Deconstructing Hartley
I know I'm putting the curse of the 'Don't Blog About...' Gods on this thing, but I've started to put together the all-new Dave site, and I'd like some feedback. It's on the fast track, becuse I really do now need to have something that makes me look like the man.
All you'll get now is a title page and some rollovers - nothing fancy - but tell me if you think the links encompass enough range to allow me to break the different areas of the site into manageable chunks. Meaning 'Design' would house all print and web design work - and is really the reason for the site to go up, frankly; 'Illustration' would be plain old drawing and all the comics work; 'Music' would be (of course) all things music; and 'Words' would lead back here and possibly to some sort of cache of other written works. Said 'other written works' are admittedly somewhat thin on the ground. Still, given that I've written close to six hundred of these Ramblers (this is number 571 you're reading right now), I think the 'Words' section justifies its existence.
Note that sound is part of it, so put your speakers on... now.
Go here. (Then come back).
There's probably going to be a small series of secondary links under the main frame - contact (of course), site map, about, and possibly a section called 'juvenilia,' which solves the problem of archiving and having too much outdated work cluttering up the main site. It also solves the problem of having people notice that a drawing that I did when I was thirteen is better than something I could do now. Thankfully, at least my music is much better, these days.
Right now, I'm leaning towards each quadrant of the site having a different feel, although trying to keep some kind of thematic unity going. If that's colors, or fonts, or whatever, I'm still working out.
Anyway, critique, please. I know every time I've talked about the revamped site on the Rambler in the past, I've fished for feedback and ideas and gotten nothing but virtual crickets, but a man can dream.
D.
All you'll get now is a title page and some rollovers - nothing fancy - but tell me if you think the links encompass enough range to allow me to break the different areas of the site into manageable chunks. Meaning 'Design' would house all print and web design work - and is really the reason for the site to go up, frankly; 'Illustration' would be plain old drawing and all the comics work; 'Music' would be (of course) all things music; and 'Words' would lead back here and possibly to some sort of cache of other written works. Said 'other written works' are admittedly somewhat thin on the ground. Still, given that I've written close to six hundred of these Ramblers (this is number 571 you're reading right now), I think the 'Words' section justifies its existence.
Note that sound is part of it, so put your speakers on... now.
Go here. (Then come back).
There's probably going to be a small series of secondary links under the main frame - contact (of course), site map, about, and possibly a section called 'juvenilia,' which solves the problem of archiving and having too much outdated work cluttering up the main site. It also solves the problem of having people notice that a drawing that I did when I was thirteen is better than something I could do now. Thankfully, at least my music is much better, these days.
Right now, I'm leaning towards each quadrant of the site having a different feel, although trying to keep some kind of thematic unity going. If that's colors, or fonts, or whatever, I'm still working out.
Anyway, critique, please. I know every time I've talked about the revamped site on the Rambler in the past, I've fished for feedback and ideas and gotten nothing but virtual crickets, but a man can dream.
D.
posted by Dave Kopperman | 1:04 AM
5 Comments:
Okay, here goes. First, I like the overall look and feel of the site. SO yeah for that.
I noticed you went with the more casual Dave instead of David. A personal choice I suppose.
The drawback I see to the page is it's height. I would take into account people using laptops (as I am) where they will have to scroll down to see the full graphic and your full name. If there is no content down there, it goes from being a nuisance to down right annoying if that's the only reason I'm scrolling.
Other then that I like.
Karl: Agreed on height issue, and thanks. It'll actually end up looking a little better I think - widescreen.
Everyone else: I forgot to mention that I stole the initial blue (the far left bar) from Karl's living room.
D.
I agree with Karl on what he said...
Is that pic in the background a placeholder, or the final pic?
Not crazy about it. The scene that it depicts doesn't lend itself to what I think is or will be the nature and purpose of the site. Looks like you're on vacation. I would think you would want something that makes it look like you're in the throes of some creative epiphany, or something like that.
The only other thing (and this is just an opinion, but you asked) I have never been a fan of outline fonts. And when the roll-over just makes them "more outlined," me no like. If the text "filled in" or something else on the roll-overs, I think that would be better. And maybe some other graphical thingy or one of these jobs: | instead of the slashes separating the category links.
Other than that I like the vertical text on the side and the layout and the cool sounds (what is the words sound? Very cool)...So there will be stuff in the main section? I didn't get what you meant about that part.
I agree with Karl on what he said...
Is that pic in the background a placeholder, or the final pic?
Not crazy about it. The scene that it depicts doesn't lend itself to what I think is or will be the nature and purpose of the site. Looks like you're on vacation. I would think you would want something that makes it look like you're in the throes of some creative epiphany, or something like that.
The only other thing (and this is just an opinion, but you asked) I have never been a fan of outline fonts. And when the roll-over just makes them "more outlined," me no like. If the text "filled in" or something else on the roll-overs, I think that would be better. And maybe some other graphical thingy or one of these jobs: | instead of the slashes separating the category links.
Other than that I like the vertical text on the side and the layout and the cool sounds...So there will be stuff in the main section? I didn't get what you meant about that part.
Yeah, the photo is temp and gonna go. You're also in agreement with Ansley that the font should be a fill font, so I'll take that under advisement.
There is going to be content for this homepage, but I'm not 100% what. Most likely what we're looking at is the homepage for the 'Design' quadrant, so the links will be 'Print' and 'Web.' I think.
On the slashes/graphic: I actually used icons on the old Copper Man site, and it annoyed people. A lot. But I know what you mean. Still, the slashes are something new - I don't think you see that often.
D.
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