aekido

That is a fair enough point, I had figured you would be updating your website from your main PC, I know that is what I do.

I have used Joomla for my site, but that is purely because I have been doing a bit of work for people who wanted a CMS driven site made for them so they can update it themselves etc. The best way for me to practice/test new stuff has been to design my own site with Joomla so I can break that instead of a live site that really matters.

I must say I like the look of your site a lot more now that you have tarted it up a bit. I prefer it with the texture, but that is where my head is at design wise just now.

Your RGU Prospectus is a cracking bit of design, but I do have one thing. I like the latter half better than the first. The big, open white space sits better than some of the slightly more cluttered pages towards the front.

Thanks I personally like it with the texture too, Ithink the stronger green gives it more oomph too haha

Yeah I agree, I think the main reason the start got a little more cluttered is because I had so many images, as it the project was based on photography, I tried to cram in a bit more at the start than i should of, to stop it being text heavy, but it's all a learning curve! haha

Here, I notice you're friends with my mate Jodie on Facebook. (Raven Ember) - have you done some work with her?

We do have a few shoot lined up yeah

I really like the clarity of your posters.

The Cast of the Capital one is great.

Thanks

He also posted it on some other board, but oh well

Not as far as I'm aware

seems this guys been busy...

Levi WJ Bunyan | Graphic Design & Photography | weareaekido : Look at my design! | Forum Smashing Magazine

lol

Yeah the images loading is a problem which I can't seem to figure out, they are only 500 pxels wide so shouldn't load so slow

also, Levi WJ Bunyan | Graphic Design & Photography | weareaekido.co.uk I have updated it slightly, and currently working on a new front page. it's not much different, but more polishing it up

- Different colour scheme

- New front page

- Background pattern [which appeared in one of my posters]

- Padding on the text to give the 'box' feel

- borders around the images to help them stand out more

And as I said, I do appreciate the feedback, but as Frosty Jack / droid states it felt more like just slagging me off than being helpful or giving worthwhile feedback.

Cheers

oh and ReverendOfDeath

Levi WJ Bunyan | Graphic Design & Photography | weareaekido - Web Design Forum

signing up to a forum, posting my site with your first post for views and to back your argument up is pretty sad

and i clearly didnt try and rip off Olly Moss

Fatboy, you dont happen to live in Garthdee, or get the bus from Garthdee, ever, do you?

That being said, I did know mine up in the space of about 3 hours, and that was mostly putting images together

Think I saw a few of you all on Saturday at The Moorings but I dunno what you all look like like, so wasn't sure, pretty sure I saw Teabags tho

Saw Fraser Mac in Exo last night

I didn't try and rip anyone off, considering the website looks nothing like his, I merely stated his website as something that was clean and simple, and visually nice

I'm quite well aware of the basics of web design thanks

Oh dear. If you want to advertise yourself/show off your amazing modelling pics (Just kidding, where the hell do you find the models? One hint - pictures of female models are supposed to leave you in awe of their beauty, not make you want to puke your guts!) you should make sure that the site you are using as your portfolio is well designed. At this point noone will even go past main page as it indicates that you are a horrible designer. And don't reply that you are no web designer, if you do something either do it well or don't do it at all.

Next thing - why the hell are you using CMS for such a simple site? Man, that's over the top and completely uncalled for in such a small project. Content management system implies considerable load of content on the site and couple of photos and pictures just makes it look bizarre.

Seriously, redo the site or pay someone to do it for you in professional manner.

First post?

I would hardly say the woman would make you want to puke, the woman were off model websites, such as Model Mayhem, and Purestorm who offered to model

Indicate that I'm a horrible designer? Because I kept my website simple, and let the images speak for themselves, yes, that is a really valid point, thank you.

And no, I won't redo the website completely just through your douchebag comment, thanks for the feedback tho

It would still be easy enough to update the .html on the server with a few new <img> tags instead of using a CMS for that. It just sounds like you are overcomplicating the setup of your site for the sake of it.

It isn't just images I'd be updating the website with, and it also saves having to opening all my files, my ftp etc, when all i can do is open my admin database, pop in a link to an image, type text etc etc and be done. alot easier in the long run

Here's an alternative example of how to have a simplistic website while not being a web designer AND having a design that reflects on the quality of the content featured:

Portfolio for David Officer Photography David Officer Photography

Bear in mind that Dave's website isn't perfect, but it's more enjoyable for me to browse the content on this website than yours.

