GRC 175 Learning and Discussion Forum

These are my images. my inspirations are MindHoneyClothing.com, and Laxaltandmciver.com. i found videos on linda.com and tutsplus.com

http://makeagif.com/dM_GuM

For the 1st one, I like how you tried to make it unique. However, most of the types is lacking of legibility so you can choose one or two typeface(s) and play with kerning. Also, if you want to put these links on the position, the smaller links should be on top; otherwise, these look disappearing.

For the 2nd one, those pictures are very beautiful but I suppose it'll have more impact if you stay with one or two so less busy looking.
The typeface at the top-left corner is best to use for all types on the layout.

Hey Benjamin, I really like your use of color and your big image in the background. So for it really draws the eye in. However, the navigation is a bit confusing; I think you need to focus a little more on hierarchy and then choose between a symmetrical, asymmetrical, or radial balance.

Hello Benjamin,

I like how your playing with your photographs with your design your second design seems like the stronger of the two. I would watch your placement and use type as others have mentioned before. It isn't entirely effective yet definitely would pay attention to hierarchy.

Benjamin,

I like how you're playing with different images. They are really nice pictures. As for your designs I think that I am leaning more towards your first one. I love how the colors work together in your image. I would maybe try and work on your navigation a little more. Its a little confusing and gets very small. Also some of your type gets really close to the edge of the page and gets hard to read so maybe play around with your spacing:) Good start!

Hi Benjamin,

I too enjoy all the photos you used in both layouts! Nice job! Personally, I am going for your second design. I like all three photos you took and the placement of your text. However, I would play with your typography since your name and email are a little squished. Other than that, Great job on your starting layouts!

I think your second layout is more successful than the first one. I like the way you laid out the photos and used the main photograph as a composition tool for where to layout your text. I would encourage you to check out some free font sites like dafont.com and 1001freefonts.com and download some fun fonts that you can experiment with in your layout, so you can find something more expressive of you and your personality (unless of course the font you chose is descriptive of your personality, then, by all means, continue). Your email on the second layout is super squished. Instead of trying to shoehorn it into that nav bar, I would bring it down across the bottom photos in the corner, perhaps, since it's hard to read this way. The text on the main photograph might look better in a white font instead of black, so it really pops off.

Finally, I would perhaps suggest creating fake buttons like Michael showed us yesterday to separate the project links on the nav bar, or even just put boxes on them or something. We want to know these are clickable and we want to be drawn to them. Other than that, I think you did a nice job trying out new things and new layouts and getting inspiration from other websites and you did a nice job choosing pictures as well.

I really like the effort you made in your first design of thinking outside the box (no pun intended) on your first design with your navigation menu, although I think the sizes of them are throwing me off a little. I like that they are descending in size, but I think making them a little closer in size and then flipping them so they move smallest to largest may work better.
That being said, I prefer your second design. I like the photography, although I may simplify by possibly taking one of the three images out. I like your body copy being laid out on the snowy background of your top photo, it is easy to read. I would suggest playing with fonts, your email address is larger than your name and is distracting. It would also be interesting to see if you could refine the navigational concept you had in your first design to see if it may work in the second. Since it is a simpler overall design, I think it could really add some visual interest.

I like the risk taking you're doing here Benjamin. I think I like your first design best with it's unusual navigation and it's full screen background image.

I think the color scheme of the first one is particularly strong. It's a blend of TMCC's colors as well as come fall colors. I like the unusual drop down menu structure with the vertical buttons in it. The background image is also really nice. The fall leaves create a nice pattern which helps deepen the unusual layout, adds a nice randomized pattern and reinforces the color scheme and feel established for the design. There are some pretty decent margins throughout this thing, aside from on the dropdowns. The bodycopy is large and easy to read.

My big issue with both of your designs is your typography. You have all sorts of clashing type sizes going all over the place, plus some of the type is narrowed to the point where it just isn't legible. Pick a typeface or two and use those. Also, pick consistent sizes for your navigation, headline, bodycopy, and page title type. Right now, your type is a confusing mess. Also, I would establish some more uniformity between your navigation buttons. They are currently a bunch of different sizes and colors and there doesn't seem to be a common element to tell users to click on them. Also, in lieu of having so many boxes all over the place, why not make a few of them semi transparent and let the background image/pattern shine through a bit.

Good effort!

Both of these have possibilities, but need some work.
Rough 1, the leaf picture, is way too cluttered. Your picture is lost beneath all of the blocks. If you decide to go with this one, I would suggest reducing the the size of the 'Project 3' and 'name' blocks. Then if you lower the opacity on all of the blocks at least 50% your picture would be able to show better. The weight of your text is such that it will still stand out.
Rough 2, the snow picture, is more to my liking. It is a much cleaner design and the pictures reflect your 'About Me' story much better. I would suggest moving the colored sidebar to the left side, though. Right now it over-shadows everything else. By moving it you let the pictures have some importance. It also would balance the composition better if it was the same width as the smaller picture on the bottom left.

Happy Designing!