GRC 175 Learning and Discussion Forum

My two inspirational websites are: http://www.bacardi.com/us/products/our-rums which is a very clean and organized-looking website. The elements in this website are properly tiled and the palettes used for the type compliments the dark background and are easy on the eyes. My second inspirational website is http://soraru.jp/, a japanese website that is more image-dominated rather than type. I like the site's design because of its dynamic style and minimalistic features and it really inspired me to think out of the box and go wild with my ideas.
My first rough's concept is oriental themed. I wanted to create a free-flowing, decorative-like design instead of a clean-cut, box like style. I used a bristle-brush to paint both goldfish and the borders around the body to contain the type and other resources in the middle of the page. The buttons at the top-right corner are also painted the same way I painted the rest to create unity in design. I actually have three different version of this because I couldn't chose what background color suits my design best.
My Second rough's concept on the other hand is more contained and is your typical box-in design. I chose a Coffee themed palette and incorporated elements such as straw and mint leaves (which serves as buttons) at the top-right to further communicate the "coffee" theme i'm trying to express. I really like how both designs turned out and suggestions for further improvement will be greatly appreciated!

I want to comment, but it's difficult for me to tell where your elements will be placed.

I went ahead and updated my first post with the cleaned rough version. Hope this explains better where the elements will be placed.

I'm digging the 1st design with the rose background. That will look awesome.

I like the first design better but feel it needs a little more. I do like both.

Like them both to be honest, simple isn't a bad thing when it comes to websites. Want to keep things fresh, and control the eye flow of the viewer so they don't get lost or bored of what they are looking at. I believe that both have a real nice touch, and of the top ones the bottom left that has the pinkish color in the background, I think that's the strongest of those 3.

As for one thing to change? Dunno what to add, I like them, they are simple, they lead your eye from point to point. Good job.

I'm loving your top piece. The use of color and organic lines draw me all over the page.

Hey Whinona, I like both designs, although I am leaning more towards the fish design. To myself personally its more appealing, I was immediately drawn into it. I also like the lighter background on the bottom left corner, I think it gives it a little nice accent of color to pop it off rather than the grey or the white. =]

Why hello! I reli like the feel of both Websites. I am digging the first one more so that the second, though. I reli like the design aspect of the first and would like to see that as your home page.

Great Job!

The first one is very engaging and has an awesome personal touch that you don't see in alot of websites, very well done. It will be a blast developing that idea I assure you. The second one however is more simple and has a nice elegance. It is very hard to choose one. I think either one would be successful to be honest.