Why not just use a template from Drupal or something you are promoting? Some people are ment to design and some are not, knowing your limitations is half the battle. I think you may want to look at grabbing a template and then push your services.
Rip me apart please!!!
- Thread starter casben79
- Start date
i did ask to be ripped apart and that is exactly what i got.
For the most part you guys have been very helpful thats why i like this forum over others you tell it like it is.
Thanks for setting me straight.
I have attached a screenshot of version2 i am working on, what do you guys think of that one?, clean and simple with accordion style content panels.
about all the flash sites for design ideas, they are very cool but i am focusing on html not flash
For the most part you guys have been very helpful thats why i like this forum over others you tell it like it is.
Thanks for setting me straight.
I have attached a screenshot of version2 i am working on, what do you guys think of that one?, clean and simple with accordion style content panels.
about all the flash sites for design ideas, they are very cool but i am focusing on html not flash
Attachments
Lose the beveled buttons at the bottom and the 90s buttons at the top. Look at some of the sites in the links above.
Not trying to be a jerk, but your not a designer. I understand you need to practice to get good at things, but you may be better off buying a template and working off of that.
http://www.coolhomepages.com/store/html/templatemonster_page2.html From the drop down you can select, Drupal, Word Press, Joombla etc.etc. Go there and buy one and save yourself hours and hours of work.
http://www.coolhomepages.com/store/html/templatemonster_page2.html From the drop down you can select, Drupal, Word Press, Joombla etc.etc. Go there and buy one and save yourself hours and hours of work.
Seriously, that looks like crap. It's like every bad design cliche wrapped up in one. Lose the bevels, drop shadows, reflections, accordion panels, the works and start again.
Those sites I gave you links to contain more than just Flash sites, but despite that, ignore the fact that they are running on Flash for a minute and just look at the designs, paying careful attention to what makes them good. They are clean, modern, simple, elegant, flat color and basic gradients, with great photography and impeccable typography.
Bill's suggestion of using a template would work except for the obvious fact that you are trying to sell design services and can't actually design. I really don't think you are going to be selling design services any time in the near future though, and certainly not to anyone here.
dude, is there a difference between designer and up and coming designer? i havent got a portfolio yet, i want to get a site ready to put a folio in... if it looks like crap then noone is going to hire me, that is why i asked for critisism from a tough crowd and i have a few ideas, but life is crazy at the moment and time is a premium so it is very slow going..., i am struggling with the pure artistic side of things and that is just me, if i was sent a psd or given specific instructions, then i can build it easy, but a favourite quote of mine is "doctors are the worst patients, builders have the worst houses and designers have the worst sites" meaning that no matter how good (or bad in my case) it is never enough.
at the end of the day all i want to do is make a living from home to be able to spend some time with the family.
at the end of the day all i want to do is make a living from home to be able to spend some time with the family.
that cracked granite background and bubble text treatment are so cutting edge. Where did you come up with that. I have a client from 1992 that might be interested in working with you. Let me give him a ring on my rotary phone.
I'm going to be a tough critic, but you asked for it.
Up and coming designer is fine, no problem there, but if you lack the most basic natural artistic ability then you are really going to struggle.
Start looking at other people's portfolio sites and really try to understand what it is that makes them good and why it is that you are so far off the mark.
Here's another article for you with 50 top portfolio sites showcased...
50 Beautiful And Creative Portfolio Designs | Design Showcase | Smashing Magazine
and another with 25 more photographer's portfolios, though the fact that it's photography doesn't matter because you are just looking at the fantastic site designs...
25 of the Best Photographer Portfolio Websites - Part Two | EDESIGNERZ.NET | Design, Photography, Free, Portfolio, Sites
24 more design portfolios...
24 Kick Ass Portfolio Designs | Fuel Your Creativity
Consider buying some books on logo design, typography, colour and web design. If you don't like books or don't have the means to do so then scour the web for tutorials, as there are quite literally thousands of them at your disposal. Also consider usability, web standards, CSS/XHTML and more.
Don't focus on gimmicks like accordion and java menus, get the basics of design down first.
You need to educate yourself and get your skills up before you can sell your services. Keep in mind that while lots of people are naturally gifted and teach themselves, a lot of good designers went to school for years to study. I spent 3 years doing design and illustration in college for example.
