Results 1 to 14 of 14

Thread: Web Design Help

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Wisconsin
    Posts
    148

    Web Design Help

    I am currently trying to get a nice looking site together for my hosting company but I have ran out of ideas. I refuse to buy a template because to me that just says you are too lazy to create your template or too cheap to pay for a professional to do it. I don't really want anything fancy either. Just a nice simple site that gets potential customers interested in my hosting company and looks good.

    The site is located over at http://www.maxcpuhosting.com . I know it looks horrible right now and be warned that the color theme may not go together the best since I am color blind.
    ~ Nick

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    Singapore
    Posts
    74
    Are you actually looking for somebody to design the site (in case of which you better post in advertising forum), or you are looking for design tips ?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    Singapore
    Posts
    74
    If you are just looking for tips, here are few comments:

    - get rid of that "red swoosh" at the top - it reminds too much of Nike's logomark
    - change your logo - put "hosting" below "MaxCPU" - the way it is now, I think it's difficult (within a split of second) to remember the logo and company's name. If you make "MaxCPU" more prominent, people might remember it.
    - if you are not sure about the colors-scheme, better stick to what works in most cases - white background, with black text

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Wisconsin
    Posts
    148
    I am looking for design tips.
    ~ Nick

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Northern VA
    Posts
    1,582
    You could go with a content management system. Varhosting.net uses one and uses a template. Who cares if people think you used a template. The purists that think form is more important than function are not your main customer base. If the site is functional and not unprofessional looking then you can move forward and stop spending all you time on design.

    Alternatively, you can do what I do and look at sites that you think look decent and create a template in Dreamweaver that approximates (doesn't completely imitate) the functionality and look but adapt it to your taste.

    I've heard from some that AAA logo design software does a pretty decent job of self-designing a logo. http://www.aaa-logo.com/
    Rich
    Husband, Father, Retired Marine, Geek

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    Singapore
    Posts
    74
    I understand reasons why some would want to have template, and the reasons why others avoid them. Clearly, with (cheap) templates a company/website doesn't have a slightest chance to present itself as *unique*.
    If the site is functional and not unprofessional looking then you can move forward and stop spending all you time on design.
    Right to the point!



    About the logo, I'd have to give a coment (or two) here - AAA logos are not good logos. I'm not using (subjective) words/feelings "beautiful", "i like" and similar. There are few factors that make logo "good", and AAA'a logos satisfy none of them.

    Just for the reference, http://www.identityworks.com/ , good website with the advices about logos and branding.

  7. #7
    The best way to find the right layout and design for your website, is by researching others. Find what you like on other sites, and compile a list of features/designs.

    Then copy their source code (from the View > Source menu in Internet Explorer) into your favourite HTML editor (such as Dreamweaver), and fiddle from there.

    There's nothing like learning "hands on". :-)

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    7,954
    Moved to webiste reviews.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Wisconsin
    Posts
    148
    Originally posted by Odd Fact
    Moved to webiste reviews.
    Sorry about that. I didn't even know that this forum topic existed otherwise I would have posted it here.

    Also thanks for the suggestions and I am experimenting with a few different things. Please keep the suggestions coming.
    ~ Nick

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Ontario Canada
    Posts
    1
    I don't like it at all... Very basic. Go over to cssbeauty.com cssvault.com and look at the sites there...then go and do your site.

  11. #11
    i dont like this , basic , very old fassion , try adding in some placement , gradients and good graphic images

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Wisconsin
    Posts
    148
    I now have a few ideas on what I want to try with the site and will hopefully have time to work on it this weekend. I probably won't because I will always have clients to help and servers to keep operational and of course that will always be my number one priority.
    ~ Nick

  13. #13
    For a beginner it isnt too bad. I have personally seen worse ones out there.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Wisconsin
    Posts
    148
    I am not a beginner to web design, computers, or web hosting, but I seem to lack the creativity required to come up with a good design.
    ~ Nick

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •