This is an ongoing battle between myself, the lead designer and the creative director at work. Basically, the designers want something original, and the creative director wants something shiny and full of "web 2.0" design aspects. Anyone sharp will notice the filename, v9... Yes, this is version 9. Its not even a client project, its a new service that we plan on launching... whenever. So, this is activista_V9. I've tried to make it web 2.0(ish) while still keeping it interesting to look at with big easy navigation. The content layout is still being thought about so i havn't included those layers.
My first impression when I looked at the website was "toyish". After the first second, I am thinking that it resembles the front end of something on the quasi-professional technological side. Later impression sums up as being a mask -- a little over the edge of reality for the happy go lucky side if one will say. Maybe it is due to everything being bigger than what I am used to, but that is my opinion.
toyish! That sums up the web 2.0 design trend very well. I totally agree with you to be honest. My initial (v1 - v8) were far more bespoke and orriginal. My personal thoughts were that were trying to sell websites and having our website with a specific style (in this case. shiny shiny plastic gradients) is to a customers view an example of what they might get. This is not the case. Which is why my initial design (v1) took less than 30 seconds to make and simply consisted of well laid out text and a "previous work" panel on the right. Then its the work/websites that does the speaking not the first impression of our website. But alas, there are stubborn people in this world.. PS: Please can other people comment, there have been enough views now for at least a few people to leave something.
I like the concept. The colors work well together, mostly because they've been used to death. It's definitely "web 2.0", gradients, large text, shadows, rounded edges, the 45 deg background, etc. I would like to see your other, more original designs.
I really like it. The background stripes give it a professional air (somehow) and the colour is well balanced with darker elements of the page. Only thing I might change would be to make the bar at the bottom right stand out a bit more, I completely missed it the first few times I glanced over the design.
Good point on the bottom right bar (footer nav) I'll change that now i thinks. @kickarse; I'll get some uploaded, in fact, back when i first started on this i uploaded one then. i'll go find it. found: That was v2, v1 was basically the same but the content was all in one block rather than spread out into its own segments. Not really minimal, but that was before i was actually given a design breif by the designer so i was going for a glassy feel, but i didn't want to go crazy so i gave it the pattern background just to pull it away from the crowd and give it some individuality. Then once i was told minimal, I went down this route: Then i was briefed by the creative director, and i went all glassy: But that wasn't dark enough.... so: oh, um, don't think i really need to mention this, but ya, all copyright to will blackmore on the above website designs. Any burglers will be spanked!
I like version two since my first impression of it was that it is a formal / professional site (Until I read the content in the left box).
yea. kinda branding though... although I have now been told don't worry about the colours, which is the reason for the orange in v9
Definitely that one. I like the wallpaper in hte background, and imo it just looks very aesthetically pleasing. I like it alot actually. The rest either look to glossy, to formal, or to dull.
I've shown people this thread.. and opinions are changing on what we want this new site to look like.. I'll keep you posted, but i might get my way!! Brwahahaha! Flowery patterns rool!
Oi.... I have to say I like the initial design the best for my tastes. But out of all of them just the first and last get my attention.
