Take a look at:

http://www.version12.net/

What do you all think about the design? I'm a little worried that it is too plain, but I also don't want to throw graphics up just for the sake of having graphics.

How would you reccommend spicing it up, to make it more visually appealing, without killing the underlying simplicity?

Thanks

Its an ok site, but i agree it maybe is just alittle bit plain on the top (the header) too much white.
Also the table under it dosnt line up properly? Im in 800*600 and it dosnt fit very well togeather the table underneith is is too large for the top header.
Also the side cell is maybe alittle bit too big, try to make it the same size as the text. or a tiny bit bigger.

Other than that, it looks alright.

Craig

I'm looking at the page on 1024x768, so the first table (with logo) appears significantly larger than the second. You should set the first table width to 800 as well to match the two up.

Perhaps you would consider switching the logo to blue and white against an orange background, or if you don't like the look, try changing the background to a pastel blue in the first table. Then put your main menu and contact info into the table, and you'll compact your design and clean it up nicely.

Sorry if it seems like I'm being somewhat hypercritical, but I really am trying to help.

Originally posted by Craig
Its an ok site, but i agree it maybe is just alittle bit plain on the top (the header) too much white.
Also the table under it dosnt line up properly? Im in 800*600 and it dosnt fit very well togeather the table underneith is is too large for the top header.
Also the side cell is maybe alittle bit too big, try to make it the same size as the text. or a tiny bit bigger.

Other than that, it looks alright.

Craig


Dammit! Thanks for the note. Both tables are supposed to have a width of 100%, I had made a change earlier, and then changed it back, and forgot one of the stupid tables.

Would you suggest limiting the size of the table to 800, which would give me more control, but for people with greater screen resolution it would leave a lot of blue?

Thanks!!

Originally posted by Spider John
I'm looking at the page on 1024x768, so the first table (with logo) appears significantly larger than the second. You should set the first table width to 800 as well to match the two up.

Perhaps you would consider switching the logo to blue and white against an orange background, or if you don't like the look, try changing the background to a pastel blue in the first table. Then put your main menu and contact info into the table, and you'll compact your design and clean it up nicely.

Sorry if it seems like I'm being somewhat hypercritical, but I really am trying to help.

Spider -- if I didn't want criticism, I wouldn't have posted the site :). My problem is I am a programmer not a designer, and so I am trying to develop a clean, professional, site with admittedly limited design skills.

So I understand properly, are you suggesting get rid of the sidebar menu, and move everything under the main menu? That would leave a lot of white space within the document itself?

As to the background on the top table, I could make that change, and you are probably right, without adding any more graphics it would make the site look fuller.

Thanks for your insight

I have the same sort of problem with my site, http://www.flump.net no it isnt spam at all, company isnt open yet, but the design i used on my site is sort of the same, in respect to the tables that are used..
I run in 800*600 and it seems ok
ive tired it in higher res.
Just make sure not to have the table size *too* small when its in 800*600.

Cheers

Craig

Originally posted by uuallan
[B
Spider -- if I didn't want criticism, I wouldn't have posted the site :). My problem is I am a programmer not a designer, and so I am trying to develop a clean, professional, site with admittedly limited design skills.

So I understand properly, are you suggesting get rid of the sidebar menu, and move everything under the main menu? That would leave a lot of white space within the document itself?
[/B]

Limited design skills? No problem! Do everything in pink and green, +5 font! +5 font makes all problems go away!

Actually, I just meant the part with the date and "hosting services...support...contact us".

Alternatively, you could put contact info in that part to make it look good.

Originally posted by Spider John

Limited design skills? No problem! Do everything in pink and green, +5 font! +5 font makes all problems go away!

Actually, I just meant the part with the date and "hosting services...support...contact us".


Umm...pink and green with +5 fonts? Sounds like a Las Vegas Easter bunny :)

Got it, that makes sense...and if the background was orange it would still create a sense of seperation.

What about within the actual text, how would you spice that up, or would you?

Thanks again...your feedback has been very helpful!

I like the simplicity of it, and think a small graphic, logo maybe would be nice,

Hey you live in Char. NC

Let me go back on that. The orange is totally over too much, but the color scheme is nice on the page itself.

Originally posted by TheComputerGuy
Let me go back on that. The orange is totally over too much, but the color scheme is nice on the page itself.

Thanks...I narrowed the orange menu bar, and added some graphics ot the main page to fill it out...

I'm working on redoing the top portion based on some of the comments I got here.

I appreciate everyone's thoughts!