New Site Design for Jeepz.com! Sneak Peak - Let me know what you think!

[dingus]

Hey all,

Just wanted to give everyone the opportunity to offer up suggestions and feedback for the graphic design work i've been doing for Terry.

For those who haven't noticed yet, there is a drop-down box in the lower left hand corner of the site giving you the choice of 3 versions of the header part of the site...

anyways, here's the work i've done so far:
http://icandycreations.com/jeepz.com/

Let me know what you think, I think its coming along quite well. I can change fonts, colors, pics, layout, etc... CHALLENGE ME!

-Nate

[LadyJeepFreak]

Hiya, nice job! I don't like the gray center in the second one. I also would love a different font. That one is kinda, I dunno ill fitting to me. But then thats just me! lol You asked. Overall, I like the pics with one in the mud and one in the snow. Like the clearly listed top menu. Love the member and thread numbers too.

Lady

[dingus]

Originally Posted by LadyJeepFreak

I also would love a different font. That one is kinda, I dunno ill fitting to me.

Different font for what specific text? or all of it?

[Joopin]

I have a couple thoughts, I can't help it, I'm a Graphic Designer too! Lady is right about that color blend you have going on between the two pics. I think it may work out better if there was a graphic intersecting the two pictures instead. I also think the font that is currently used for "Jeepz.com" has become recognizable as a logo. Personally I would like to see that font be used to sort of tie us to the old site. Yes, Companies change logos all the time, but they always seem to change it gradually rather than totally. EX. Burger King.

Well those are my ideas, I can also help out with any designing if you need it.

While I am thinking of it, why not add a design element to the current logo? A graphic that can be associated with Jeepz.com. Like the KFC Sanders guy... or the Nike swoosh? Take it or leave it.

Joop

[dingus]

before you guys get all worked up, these designs i'm showing you are totally in their rough-draft stage. i totally love the feedback i'm getting from you guys... all i'm trying to do is produce quality work and i need opinions to keep going kuz sometimes i get "stuck" (like writers cramp) and need ideas to keep improving the work.

[LadyJeepFreak]

Hiya me again. I really don't mean to pick on your work cuz I play with graphic design too and I write, so I know how "block" works. I know it's not easy to do things to someone elses idea of right or wrong too.

The jeepz name itself was the font I meant could maybe use a different one?

The logo Idea isn't bad either. I have one even better! What if we have a logo design contest or something? Man that could be fun, I know alot of us designers or choppers around here would have fun with that.

Otherwise, like I said I love the images themselves. They contrast well, mud and snow.

Thanks for helping out!
Lady

[mingez]

While I'm not graphic designer, I'm a photochopper and did CG work in Television. I think Joopin' is dead on. I think the Jeepz.com logo is "Branded" enough to keep font-wise. But his idea of adding a design element, ala the Nike swoosh or Target bullseye is a great idea.

I like what you've done thus far, i think you're definetly headed in the right direction, and have a good eye.

BTW- if you've got links to some of your work, I'd love to see it.

[LadyJeepFreak]

Hey guys, guess the jeep'z font type as a brand wasn't known to me. I have never noticed that font before anywhere! LOL It really doesn't matter to me, just was a mention.

[mingez]

Originally Posted by LadyJeepFreak

Hey guys, guess the jeep'z font type as a brand wasn't known to me. I have never noticed that font before anywhere! LOL It really doesn't matter to me, just was a mention.

Perhaps "Branded" is a bit much. We aren't that big.

I just mean people are used to seeing that font. so, there's an inherent value in that. But design work, unfortunately, is something where everyone has an opinion. And it's just that..Opinions!

For example, I believe Raven's stickers use the same font.

[TwistedCopper]

The blur in the middle could be smaller (more room for picture). Seems like it takes up an awful lot of space.

I do like the design though!

[dingus]

UPDATE: Logo font changed, rollovers done.

http://icandycreations.com/jeepz.com/

-nate

[TerryMason]

I like it! I bet if you could move the members / post things somewhere, or at least make me some sort of html box there, I could post the actual number in there. I'll have to think on that some more to figure out a way

[TerryMason]

Actually, I've got another favor to ask. Could I get a "cut out" on the right side, like they have on this site - http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/ so that I can put in a drop down menu will all our choices in it? I think it might make navigating this site alittle easier.

Also, if you look on that site, they have the members listed. I've found some code for it, and I'll try to throw it on the current header tonight / tomorrow to see if I can get it to work.

[dingus]

terry -

sure, i can do whatever you want, just let me know... as far as that drop down box goes, if i just make the graphic and stick it in as the background in a cell, can you put the drop down menu over it? Or do you need an actual graphic to activate the menu by clicking on it?

If you can get the member and post counts up there we should just take it down off of the top graphic i made, we can put other (more pertinant) information up there.

-Nate
PS. we should move this thread into the "forum related" section.

[TerryMason]

I'm going to have to think about it. I believe that I'll need a text box that we can put some code into. I'll let you know after I play with it

[TerryMason]

How's it going over there Nate?

[dingus]

terry

i was waiting to hear back from you about that little tab box you were gonna put that drop down menu in. I have updated the site, there's another image at the top now...

http://icandycreations.com/jeepz.com/

now as for the color scheme changes, i'm thinking i'd like to simply change the color of the navigation menu buttons, not the part above that. let me know what you think.

[TerryMason]

I don't know that I have the answers to your drop down question. I was just going to steal some html from this page (if you click on the "quick links" drop down on this page, I would just hack that up and use it). I'm guessing that means image background for a cell. I'd probably want a similar thing for the google ad.

as for the new header image, I'm not so sure about it. I think the blending is still a bit rough. I like just the two images. Maybe you can make a hard stop at each photo edge, instead of a gradient, and use a table with a repeating pixel thing. I'm just throwing this stuff out. I was a horrible designer when I tried - always much better at the server stuff.

[TerryMason]

If you shoot me over what you have now, I'll hack it up and put it on one of the existing themes. I'm sure that we'll get more ideas when we see it in action.

If you have any psd files, that would rock! (just email it to me).

[LadyJeepFreak]

Hey I just realized there were some color choices on the lower left of my page. Never been there. lol I LOVE the cool blue choice with it's fonts, picture, and look of the forum and header. Great Job. All three have different images, etc. It's so nice to have a choice I tell you! Heather