Would like some critique

[dbdg]

I have to re-design my site, not happy with it at the moment and it is expanding. Anyway I'm going for a more standard corporate style look, below are three examples that I quickly knocked up in PSP.

It is the page that you would get to after clicking on an artists name, current site loads the thumbnails for the artist into a small frame at the side.

All going to be css so changing the theme will be no biggie but which one if any looks like a good starting point. I prefer three and one at the moment, although not too keen on the blue a red buttons.

Notes:

1. Remember very rough, these are just starting guides really.
2. The site has always been designed to minimalistic so as to emphasise (sp) the art.

Edit: Made images links

[Admiral]

One

[bsdgeek]

I agree, I think #1 would be the best start.

[spadnos]

One is easiest on the eyes - mostly due to the not overly contrasty text fields.

You could do something with non-flat buttons (like 2 or 3), but keep the general light color scheme of 1.

(sorry - colour scheme - I see you're in the UK )

- Steve

[agallag]

Another vote for #1. Looks the most professional.

[az]

Definately one. It's easiest on the eyes, looks the most professional, and distracts the least from the artwork. Though I would make the dark gray buttons a bit lighter.

AZ

[efty]

#1
what cms are you going to use?

[Brian Ellis]

IMHO, I don't like any of them. In all three cases, there are buttons/fields which lack contrast for easy reading, such as light grey on darker grey or vice versa, For ease of reading the main buttons, #2 is better, but for the secondary buttons #3. For the fields, #2 and #3 is better than #1. Also, the eye accommodates better to dark-on-light than the contrary.

In addition, more use can be made of font sizes. These are all much of a muchness and you cannot distinguish any notion of priority. Avoid any font smaller than 3 (normal) except for things like footnotes.

This ergonomy is important because anyone having difficulty will leave your site unread.

The moderate use of colour can enhance a professional site, but it must be done well and remember some surfers may be colour blind; avoid combinations of shades of red and green, in particular, where the colour is relied on for the contrast.

My 2 Cyprus cents worth.

[gt40]

#1

can you do my site too???

[dbdg]

Cheers fellas

Going to knock up the template and see what the css actually looks like, with regards to the text size, the above text is mostly straight text in PSP, it looks a lot better normally.

One was the first one I did and does fit with the current admin system that I have running on the site.

I'm creating my own CMS efty, don't like using anyone elses systems.

[Gurm]

While number one is the easiest to look at, they're ALL a bit too cluttered.

- Gurm

[dbdg]

Ok here we go, created the first one, sort of,

Look a little less cluttered now or still too busy?

Click me!

[Jammrock]

1

[Brian Ellis]

Originally posted by dbdg
Ok here we go, created the first one, sort of,

Look a little less cluttered now or still too busy?

Click me!

Sorry, don't like, not at all easy to read. See above re contrast and priorites.

[az]

Make the .info frame lighter, they distract too much from the text.

Also, I don't really like the mouseover for the navigation. The "pressing the button" effect is nice, but the inverted gradient distracts me. Contrast is also lacking a little.

And increase contrast in the .info-title, as Brian said.

For prev and next, consider to add arrows.

AZ