GRC 175 Learning and Discussion Forum

Hello,

Here we go. First for my inspiration I usually try to pick artists in my field, not only for the art they produce but for the way that they display it. The first site that I chose to use for inspiration is Beeples aka Mike Winkleman. https://www.beeple-crap.com/ I chose the site not only because I enjoy the work but because the way he double layers the images with a frameless viewer creates a seamless experience. The other aspect I enjoy is that he uses his over-sized minimalist function controls that allow for clear navigating. The second inspirational site I chose is from art Wim Delvoye an neo conceptualist from Belgium. https://wimdelvoye.be/ I enjoy his site because of the smaller minimalist controls at the top of his site that allow the artwork to really consume the page. I also enjoy the gallery layout for his work and the featured articles that allow for easy navigation between artworks. This guy is a true multimedia artist with everything from from pixel art to taxidermy. If you get a chance both are worth the screen time to check them out.

For my first site I went with a more U.S. based layout, justified left with a thick menu bar. The idea is to keep the format throughout the rest of the webpages on the site and allow for a large viewing area where the text lives on the home page. The icon on the left will be a rollover icon which takes people to the home page as an anchor. As for my font I used Big Noodle Titling another block san serif with a lower readability but a rad personality. For my second site I chose a more center orientated layout. Again the plan is to hold the format throughout the rest of the pages and to have the images appear where the image is now but the thumbnail preview, the description of the artwork, and links to where it is marketed existing where the text lives on the index page. The idea being this is a more market orientated composition with a lot of hyperlinks inside and leading out of the site. The font I chose was the block digital san serif Animosa, ambiguous but with a good readability. For my resources:
I love CB for anything graphic or art related and it's a great place to find new artists and designers.
https://www.creativebloq.com/
I found Studio Malvah a while ago when I was looking to redesign my site. Their web features are definitely unique, original and inspiring.
https://malvah.co/
When I find myself static in my workflow I like to flip through eight25media's site. They have a section called case study that actually details their design process for their bigger clients and it has helped me rethink a few projects.
https://www.eight25media.com/
For the last of my resources I chose Design Resources. They have been a great help at finding bits and pieces as well as helping find programs that work for certain functions throughout my design workflow.
https://www.designresourc.es/
Thank you for your time, now, please rip these designs to shreds because feedback helps with follow through.

Regards,
James Cowan
james_cowan@mail.tmcc.edu

Hi James, I really enjoy both of your concepts, The first one is really well done with the layout of the navigation and where your logo goes. I enjoy the second one as well, the big picture of your design draws the eye in and then it flows over the rest of the page. I do have a few ideas for you for both of them, the first it's very crowded up top, the letting between the title, subhead, and your name is very tight and maybe loosening that up might give the design some breathing room, and the navigation buttons are quite small, maybe that's what you're going for but you could increase the size maybe 20-30% and it might flow a bit better. For the first one I think you almost have the opposite thing happening, there's a lot of empty space between the title and the rest, the navigation is really well done, you could almost copy it to the phone size and it would work very well there too. Otherwise these designs are really great, excited to see what comes next!

Okay, that image is faintly horrifying. Excellent! Make a meat puppet of him, Octopus!

Of your two designs, I prefer the first. I think your background image is bright enough to not need a proper foreground image. You've balanced opacity of your image perfectly so it's visible without interfering with your type. Great use of margin on the whole thing. Every element has room to breathe without fragmenting. Your nav is easy to see and use. Your logo placement is traditional and works well here. I like your unusual typeface choice as well, especially in your navigation and headlines. It's surprisingly legible too. One bit I noticed here is the lack of effects. I creates a simplicity that is very strong and leaves room for your rad background image to add in all the visual texture. And it is indeed rad. It immediately establishes a bit of your character right off the bat and warns/invites users to be prepared for what they might find within. This whole design is an absolutely textbook example of using image and type to liven up a very simple traditional layout.

I don't especially care for the semi-bold dropcaps on your bodycopy. It's a little too bold and shouty. I think your image is dim enough in the background to tolerate thinner type with lowercase letters in it.

