Project 01 Preliminary Critique

[Cole_Richards]

Inspirational websites:
https://www.krawec.org
https://blackwoodgroup.com
https://99designs.com/blog/web-digital/ ... eb-design/
https://xd.adobe.com/ideas/principles/w ... ge-design/

Hi! For Project 01 I wanted to have 2 very different concepts, one of the concepts being a very simple and calming one in my eyes, using a not quite white background with a landscape, using pastel colors and a script font for the title and a simple sans serif for the body. The second concept I used a photo of the earth which I made in Blender for the background and used more neon colors and thicker fonts. The navigation for the second I'm still not sold on, Could use some ideas for that. Other than that I like where I am at currently, I am leaning towards the first concept.

[zandrews]

Hi Cole! Awesome job on making two very distinctly different homepage layouts! Just looking at them aesthetically, they have an extremely different feel from each other but both do an equally good job on presenting an organized interface that is easy to understand and navigate. Personally, I prefer the first one only because I feel the placement of menu bar at the top makes the homepage feel like it has more room to breathe where as the darker version the menu buttons take up almost half the space. However, that is subjective as either layout functions well as it needs to. It all would just depend what style you gravitate towards most. If you gravitate towards the darker feel of option 2 you could even combine the layout organization of option 1 and fit it to that aesthetic. Looking forward to seeing how your page progresses!

[Samantha_Thomas]

Hi cole

I like both of the designs that you have and if I had to choose which one to go with.

I would personally go with the first layout design. The lighter colors make it easier on the eyes, and the picture in the background is beautiful. But the blue and the pink type in it are just a tiny bit too light and might be hard to read, so you could make it a bit darker so it is easier to read. I like how the menu is at the top of the screen and how you can quickly tell the two tie together.

Your second one is very nice if you want something in dark mode, but your red letters for your email are a bit hard to read, so if you go with that one, maybe put a light white box in the background, so it doesn't clash so much with the moon picture in the background, much like your project 2 3 and reference buttons. Besides that, it is a lovely design and perfect if you want to use it mainly in dark mode.

[kpargs]

Hi Cole,
I like the navigation bars on the first rough...that might just be a product of habit and design, I just expect that, so its familiar to me, but maybe its time to change that. I think the first design is definitely calm and easy to dive into, kinda gives ya a lil' visual hug, while the second one gives me a feeling of anticipation, not sure what adventure I'm gonna get into here. So I think that's a choice you need to make, easy or bold. Honestly with your navi buttons just some sizing might help, your name bigger and buttons smaller. Very cool.

[Meghna_Misson]

Hey Cole,
Both designs look great! I really like how you had used Blender to replicate the earth to be the background for the second concept! I think you can also turn it into an animated gif somehow where the earth slowly rotates in the background--it would be really interesting to see when visiting your site if you decide to go with this design. However, the nice and clean composition for the first one has got to be my favorite. It comes off visually pleasing, not harsh on the eyes, and you had established enough breathable room for the viewer to roam around in; I also do enjoy how the background is of a nature-esque view--it expands even more spacious feeling already occurring throughout the whole design already and adds even more immersion. However, what throws me off are two things: The color choice for the both "about me" and "inspiration" headlines, and the centering of the text in the navigation bar for both the computer-sized and mobile-sized formats. For the first one, I can't see the headline at all--the pink hue is way too light and I am able to read your paragraph first (due to it being in a black color) before knowing what the title says above it. I recommend changing its color to something more dark--maybe a navy blue or a brown-orangery hue; I think you should also do this for the "inspiration" sub-headline as well. For the second one, it is quite an easy fix by readjusting the text to be more centered on the screen and in the bar. So far, these are my only critiques because I think overall that you are onto a great start! And I can't wait to see how your website will look like for the final submission!

[Elle Barre]

The most important thing, I think, to give feedback about is that, for me, the light, light pink font and the less-opaque colored fonts need more contrast from their backgrounds, and, I think the text boxes and any parts that are that close to the edge--I want to push them away from the edge, especially for mobile, you have to zoom in to stuff, so your finger and focus are all on your phone to look at a website. I think they could all just be nudged in just a bit, to open up the 'empty frame.'
The colors are good, my immediate reaction was interest in looking closer just because of the colors being different in a good way; a really positive reaction, like who chooses these colors? Seems daring. Who am I talking to? Oh, Cole. Yes, I had an immediate positive response to opening the page to it. I also thought, "Oh no, I am supposed to come up with and make something like this? Like a 'real' graphic designer?", and, "There went my weekend of lazing around. I've got to figure this stuff out." Good work.

[Instructor]

Wow. You are not wrong, Cole. These are very different. I think I like your second design better just because I'm such a sucker for good contrast.

The best part of it is your Blender earth. It has such great visual texture and provides an eye-catching center to start from and explore outward. Nice use of contrast, too. The darkness of space is a natural place for your web content. You layout is well placed and the objects don't feel too crowded to me. I like your typographic choices here. Looks like multiple weights of the same typeface, always a strong way to unify a layout. The white type stands out and contributes to the excellent contrast. Your navigation is easy to see and use, as well.

The biggest issue I see is that there are too many colors. I would pick between the red, orange, and yellow and use one as the accent color. I think orange would be best, but they all could be made to work. As it is there are two too many and it needs to be thinned. I also thing your buttons are bold enough against that background to not need the semi-transparent backgrounds. I think their text might be enough. Worth a look anyway. I'd also recommend aligning the left edge of your Inspiration links with the left edge of your bodycopy on your mobile version.

Good effort!

[squidgola33]

Cole,
I think you've done a very good job creating two very different designs. I really like the Patel colored designs, its very peaceful looking. The second design that is the darker color scheme is super cool, I think that this pops out more at you because of the heavier fonts and darker colors, I think you should expand on this concept more!

[Fatkid53]

I think both designs work but that the second design stands out with more contrast and the function layout is more UI friendly. The first doesn't seem to separate as well as the second and really doesn't lift off the screen like the second one. There is room to work on the balance in the second one as it is asymmetrical left heavy to me. Have you thought about centering the inspiration section in the middle to help with the balance?
Regards

[Mike_Chavez123]

I like your layout I’d change background colors to hook the audience. Black isn’t bad but something that pops more like neon.