GRC 175 Learning and Discussion Forum

I wanted to have my site focused around fashion and animation, so this site gave me a lot of inspiration on how to be bold and unconventional. the site uses a variation of shapes and sized that stand out as stylish and daring.

http://www.refinery29.com/fashion

I am obsessed with 70's design so this site helped give me some direction of how to incorporate some retro concepts into my designs. I felt the color scheme really screamed out 70's. I spent hour looking for 70's inspired websites and most looked like this.http://www.welcometothe70s.com/

The 'Contact' navigation at the top of your 70s inspired comp could be spaced from the edge like the 'Home' navigation. It is difficult to read the navigation of your 'action woman' comp. I find that both are balanced and both are strong compositions. Whichever you choose will depend on the idea/emotion/concept you most want to communicate with this project.

I think you did a great job incorporating fashion, the 70s and animation into both of your designs. I prefer the second design, as the character in the first one reminds me of video games, which are not my favorite things. Although the fonts you used are wonderfully expressive, I do have a little trouble reading the one with diagonal lines through it. I would suggest playing with some other 70s reminiscent fonts.

Hello Kaylyn,

I like you illustrations within your layouts definitely reflect the style your going for. I find that your second design is easier to read and easy to navigate. For me I find that the expressive diagonal font your using is cool but it is a little distracting in the kung fu layout. The right side gets a little busy on the page since you have your buttons and the drawing next to each other it takes away from your about me body copy so id try to balance that out a bit more if you decide to go with that one.

Kaylyn,

Great job! I really like how you used your illustrations into your concepts. It's a great way to showcase your skills. Your style is very unique and is totally you which I think is awesome. The colors work well with the theme you were going with. The only thing I would play with is maybe your expressive font. It is a little distracting from the rest of your page. You do have some empty space up in the upper left corner as well. I would maybe play around with that a little:) Overall I really like your idea.

First off I'd like to say great job on your artwork Kaylyn! I love how you incorporated your art styles in both of your layouts. I have to agree that I do like the second one the most. I'm really enjoying the colors~ They are pleasing to the eye. I'd also have to agree on the expressive font, they are a bit distracting. Maybe you can create your own type to go with your style? Also the words "Art Work" are a little too close to your image. My eye immediately goes there when I first look at this layout. Try moving everything up to create some space between your image and the "upper half" of your type Other than that, I think you did a great job portraying what you wanted to!

Those are so amazing works!! Great job

I like the kung fu design more because that looks very unique and has more impact! The navigation boxes are too small or letters are too big? I want the navigation to have more legibility.

As I told you in class the other day (at least I think I did?) I definitely think the second layout is the best and definitely is very you. It illustrates your drawing style and it also shows off you since it's a self portrait (I think it is, anyway). I also really appreciate your color scheme and composition in the second one. It's very pleasing to the eye, the harmony of the colors and the layout itself. I would suggest either bringing in the drawing of you so there is space above the head OR pulling it out more so she overlaps onto the nav bar.

The first layout is well put together but it reminds me way too much of some anime cartoon. Which, if that's your intention, is great. The colors are very startling, however, and can be jarring, I think. I like your illustration on that one but I'm confused what it has to do with the theme of animation and fashion. I wonder if we can make gifs and post them on our pages in the future? That would be something to keep in mind. Some of your art would look really cool with some basic animation on the corner of your pages, like when you moused over them maybe?

I think both of your designs are balanced and well composed. I prefer the second, especially if you are going for a 70's/fashion theme. The first design reads more to me as anime, and I wouldn't have guessed it was a 70's color scheme if you hadn't told me. The font on the navigation in the first is hard to read easily and seems to make the whole page appear busier. The second design to me reads both 70's and fashion. I actually like the same font as the first being used in 'art work' and 'about me', it works much better in larger font used more sparingly I think, has more of an impact. I might even try putting your name in that font and color on the second design, just to add a little interest to your name and to tie them together.

You've got a really unique style that shines through there, Kaylyn. I'd say your 70s design is working the best out of these two. Go ahead and use that one.

The 70's one looks a little art nouveau/craftsman to me as well. I like the subtle wood texture used throughout. It makes me think of the smokey basements and sculpted carpeting of my young childhood. I also like the paced together look, almost as if this webpage has been constructed of balsa wood and construction paper. A nice subtile use of shadow and texture to give the thing real depth. You navigation is large, easily seen, and very usable. I like the dominant construction paper self portrait. Everything in your layout seems to radiate from it and it's a look that works well for your composition. I also like how the self portrait's gaze points the user to your bodycopy.

The big area where it isn't working for me is typographically. The diagonal, faux metal type is clashing with the 70's aesthetic. Your header and navigation font also looks more nouveau than 70's. I'd recommend looking at some 70's ads and 70's design to get a feel for their typography, look, and feel. I'd also loose the turquoise too. The 70's were a much more orange, yellow, red, and brown time. I wonder if it might look a little more interesting in prices of the composition poked out into your white background sort of like how your top bar does. Don't forget to center your footer too.

Great work!