New website design

[spock]

This is going to be the new design of my portfolio/resume/projects site.

I'm really more a webdeveloper than a designer, so this is like my 1000th try, but this one finally turned out reasonable . Though a small problem in the menu using IE5.5, it seems to work in firefox and recent IE versions.

I basically wanted to ask a few things:

1. Can someone test this using other browsers and tell me if they see any problems?
   
2. What do you think of it?
   
3. What should I do with my sidebar, at first I thought I would place an about me piece there, but I'm not sure anymore. Maybe change it to have a separate function on each page?
   
4. Is there anything I can do to make it better?
   

Link
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[drath]

Okay, well on first glance it looks relatively professional which is good considering what you are using it for. Personally I have no idea what the sunflower is about; but if you are all about sunflowers then it is good, if not, then I would suggest showcasing something in the header that says YOU, and who YOU are.

Because right now, it's either communicating that you love gardening, you are involved in flower gardens in your profession, or you love sunflower seeds. It's really just quite odd.

Other than that though, the rest is fairly balanced. There is a good harmony between the elements, and the drop shadows on the side are working nicely. The sidebar in my opinion doesn't even really need to be there. I think you already have one top sidebar that already does the job of your lower sidebar. So I would try removing it alltogether. I say "try" because I think it would make the composition of your website very bottom heavy (because that's where all the text is); but you can "try" and see what it looks like.

It seems to render fine in both the newest Opera and the newest Safari (Windows).
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[spock]

Ok, I tried to do something with your advice. I made a new header, though I still don't think it's 'right'.

I also made a version with the sidebar removed, see what you think about it:

Link to new version
Link (no sidebar)
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[pharmer4]

leave the sidebar in.
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[krt]

The latter header image is better, but maybe that is from process of elimination. I think it adds to the contrast problems already present in the site. I'm also a design challenged developer so I don't who I am critiquing items where I wouldn't do any better but anyways... I have no comments regarding the sidebar until I realise what it will be used for but for a fairly simple personal/showcase site, it doesn't seem necessary.

Aspects I would work on are the choice of colours, contrasts and typography. Ignoring the content body as that will undoubtedly change, have more content and media, but more so with the menu and text below the site name. Or maybe the menu is just a little too simple, maybe some shadows or more tabbed or non-square list items or more apparent visual rollover events could help.

[drath]

I think the new header is more stylish in certain aspects, but now it might be a little overpowering. I think it could be the overall size of it. Or it could be the intensity of the colors. I would try first decreasing the length of the overall header (and thus the grid image), or try making the colors of the squares more opaque (transparent), or maybe a bit of both. Perhaps fade it out even more like the sunflower was. I'd like to also add that your color scheme is now also more apparent, and as such is much more successful with the colored squares.

I agree with pharmer4 to leave the navigation bar in though. Like my suggestion said, it's more practical to not have it in, but it also works as a nice breather for the content. So, without it, there just seems like there is too much text. But, you might be able to create a happy medium where you include the bar, but not have anything in it, or have some aesthetic thing inside it so it isn't completely pointless.

It's getting there.
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[spock]

Ok, I made a version with sidebar, shorter and less bright header

LINK
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[drath]

I think that is the best layout so far. I think there is still an issue with the gradient in in though. It seems a bit too sharp, maybe make it more gradual? The navigation sidebar also looks better in there, but now you just have to think about what to actually add in it. Good work.
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[ClickFanatic]

The sidebar, now it's empty, gives the main content more space. This makes it easy for visitors to focus on the content that matters the most.
However, if you are going to fill it with much text it will lose this effect. Alternatively, you can simple replace the sidebar with a generous margin (I would recommend doing both sides of the content).
This CSS would do the trick (replace these rules in your current CSS file), but you could try some variations.

[StarBuck]

If you ask me, I think that now with the new header, it looks more lifeless The sunflower gave it some spirit, but not it's just plain dull... As another note, I would either remove the subtitle "My portfolio,
My articles..." or try to blend them in somehow, because now it just looks like they are links... Otherwise, I like the whole blog-look and feel

[RohitMalhotra]

Hi spock to answer your question s


Can someone test this using other browsers and tell me if they see any problems?

I tested the site on the opera firefox and the iinternet explorer it worked fine so did it work on the netscape navigator god bless its sould .. but i guess you coul do something about the grids which do tend to get distorted while switching from one browser to another

What do you think of it?

I loved the simplicty of the design but it does have its draw backs in the terms of the number of links you may like to have on the main menu .. your ability have additional modules if you are using a content management system


What should I do with my sidebar, at first I thought I would place an about me piece there, but I'm not sure anymore. Maybe change it to have a separate function on each page?

Side bar gets the show isn the site stick with it you could place some more colour though may be add a fewmore pictures ...dont go ranting about you and yourself anything nice will do wonders


Is there anything I can do to make it better?

More functionality may ba a calender a thoudn different modules are available .. but my advice will be to stick to the subject ..

regards Rohit

Kudos on the fatastic design keep up the good work
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[jthomsonmain]

Very nice design! Im glad you didnt wimp out and use an MSOffice app to make it . The Source Code is very clean, the only thing I would to is Break the paragraph lines so they aren't so long:

[Michael]

I like it, the layout is clean and easy to navigate. My only gripe(and this is an opinion based on my personal prerfence) is that it seems a tad plain. A few little cosmetic bells and whisltes here and there could help. I believe a website needs to be functional AND eye catching without taking the attention away from the content. I think if you played with that color scheme a bit you bring out some eye-catching combinations.

I quite like where this layout is going, keep at it!
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