I personally really dont like the look of Dave's website at all, and no offence to him, it is cluttered in comparison for a start.

Maybe 1024 x 768 was the "most common setting" 2 years ago, but not now. I don't find the dead space to be a problem with your layout that much, but that fact sounds like a load of rubbish.

Maybe so, but it is still a better setting to design to, and is a design standard to work at

So you value feedback from people you know compared to strangers? At least strangers won't butter up their feedback and provide you with an honest opinion. I worked as a web developer for a year if that makes my feedback more viable.

I didn't say I knew all of them, I said people I knew in companies, I've posted my website on several design forums for feedback, and the majority has been positive, so no buttered up feedback.

Don't you study Graphic Design? Oh dear..

Yes I do, but I am also never fully happy with my work, and find it difficult designing things for myself, like all designers do.

At the end of the day, you made a website to showcase your design work, published it, and it isn't that good. You should be developing something that will reflect your capabilities.

Good is a matter of opinion

exactly, the guy is awesome

Oh and have a look at Olly Moss's website for ultra simple that works well:

Olly Moss

the whole idea is to keep it plain, but fair enough.

And as far as you are saying you could knock it up in visual editor is doubtful as it uses jQuery and CMS as a back up so I can update the info like a blog [hence the php]

But, to reply to some of the points:

"the work should sell itself" - Exactly, hence the plain website, what is the point in a highly complicated website that distracts from the images and photos themselves? I'm no webdesigner and I'm not trying to act like one, the portfolio, plain and simply, is an easier way of someone to fire up my website to see the print based and logo work and photography that I do, it'd rather the content speak for itself than the design around it, I think you'll find the best portfolio's out there are the simplest ones.

dead space: the dead space is like that so when you view it at 1024x768 [the most common setting] the images sit neat and tidy on the page and you dont have to endlessly scroll right to see things

third person: simply enough, I like the way it is written, and I've had feedback from clients, designers and people I know who own companies who think it is fine, so I don't personally see a problem with it.

Images: yeah the images linking back on themselves was an accident which I must have forgot to edit out, thanks for pointing that out.

I've never been good at designing things for myself

Anyway, I hope I dont sound like a dick, as I do appreciate the feedback, just wanted to point out reasons.

That being said, I am considering changing the background, maybe something simple like a texture to go along with the style of my posters or something, as well as changing the front page to grab the viewers attention more.

Cheers

Craig: The model is called Catherine, so nope

ca_gere: I'd have actually said my website reflects my posters as I like a crisp, simple look of things, and thats how I kept the website, well in my eyes atleast.

The Kernel Loaf / Sam: The third person is a design thing really, most design portfolios read in Third Person and I personally think it sounds more professional than pretencious

Sam: I dont get what you mean, the typeface being unprofessional, as it's the same type through the whole website, not just the long story section

As far as the front page goes, it is something I'm looking to change as I'm finding it a bit dull, and will probably be adding imagery to grab the viewers attention more

Thanks for the feedback, the website was knocked up in a day or so, and only wanted something simple to hold my images rather than linking to my flickr, I'm sure I'll be changing bits as I go along

Its meant to be simply, more so let the design speak for itself, no point in having a fancy looking over the top design that completely distracts away from your actual work.

simple and clean > cluttered and hideous

And Flash is awful, flash should never be used fully for a website, and now a days most things people could do in Flash, they can do in jQuery / Javascript, which my website is built using, just kept simple

Cheers guys

Fraser Mac

Last Night

Korova

Not really a stalk as I spoke to him

Let Love Grow on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

New poster up too

Hey thread followers, just launched my website if you wanna check it out:

Levi WJ Bunyan | Graphic Design & Photography | weareaekido.co.uk

Hello lovely people

I recently launched my new website for my Design ^ Photography stuff

If you wanna check it out, it's here:

Levi WJ Bunyan | Graphic Design & Photography | weareaekido.co.uk

I'll be there tonight. As will quite a number of other people off of here. Listen out for "shopping mall" and "back surgery" and that'll be us.

I'll be the chunky dopey lookin guy haha, possibly with my camera

Well, I'll be at The Moorings tomorrow, so, I'll try and see if I recognise anyone