Project 1- roughs

[itsdrrlcarden]

Hello,
For my designs i wanted to try two very different layouts. For the first one, I choose an image of myself. I felt like for a personal website I should be the dominate subject. I used fonts that were easy to read but still bold. I used semi natural colors to match the background but made them a bit more vibrant.
My second design is a very different concept. I wanted it to look unique and more based on my personality. I used a cloud picture that is almost pastel. I love light, sheer colors and I wanted to incorporate that. The fonts had to pair well with background so I used lighter colors. The project link color is actually the background teal but darkened up.
LINKS:
https://www.solopreneursidekick.com/blo ... e-more-pro
https://inkbotdesign.com/font-combinations/
https://www.wix.com/blog/2017/10/5-desi ... onal-site/
https://www.orbitmedia.com/blog/web-design-tips/

I found these links to helpful when building websites. It taught me to watch my organization and the way I layout things out. It helped me pick out colors, type, and style to properly make a functioning website design. One of them actually discusses the trends of modern web design and the characteristics of it.

[Abused Oreo]

Hey Darell, I find both designs really good looking. I like how you have an image taking up the whole screen and then laying in everything else in the empty spaces. It keeps the whole site interesting and fun to look at. I find the second design to be a little bit more interesting and fun with the color scheme and layout. The only problem I find with the second design is the projects links are kind of just hanging out in the middle of nowhere. It does help with the empty space in the middle of the page but the design would look just a little better if you left aligned the project links and just keep the middle space empty.

[katyroses]

Hi Darrell,
I really like both designs, but my favorite is the second one. I like the image you picked and also how you used negative space to compliment the design. I think if you added more structure to the left side where the "projects" are at that would make the content more organized. Even by adding a box or circle to put the information in would help so it does not feel like it is floating.

[NalaniN]

Hi Darrel,

I find both designs interesting. My preference slightly leans toward your photo. I think it shows your personality in many ways, from your clothes, sunglasses, smile, and choice of background.
That said, I think the lower portion of the mobile layout would need some color.

[cwalkerdesign]

Hello,
I really like your designs. I do like the one one with your picture in it. It gives your page a more personal feel to it but both can easily be navigated through and easily read.
Great job
Charmaine

[Instructor]

Nice work, Darrell. I like your selfie design better. I think it says more about you and I like the scenery in the background versus the cloudscape on your second design. It's more visually interesting and makes for a better content backdrop. You've really selected your typography well. It's easy to read, super clean, and has good definition between headers, subheads, and bodycopy. I especially like the contrast between the two typefaces used in your title, the "graphic designer" adds a fun creative edge to an otherwise more legible font set. Good use of colors too. They work with, and contrast against, your excellent background image.

I think it does need some margin and alignment work though. You've got good margins between your content chunks but the items in each chunk are super close together. I'd give them a little more room to breathe. If you have to reduce the size on them a bit, feel free to do so. I'd recommend reducing the "Darrel graphic designer" title a bit anyway to let your background show a bit more. You may want to experiment with not making the background so transparent. Try playing with having your background at full opacity and playing with colors and drop shadows, or perhaps a content box to pop your content. That might look a little stronger. See how it looks. Also, play with your alignments a bit. Your "About Me" and "Links" have two different left margins. Your navigation and identification items in the top left all have different margins. Unify those margins and it will create stronger bonds in the elements in your design.

Good effort!

[tandyg]

Hi Darrell,

I like the selfie image of the first layout. If I could consider the image of the explosion in the layout maybe behind the text with the selfie image. I don't know. They are both great images. I hope you figure the best you like. Thank you for sharing these layouts.

[tandyg]

Hi Darrell,

I like the selfie image of the first layout. If I could consider the image of the explosion in the layout maybe behind the text with the selfie image. I don't know. They are both great images. I hope you figure the best you like. Thank you for sharing these layouts.

[trixiapanda]

Howdy Darrell!

I love both designs that I have trouble debating which one you should do. For some reason, my guts are telling me to choose the first one (with your picture) because I think it best suits you (because it is YOU). If I were to change something in the first one, I would say choose a better font for the headline? You would want to capture your audience with an aesthetic headline, showing how creative and awesome you are! It wouldn't hurt the overall layout if you choose a more expressive font for the headline, just as long as the links and texts are readable. Overall, you did amazing!

[adriannageo]

Hi Darrell, I think that images in both roughs are great but I would make them darker and your text lighter to make the images "pop" more. I also think the placement of the project links looks too crushed into the top left corner. You could bring that down a bit and make your name more to the right.