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aekido web site launch


aekido

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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 :p

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

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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 :p

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

I agree 100%. Simple is the way to go in web design. I used the wrong word, I should have said I don't find it that aesthetically pleasing. It doesn't grab you in any way, almost to the point of detracting from how good your posters are once you get to clicking on the links.

You didn't even ask for feedback, apologies. I'm only being honest because a web site more in line with the 'style' of your posters is something I'd actually really like to see.

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Out of interest, why is your biography written in the 3rd person? I could understand why a company would do this, but not an individual. It gives the biography a pretentious tone. You could perhaps argue that the biography is referring to aekido, not yourself, but that's just a username.

I'm not trying to be a prick, just trying to provide some constructive criticism, and that was the impression I personally got when I read that page.

I appreciate what you were going for with the simplistic layout, but it requires some more flare. You would want your website to reflect your work with a format that is professional and would encourage visitors to acquire your services. Right now, it looks like it could probably be done in a few hours with a text editor.

One more thing - if possible, you should add some more padding in your paragraphs so the text does not touch the paragraph 'border' (I know the style sheet is just changing the background colour of the text). You should also justify the text so it suits the 'block' feel better.

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I agree about the 3rd person, it doesn't read well. I'm also not a fan of the home page, i think the logo looks great but the page is so basic looking to the point of un-professionalism, especially the font used for the 'long story'. Well, that's my opinion anyway. I do like the drop down side menus.

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Craig: The model is called Catherine, so nope :p

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

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Craig: The model is called Catherine, so nope :p

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

I have to say I think the design is a bit flat, I like some of the actual designs but find the website itself lacking in the flare that's shown in the designs.

I also think that the way the description of you sells it more as someone playing with the idea of design rather than a designer of some skill (which you obviously are). I've looked (and produced) a lot of portfolio's throughout the years and the ones which grav attention most are the ones that sell the individual, name, age, experience, examples, very little else tbh, the work should sell itself. The point of a portfolio is to sell you as an artist and from that respect i think you want to do just that and not do it in third party. I do think it does sound pretentious, your artwork has a nice simplistic texture, something that is often missing in my artwork and i think that you should sell yourself as such - it's a rare thing as too many designer's overcomplicate things, hope you don't mind some constructiive criticism,

Cheers

Stuart

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Is there any server side stuff going on the background or is it just HTML and javascript? If so I'm not sure why you're using PHP pages to do that.

Also all the images seem to link back to the biography page, which is a bit strange.

Aside from that I really like the work on it, which is the most important thing. The old design adage still rules: content is king.

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Guest Gladstone

I'm no expert at all in design, just a "consumer" I guess.

I too thought the website was a bit "plain". If you go full screen, there's a massive empty void of blue space at the right of the screen. I would be inclined to either somehow fill that space (I have no idea how, possibly some sort of random slideshow of your work?) or to make the page symmetrical.

I tinkered with websites and web design for a while a year or two ago, and I think I could knock up a website that looked like this with a text or visual editor. I'd expect a designer's website to look more professional.

All that said, I have always liked your work - posters and gig photography are the only things I've looked at before, and think they're top notch. Had a look through the other photos too, and the one of the lighthouse (in particular) is stunning.

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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

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

Olly Moss

Surely that's the best website ever? I absolutely love it.

And the Die Hard and Rain Man posters are amazing!!

This guy has got it. Plain and simple. I'm inspired by this. Cheers for posting.

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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]

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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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.

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've never been good at designing things for myself

Don't you study Graphic Design? Oh dear.

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.

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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.

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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

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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

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