Hi guys,

I just hand-coded a new website for a venture with some friends of mine from the UK about brand strategy marketing for businesses. It is called Brand Libra, and I was wondering what you all thought.

I am quite happy with the outcome, as it is my first time hard-coding just using CSS and HTML, and I hope the look is simple and approachable/friendly which is what I was going for. It is meant to be like a lot of new Web 2.0 sites like myspace and sites using AJAX (although I dont use AJAX, I just wanted that feel eheheh).

Would really appreciate your comments!

Thanks!

Ken

This post has been edited by Ken6800: May 25 2006, 09:08 AM

not bad just too simple

Hmmm, I was going for simple though? I didnt want flash objects exploding all over the screen.

Could the design be improved? (Content aside, we have just started)

i may suggest to change the font for the side menu..

I don't want to comment on the design part but I do prefer to say a few thing on the implementation of the css and html. You are running on a static website (I only presuming here) so I don't think it be hard to follow xhtml1.0 or maybe even xhtml1.1. The html do follow semantic markup but it still doesn't follow any html standard Validator @ W3C.



p/s: I don't think MySpace is anywhere near Web 2.0

IMO, you've got the simple look nailed down, but somehow, it doesn't have that oomph that makes it look professional. I'm sure you want to attract other companies for your clients, but now, it just looks like someone's blog at most. You can do much better if you want that web2.0 look, though I think its a bit overused now.

My 2 cents, take note, I'm commenting on the design only.

To be honest, I don't see how does this design comes close to be Web 2.0? At the moment, it's like something someone churned out from Dreamweaver. And as for Web 2.0, it's a little overrated as discussed alot around AListApart and others. Like Jeffrey Zeldman's pun, he's already going Web 3.0 when everyone is still doing Web 2.0 LoL!

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is the design is way too simple and Web 2.0 isn't a design trend but a guide of telling designers what is being aimed for to better website design based on the points of web 2.0

Web 2.0 designs are basically trends like this nowadays:
- large buttons
- minimum 12px font
- simple header/banner design
- subtle curves, shadows, and etc.
- tabbed navigation
- DOMs
- lists
- almost forgot, background patterns are coming back.
- and other trends that change in due time.

so my friend, my advice is to bring this back into the drawing board and do a lil more research AND don't bury your head too much into what Web 2.0 looks/feels like but what the website design trend is nowadays.

Thank you so much for the helpful comments!

cynobone: will definitely have a look at W3C compatibility and xhtml, I am sorry about not confirming to standards, it is definitely a must.

bem69: Well, I am starting small, this is not our proper corporate website for brand consulting - more a learning and informational resource. I appreciate your honest comments though, definitely I would not use this layout to attract the big companies!

Please keep the comments coming guys!

Thank you for your honest opinions, yes those guides are exactly what I was going for with this website. I really like the Web 2.0 guides because it made things friendly and easy to digest, you know? At the end of the day, I wanted the site to push content and not for graphic elements to interfere.

However, having said all that I wil definitely take your comments on board, thank you very much for taking the time. Perhaps a radical redesign is in order before I make any major promotional push.

BTW its all hand coded, I didnt touch Dreamweaver eheheh.

I know it's hand coded as you mentioned in your #1 post.

I was just saying that something like this can be pulled out of Dreamweaver by anyone very easily.

I agree with your comments

myspace = 2.0-ish..? i think you need to change your view on 2.0-ish websites

here's an attempt to de-crappify default myspace profile page : his 'hacking' notes, his de-crappified profile. And this is just some css trick for myspace profiles. the underlying html codes (myspace generated) really needs some re-working..

your site have nice colouring btw. pastels~! if u are going to re-designed it, try used the same color set. interesting to see how well you can play with that set of colors *saving the color set for future use*

This post has been edited by angeldothack: May 25 2006, 01:40 PM

-clean and simple

that my comment

Clean, simple, tidy, but too boring...

simple..fast loading..nice colour (for me)...

just nice! but a bit design is better

Hmm... most people already nailed down their points...

But I have a question: How do you give a site an AJAX look, when it's all code? It seems weiiird from the start.

quite boring as in doesnt have that ...how u say "Oooph" ..... ...but design is great .

This post has been edited by minde: May 28 2006, 09:44 PM

Thanks to everyone for their pointers, I am currently going through my CSS, but dont want to jump into anything just yet to make sure I get the design down this time.

When I say AJAX look I mean that a lot of these Web 2.0 sites have a certain look and feel that I wanted to get across.

Anyway, I may well incorporate AJAX if I can think of a good use for it... but I cant at the moment!

No doubt that the site cant dazzle people, so am i. I dont get dazzled. I love the concept to make it coded, simple and clean. However, just like any other said, it's too boring, it's dull. Somewhat by using flash will be making greater effect, no doubt, and so better interface, and it wont be exploding as you think ler anyway(because I dont think so). Alright about color schemes that u r using, they dont eye-catching, so try to use some more eye-catching colors like - Purple,Orange. and why don't you change the background? White is too plain although it may generate simple and clean feeling, but i dont really encourage it to be, as many combinations of color may become heavy + advanced + clean(maybe), it's all depends on the beholder's design. So good luck, keep good work.