Zwaana

CloudedVision · #1 (**permalink**) Mar 16th, 2008, 01:46

I've been working on a website for my personal web design and development company. Been at it for the past couple of days, and here's what I got. This is the first site I've used CSS rollovers with, and two-column tableless layout. (I know. Pathetic)

So, critiques welcome. I've already had quite a few from Marsoul and saltedm8 (Thanks guys!) in the Web Design Forum.

Oh, and since the forum got messed up by the upgrade, the URL is http://wicec.org/zwaana/

dangergeek · #2 (**permalink**) Mar 18th, 2008, 10:08

Sorry clouded but it's not doing it for me. I don't like the colour scheme or the logo.

frinkky · #3 (**permalink**) Mar 18th, 2008, 11:01

The technicalities are there - just sit down with photoshop or gimp and scribble colours next to each other to see how they work.

Wheer exactly are you from? 'No idea' gives away nothing but Zwaana does

Dutch? South African?

CloudedVision · #4 (**permalink**) Mar 18th, 2008, 12:02

Zwaana is actually an African word that i made a couple of edits on. And no, it has nothing to do with where I'm from. I'm from Wisconsin in the good ol' USA.

But funny, I've always liked the colors. Hmmmmm......

unitedcraig · #5 (**permalink**) Mar 18th, 2008, 12:44

I'm afraid i agree with Jon, the coding is good on the site, but i don't think the colours go at all.

A good place for colour schemes is http://kuler.adobe.com/, they have lots of examples

Craig

frinkky · #6 (**permalink**) Mar 18th, 2008, 12:48

Well there you go, you got red, blue, green, yellow, black and white to play with

Add depth to your colours and this should all work. The green is too, i don't know, pasted on top. Too weak. The blue could be ok if supported by supporting shades of the other colours ^^ plus use somes of these colours to style your h1's, <p>'s etc

MikeHopley · #7 (**permalink**) Mar 18th, 2008, 12:50

First: this is a good start for using CSS layouts.

The code is good.

I don't like the colours. I don't think the green and blue fit well together.

The logo/name is odd. Why "Zwaana"? I don't care what obscure personal association it has for you; choose a name that appeals to your users. The font also makes it unclear whether the name is "Zwaana" or "Zwoono".

"Web_Design_And_Development" is a geeky text effect. I would dump the underscores and the faux-terminal typeface.

Don't use images for nav unless you really benefit from them. Your current nav is simple enough that it would be better as text.

Try removing the bold from your headings, and adding some leading to your paragraphs (line-height: 1.5em; ).

Monie · #8 (**permalink**) Mar 18th, 2008, 13:46

I will agree with the rest that I don't really like the theme color!
You should look for color that have high in contrast..
Cheers...

CloudedVision · #9 (**permalink**) Mar 18th, 2008, 20:15

So, I guess I should start all over

first with the name. I've come up with a few:

melodious aspect
deep aspect
melodious control
unclad perception
floor 2

that's about all i can think of now. which one do you like best?

ill see what i can do about colors.

CloudedVision · #10 (**permalink**) Mar 18th, 2008, 20:24

k, got some color schemes. (I like blue)

unitedcraig · #11 (**permalink**) Mar 18th, 2008, 20:47

I like the blue as well, are these of kuler by any chance lol

I prefer the first one, it may be my screen but the other two seem a bit dark

CloudedVision · #12 (**permalink**) Mar 19th, 2008, 02:03

I have a really good idea for a name. It's The Beatnik Motif. I like it, do you?

unitedcraig · #13 (**permalink**) Mar 19th, 2008, 06:36

Does it mean anything lol?

MikeHopley · #14 (**permalink**) Mar 19th, 2008, 10:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by CloudedVision

I have a really good idea for a name. It's The Beatnik Motif. I like it, do you?

No. It's pretentious and has bad connotations. Most people won't know what it means; and for those who do understand it, it gives a bad impression.

For a start, I wouldn't trust Jack Kerouac to design my website. He'd probably take my cash, jump the next train to the West, and get high with his firebrand friend Dean.

Actually, it's worse than that. Beatnik is a derogatory way of describing the beat generation -- making them out to be vandals not visionaries.

More generally, you're making the mistake of "trying to be too creative" -- or "trying to be cool". Your website is not a fashion statement or a chance for you to express yourself; it's a business.

Stop thinking about yourself and start thinking about your customers. Choose a simple name that will:

Make it obvious what you do (web design)
Inspire confidence in the quality of your service

Do a google search for "web design". Note how many sites have "web design" or "design" in their name.

So "Beatnik Web Design" is much better than "The Beatnik Motif". I would prefer a less negative word than "beatnik", however. Perhaps "Bohemia web design".

There's broadly three ways to go:

Quirky adjective + "web design"/"design"
Sober adjective + "web design"/"design"
Initials/name + "web design"/"design"

So "Bohemia web design" would be quirky, whereas "Fresh web design" would be sober. The trouble with sober adjectives is that most of the good ones are taken already. The third option would be "MH web design", or "Mike Hopley web design", or "Hopley design".

Monie · #15 (**permalink**) Mar 19th, 2008, 10:31

I like your first color theme...

CloudedVision · #16 (**permalink**) Mar 19th, 2008, 11:55

i've been tearing my hair out with adjectives. nearly every domain name with adjective + "design / web design" is taken. eg:

topdrawerdesign - taken
topdrawerwebdesign - available, but way to long

the more obscure adjectives aren't taken

saporific - producing or imparting flavor or taste.

saporificdesign - makes it sound like im "sappy"

maybe a little edit on that?

saphoricdesign - available

edit: nevermind, my mom said that sapho is the greek word for lesbians.

Well, thats the best i can do from my brain storming session. only problem is that saphoric doesn't mean anything. *sigh*

CloudedVision · #17 (**permalink**) Mar 19th, 2008, 11:58

couple more ideas ive been getting:

transsonicdesign
xiphoiddesign

thats about all, i gotta go now

CloudedVision · #18 (**permalink**) Mar 19th, 2008, 20:58

couple of more names inspired by robert frost "the road not taken"

(the) other road design - otherroaddesign.com is available
diverge design - divergedesign.com is available also

it would be cool to have a little "trademark poem" plus, the road not taken is now in public domain, so no legal hassles

MikeHopley · #19 (**permalink**) Mar 19th, 2008, 22:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by CloudedVision

couple of more names inspired by robert frost "the road not taken"

(the) other road design - otherroaddesign.com is available
diverge design - divergedesign.com is available also

it would be cool to have a little "trademark poem" plus, the road not taken is now in public domain, so no legal hassles

Now those are good names.

CloudedVision · #20 (**permalink**) Mar 19th, 2008, 22:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeHopley

Now those are good names.

But which one should i use? I don't really have an opinion.

Edit: Another name suggested was divergant design instead of diverge design.

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Zwaana