obvious place on the site and crediting them with the original design.

In the marketing and business world, companies "borrow" from one another all of the time. You are telling me that Cars, and clothes and music and anything else you can think of don't look or sound alike?

I am not trying to build a reputation as a designer. I am trying to get a good product exposure.

I appreciate your opinion, and you may be right, but I don't have the time or resources to start from scratch and create the next incredible design concept.

You are completely, 100% wrong. Stealing a design is illegal, and I can promise you that as soon as Panic is made aware of your site, you will hear from them, and you will be made to take your site down. There's nothing "borrowing" about what you're doing. It's stealing, and it's wrong. It's very obvious you have no idea what you're talking about, and you're just scrambling to defend yourself when you have no grounds to do so.

I have no interest in trying to help you any more. At least Timmytots makes original work. You are far worse.

[snorris]

You are completely, 100% wrong. Stealing a design is illegal, and I can promise you that as soon as Panic is made aware of your site, you will hear from them, and you will be made to take your site down. There's nothing "borrowing" about what you're doing. It's stealing, and it's wrong. It's very obvious you have no idea what you're talking about, and you're just scrambling to defend yourself when you have no grounds to do so.

I have no interest in trying to help you any more. At least Timmytots makes original work. You are far worse.

I have an e-mail into the founders of Panic so, we shall see. From a legal standpoint, you are probably dead wrong. What exactly did I steal??? Am I using ANY of their graphics - NO. Am I using the same general layout - Yes. Do most web sites use the same layout - YES. Am I using the same tabbing and next and previous arrow structure - YES. Is that completely original on their part - NO. So, what exactly have I stolen?

I am sure I won't lose much sleep tonight about not getting your help. I already am getting advice from a very successful professional designer who sees no problem with what I have done. I was going to turn the site over to him as he offered to polish it when it was done but he likes the direction I am going. Kirupa is just another source where I have found helpful and friendly people to get more opinions to bounce off of him.

[shane-c]

Good luck bud.

[Anogar]

I already am getting advice from a very successful professional designer who sees no problem with what I have done.

He's a hack, you're a hack, and stealing designs is wrong. You weren't "inspired", you ripped off nearly every aspect of the site. You're a chump, and you deserve to fail. Have a terrible life. :thumb:

[snorris]

He's a hack, you're a hack, and stealing designs is wrong. You weren't "inspired", you ripped off nearly every aspect of the site. You're a chump, and you deserve to fail. Have a terrible life. :thumb:

I wish you all the best and I hope you have a very happy and successful life.

[Syous]

Ok. Kitten time.

http://www.caption-this.com/group%20hug.jpg

[shane-c]

Thieves don't deserve kittens. :|

[Anogar]

I wish you all the best and I hope you have a very happy and successful life.

lol, I'm kidding about having a terrible life and such - but seriously, it's really tacky to rip off a design like that. :(

[Syous]

Thieves don't deserve kittens. :|

Ok then they are for you me and anogar.

[Anogar]

Woot, kittens. :D:love:

[excogitator]

I found this one on google.
http://m.digg.com/apple/Massive_Rip_Off_of_Panic_s_Coda_Website

You got to click on one of the tabs to view it.
If Snorris doesn't want web bashing in future he could change the layout before its on ripoff site listings.

I have heard of sites being taken down by hosting servers when they get complaints. I don't know further about other legal issues involved.

Another surprising thing I found out is this on the panic website itself.
They find it funny when people ripoff their stuff. So they showcase them.
http://www.panic.com/extras/ripoff/

:)

[shane-c]

Ok then they are for you me and anogar.

Awwww :love:

[tpspoons]

I'm sorry to say this but what you've done doesn't look to me like you've simply taken inspiration from the coda site. Not only have you copied the layout (which like you said, on its own really isn't that bad as many sites use similar layouts), but you have actually copied the icons, and even the text beneath them (with some slight, but obvious adjustments).

It should be pretty obvious for anybody who has looked at both sites that you have copied the site, not the style.

Besides that I'm not really a designer, but I think you should tone down the background gradient. Also maybe move the whole thing down a bit, so the bird isn't so close to the top of the page.

[snorris]

I found this one on google.
http://m.digg.com/apple/Massive_Rip_Off_of_Panic_s_Coda_Website

You got to click on one of the tabs to view it.
If Snorris doesn't want web bashing in future he could change the layout before its on ripoff site listings.

I have heard of sites being taken down by hosting servers when they get complaints. I don't know further about other legal issues involved.

Another surprising thing I found out is this on the panic website itself.
They find it funny when people ripoff their stuff. So they showcase them.
http://www.panic.com/extras/ripoff/

:)

I had already contacted the folks who did the Icons for Coda and I asked permission to use a similar set created by them. Before they could get back to me, several other Icon designers gave me permission as to use theirs.

I have permission to use EVERY icon on my site from the original designers - save one - the tools icon for which I have no idea who the designer is and I am looking for him or her. If I can't find him or her, I have a replacement icon in mind that I do have permission to use.

I just sent this e-mail to the Panic founders..

"Since there are so many Coda rip-off sites out there, it seems like you guys are having some good-natured fun with it. I would like to take it a step further. I would like to be the first "officially licensed and certified Coda rip-off site - certified by the founders of Panic." with an official seal - maybe a based on the wanted poster you guys have. I would like to include a link back to your site with the words, 'See the original site and compare!'"

[excogitator]

Thats really done in a good nature. :)
A friend of mine told me a couple of years ago that an infamous website(i cant recollect the name) gave an award to another company for doing a perfect replica and that they were very impressed. It was done in good nature.

I hope the deal works out for you.

Just remember to follow up with the tweaks that everyone mention to you.
It will improvise your site and if your site can get better in future than Coda and maybe different at the same time then why not. :thumb2:

[snorris]

Thats really done in a good nature. :)
A friend of mine told me a couple of years ago that an infamous website(i cant recollect the name) gave an award to another company for doing a perfect replica and that they were very impressed. It was done in good nature.

I hope the deal works out for you.

Just remember to follow up with the tweaks that everyone mention to you.
It will improvise your site and if your site can get better in future than Coda and maybe different at the same time then why not. :thumb2:

I'm getting very similar tweak suggestions from several sources ... just haven't gotten to them yet.

Thanks!

[Rslegion]

Wow, i can feel a high conversion rate coming on =]

Good luck