Criticism Required, please? :)

[JakClark]

Hi forum, It's Jak again .

I've been asked by a friend to mock up (If that's the word?) a quick website design for a relative of his.

After spending a little while researching, and not as long as I usually take designing, here's a 'not-nearly finished' design. I'd like to improve on it more, but I wondered If I could have criticism on the existing features. Particularly the big space underneath the logo.

Below, is the design.

Regards,
-Jak

 

[PixelPusher]

I am not a fan of the logo font, has too much of a free hand appearance. And the curly tails look weird. I like the idea of a retro, script-like font though?

I like the color choices, and the simplicity to the design. Nice clean menu.

 

[JakClark]

Thanks for reply

I was doubting the font, yet I wasn't 100% sure. Do you think it'd be wise to stick with the 'curly' theme, perhaps the 'wierdness' was just the choice of font, not the type.

I've also changed a couple other things, and I'll repost them soon

Thanks again...
Regards,
-Jak

 

[che09]

Nice design,very friendly layout! I like the color combination,and I guess you've done it well!

 

[Mug]

I am not sure if the colours 100% work. I think it is the brown that throws it for me. I like the rest of the site though. Why don't you create a newsletter sign up feature underneath the logo. Good use of space.

 

[nedo]

Overall design is nice, but as Mug said, get rid of the brown from footer, I would suggest you to pick some of the colors from the image, there are several hearts with different colors, try them all and see which fits best.

 

[EverplexMedia]

My first thought when I saw that site, is "busy". The graphics are a bit too busy, and is likely to cause users to quickly leave the site.

 

[SplitElement]

I have no problem with the site, but it does look unfinished. I suggest a better placement for the social media icons, as they look like an afterthought right now. Also, the curly font is great for the logo, but use a complementary font for the headlines.

 

[Oribium]

I like it, except for the brown color at the bottom of the page. It will work fine.

 

[sacrine]

I actually like the logo font.. I would remove the photo, put the logo (same size) to the left and take the text under the photo and put it to the right of the logo. I would then increase the height of the brown at the bottom so it took up half the page height with some more content inside using maybe a two or three column format.

But that's just me : )

 

[dub_designer]

Nice design. I hold a BFA in graphic design so I know what I'm talking about. I read a few responses and take them all with a grain of salt. In the end it's what your client wants. Here are 3 steps to quickly improve the look:

1. Never never never use the font / style of your logo anywhere else in a design (referring to "occassions" in the logo is the same as the tagline / info line below the logo) The logo type is the logotype....nothing else's. It has a nice lighthearted feel to it and I would keep it if I were you. "Hand made" type is coming back in a big way. I for one am a huge fan because there are thousands of types that are nice, but too perfect if you know what I mean.

2. Spacing - I would shift the entire left side down to align with the top of the T in "Sweet". Put the contact us and about us buttons, with the phrases above them, both below the logo and aligned with the text on the left. Excuse the quick and horrid photoshop....but perhaps a layout like this:

3. Social Media - Your social media icons are HUGE. They stand out way too much when you want to be emphasizing the content of the website.

Good luck and post up anything new that you do!

 

[PixelPusher]

Nice design. I hold a BFA in graphic design so I know what I'm talking about...

Very good points, especially about keeping the logo type face unique to the logo. I really like the freehand, script like font concept, I just think there are some better ones out there.

Many dislike the brown color, but I like it, reminds me of milk chocolate. Only problem is sweet hearts don't have any...maybe a diff picture?

The re-oragnized mock up from "dub_designer" is nice, with one suggestion...

Being that your main menu and the picture/content is left aligned, you could left align the footer info and add the social media icons to the right of the footer? This allows you to reduce more of the space at the bottom.

 

[dub_designer]

^ Try that too

 

[mrandrei]

Color-wise, there's a lot to improved. Pink and brown don't blend well together. But the layout is good enough. Pretty straightforward. Not bad.

 

[dub_designer]

Color-wise, there's a lot to improved. Pink and brown don't blend well together. But the layout is good enough. Pretty straightforward. Not bad.

Why don't they blend well together? That's a pretty subjective statement.

I think they do work well together and here is why: contrast. Not only visually, but in feeling. The brown can represent chocolate, and the pink can represent a tart candy. Therefore, the website offers two forms of contrast. It's also a unique combo. Had it been blue and brown I would have said it works, but it's been done a million times. Pink and brown are not "played".

 

[computerGeek]

i think the space you are referring to is quite ok.. .its a breathing space.. .although you could move the sweet a little bit more downwards.. .and as for the logo of facebook and twitter.. .i think its just too big.. .imho.. .