GRC 175 Learning and Discussion Forum

For Project 2, I am redesigning the website for local book/music store http://www.sundancebookstore.com/. For Idea #1, I wanted to reflect the classical style of the historical building it is located in. For Idea #2, I decided to keep it simple and went with a clear layout which leads the eye to main elements.

Is this one design or two separate designs?

I think the second design seems to work better... the first design looks like a court house.

I like your second design better because it looks more organized. Very clean and fits the theme of a bookstore. I would like to see your missing subpage though but still, good start.

Grace-
I do like both of them and I think that combining them might make a stronger design. For example, adding the pillars and the roof to the second design but using them on the edges of the design, almost framing the site but keep the organization from the second one. I love the gradient on the second design, I think that its very eye catching. Great job!

Hm. Not seeing any inner pages here, just home pages.

As much as I like the idea of the first one, I find the second one more pleasing. It has a simplicity and ease of use that's comforting. I can easily navigate it, use it, and uptake information from it. Plus, it's simplicity makes it a great platform to add more detail to. Typographically it makes for an easy read and I can quickly determine the hierarchy.

Two things though. One, you need to enlarge your buttons or shrink your type so that the margin from your type to the edge of the button is even on all sides. Two you need to add a little bit of pizzaz to it, either through a full background image like this website ( http://www.eatinginsydney.com/ ) or through more subtle textures, bevels, and gradients like this website ( http://infinitapps.com/infinitgallery/ ). Both have their place and I think you should try them both out and see what works with your design.

2nd one. You actually say you're a bookstore, you have something new on the front page, AND you have a picture of the building. You don't clutter up the page with PICTURES of books. A++

Hello Grace, I'll have to agree with the majority in that I prefer the 2nd rough. It's more organized and easier to navigate; however, I find the yellow to green gradient to be a bit harsh on the eyes. This site has such potential because Sundance is a great book store in an awesome location. I think your idea of incorporating the architecture in your first rough is great! That building is oozing with victorian character! Perhaps you can employ its attributes within your own design? Have fun with this concept, it think you can get away with a really whimsical concept.

I definitely think the second design is the way to go. Maybe try adding more borders and colors to help liven it up a bit? I do like the organization and the pictures, you did well making it look realistic.

I like your second design better. It's really nice how the background gradient matches the logo. My suggestion would be to give your buttons some space from the logo maybe move them down a little and make them a little bigger, but other than that really nice and neat design.