To even get accepted into art school meant having a high end portfolio of 2 dozen pieces because they only took 18 people out of 200-300 applicants each year. These were done in spare time between jobs, with late nights and busy weekends.
You should be creating faux websites/logos/business cards for brands that you like or, alternatively, doing pro bono pieces for friends and family to build up a proper portfolio.
Only then do I think you will have what it takes to go out and professionally sell your services to business clients.
Good luck man.
I would try and move away from the rock look. Also having a menu in the middle of the page is a little odd in some ways. I would try to stick to either aligned horizontally on the top, or vertically on the left.
thank you for your help it is greatly appreciated and i do understand that the artistic side is difficult and highly skilled, maybe i should think about outsourcing the design bit and just build the sites. i am much better at that. what should i expect to pay for something like that?
Anywhere from a few bucks per project for an Indian who probably can't design much better than you to thousands per project for a top gun designer. It all depends on where you want to position yourself; the type of clients you want to serve, the type of jobs you want to take on, and the kind of money you want to make. There are obviously lots of variables.
If you are good at the development of server side stuff, like java, php, mysql, etc. then consider finding a designer near you to partner with that doesn't do those things. Look to graduates from local art schools or local freelancers, or find someone on the web who might be interested in such a thing.
There are a few things missing from the homepage design.
Feel free to add these.
I almost pissed myself seeing that fucking creepy dancing baby. Nice work. +rep
OK...
I really don't know why anyone (me included) is being so helpful, as you have not only displayed a blatant lack of design skills, but also a pissy attitude.
But oh, well. We seem to be all saints here.
First things first.
You lack design skills.
That is not bad in itself and it can be overcome.
Here is a 5 day programme
1. day - INDULGE YOURSELF
Design and art books (the kind with pictures(. Look at stuff, make sketches of what you think is cool (yes, make sketches, by hand), note down some explanations.
2. day - Find books on design theory
Find some that explain design grids, color choice, etc.
3. day - Read the books on design theory
Take notes.
4. day - Back at home, surfing design
Go through your notes (before lunch), in the afternoon, look at sites in the niches you want to do. - Auto dealerships, Landing pages (just click on the ads on the side in google), diet, information sites?
Sketch good ones
5. day - Surfing theory
Look up the AIDA concept and how it related to sites that sell.
Look up a CSS framework - blueprint, 960, etc... Choose one, read the docs
Look up some web design websites
- In the afternoon:
Sit down with a TURNED OFF computer and start sketching.
My take on portfolio sites:
They SUCK!
Yes, make it pretty, but what pays the bills is the example sites you can provide. Work done.
If you are able to throw together some neat LP designs, sell em here, then worry about your portfolio site.
::emp::
PS: If you think 5 days is outrageous, I will laugh at you and laugh at you and laugh at you...
I really don't know why anyone (me included) is being so helpful, as you have not only displayed a blatant lack of design skills, but also a pissy attitude.
But oh, well. We seem to be all saints here.
First things first.
You lack design skills.
That is not bad in itself and it can be overcome.
Here is a 5 day programme
1. day - INDULGE YOURSELF
Design and art books (the kind with pictures(. Look at stuff, make sketches of what you think is cool (yes, make sketches, by hand), note down some explanations.
2. day - Find books on design theory
Find some that explain design grids, color choice, etc.
3. day - Read the books on design theory
Take notes.
4. day - Back at home, surfing design
Go through your notes (before lunch), in the afternoon, look at sites in the niches you want to do. - Auto dealerships, Landing pages (just click on the ads on the side in google), diet, information sites?
Sketch good ones
5. day - Surfing theory
Look up the AIDA concept and how it related to sites that sell.
Look up a CSS framework - blueprint, 960, etc... Choose one, read the docs
Look up some web design websites
- In the afternoon:
Sit down with a TURNED OFF computer and start sketching.
My take on portfolio sites:
They SUCK!
Yes, make it pretty, but what pays the bills is the example sites you can provide. Work done.
If you are able to throw together some neat LP designs, sell em here, then worry about your portfolio site.
::emp::
PS: If you think 5 days is outrageous, I will laugh at you and laugh at you and laugh at you...