Great work!

Hi James,
Yes meat puppet please
I think you could roll with either one. But I'm personally drawn to the first layout. The only thing I would tinker with is in your mobile rough. Your text feels a little pushed up on top, perhaps just play with that a bit. sweet.

Hey James,
Wow! That is one grotesque image haha, but it seems so cool in its own forthright! (Gotta respect fellow artists on the grind!)
I'd say out of both concepts, the one that is the most visually strong is the second one. I like how the background image is a black-and-white drawing but dimmed out, it works more effectively as it is now than if the background was a solid color--great immersion! My only critiques would be on the navigation, in both formats (computer-sized and mobile-sized) they seem too small; a quick fix would be to make them a little bit bigger. For the mobile format specifically, I think you would also need to space out your buttons more, they are too close together and it might be difficult when clicking on them. Other than that, I think you are all set!

(Now that I think about it, your image also reminds me of the pilot episode for Hellbenders on youtube, I'll provide a link below. It looks like the squid/octopus is controlling him more than attacking him during breakfast haha. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7jzqXnYwfo)

Well, I like the dark backgrounds. It's nice, we're not printing these, so we can use all the ink we want. :- ) I prefer your first set... because then I don't have to look at the grisly-themed image, and the mobile version best because the copy almost completely covers it. I apologize, I know this is your artwork: I'm a 64 yo woman, not your demographic. But, in case times get tough and you have to market to the senior center, this may be useful to know. I'm sure you know. You could get hired to do a website for the two old Jewish ladies and their women's foundations store--such did used to exist on Robertson Ave in Los Angeles, and customers purchasing well-fitted brassieres in giant sizes get handled like they're Gumby in there while they fit you--no, you don't put on your own bra, I don't care how ample you are: the old ladies will be putting your parts in the bras and you keep your hands to your sides: it's a TRIP: draw that! As a kind of governess in Beverly Hills once, I took my 21 yo charge on the spectrum there for her painfully heavy bosom: I told her what was going to happen and that it was all safe and okay, but you should have seen the look on her face when those old ladies had their hands IN her bra! OMG, it was hysterical, the 21 yo laughed soon, too). I looked at your inspiration websites... that one guy... who says he sucks a$$ all over it... some amazing stuff and so much gore.
You know what works: you said it yourself: the typeface in the copy is hard to read. Other than that, your layouts work real well, it's very clear, organized nicely, clear and easy, no thinking involved--Hey, Don't Make Me Think! I like the economy of the stacked nav buttons on the left rather than across the top, it's easier on the eyes, or in my case, eye. All the bared eyeball images on that one site, oh man, and--well, I can't LOOK at the face in your art, I'm afraid there is something bad happening to the eyes, it gives me the willies. I appreciate your schematic drawings, you really think it all out. It's impressive. I apologize that I am a big ninny with gore. :- ) And thanks for the info about photographing artwork...

hellooo

I think either one could work in terms of your designs and mostly depends on your personal opinion.

Even tho the main picture creeps me out personally, it gets the point across of "Curiosity" as it's unique and interesting to look at.
But if you were to go with your second design with the cool-looking white and black background, I would make the buttons on your mobile version a bit bigger. Fingers aren't as precise as a mouse, so it needs a big spot to hit the correct button instead of accidentally hitting the one under or above it and getting mad cause it is not going to the correct tab you want.

Totally never been there or anything from experience.

I love how everyone thinks that my image is grotesque yet it seems ok to devour these creature whole and living, lmao.I ask only this, what would happen if one of the top five sentient beings on our planet began to fight back against such cruelty? Just a thought.

I really like the cartoon layout makes it look real dynamic. I’d arrange the image a tad to be more of a readable print.

Hi James
I like your second concept better I think the image you have on top contrasts well with the background and the layout is a lot better. I would have the layout for the mobile version to m=not seem so stacked on top of each other but overall i think it looks more professional and like a real website! I think the typography you chose for the second one is better as well as the lowercase is a lot easier to read than all bold and caps for body copy.