Constructive Criticism: Site Home Page Design

[lightnb]

Hi everyone. I'm a lighting designer (theatre, concerts, ballet), and am working on a web application/site for theatre managers and technical directors to use to manage crew calls.

The intent is for the sites pages to look interesting, but at the same time be taken seriously and to be considered 'professional'.

This is a .PNG of what I have so far for the home page, and I would like to hear any constructive criticism this community can offer.

Thank you in advance for your time and sugguestions,

Nick

http://www.rahlentertainment.com/RVM/upload_samples/register1g4m6.png

[lightnb]

The imbeded image only loads some of the time (or it loads really slow) in the post.

Here's a hardlink: http://www.rahlentertainment.com/RVM/upload_samples/register1g4m6.png

[WannaBrie]

Got a 404 error.

[Exodus]

^^ Same here.

[lightnb]

Got a 404 error.
Odd... I just followed the link and it seems to be working. I'll post it again though:

http://www.rahlentertainment.com/RVM/upload_samples/register1g4m6.png

[Exodus]

Forbidden

You don't have permission to access /RVM/upload_samples/register1g4m6.png on this server.
Additionally, a 404 Not Found error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.
Apache/1.3.37 Server at www.rahlentertainment.com Port 80

Again.

[lightnb]

EDIT: Ok, I think it has something to do with the URL comming from vB for whatever reason. Try refreshing the page or placing the cursor in the browsers URL box and hitting enter once the error shows up - it seems to work the second time.

Sorry about all this.

[chris_bcn]

403 forbidden

try putting it on imageshack.us

[lightnb]

It's now on image shack:
http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/8222/register1g4m6vx6.th.png (http://img128.imageshack.us/my.php?image=register1g4m6vx6.png)

[lightnb]

Or the full version:

http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/8222/register1g4m6vx6.png

[lightnb]

I figured with 113 views and no comments that it must not be that good, so I redid it.

I have this prolem where I can get it almost there, but there's still always something wrong with it, and I can't figure out what...

This edition is missing the existing user login fom. it needs a way for users to log in, but I can't seem to fit it in without the whole thing looking akward.

I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction to help fix the layout.

Thanks again,

Nick

P.S. I already know I suck at this, so don't worry about offending me...

5th revision:

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/530/register1g5m2av2.png

[budafist]

Well, I like the newest version better.

The older version looked too much like what might produced in an interface design class. You got borders and buttons just for the sake of them.

The new one is much nicer - clean and simple. But since your brief is to make it interesting, there is nothing to keep the viewer's interest here. Is there any graphic elements you can use that are related to your client's business?

Brainstorm some themes before you do any more on this.

[lightnb]

Thank you for the advice. I agree- it needs something else to make it less bland.

I have a number of photos of entertainment industry related images, but I am not sure how to itegrate them. Or should they be non-photographic graphics?

I'm my own client on this, which makes it tricky.

Let me see what I can dig up in terms of images.

Thanks again,

Nick

[budafist]

It's up to you what images you use (vector or photography). Your brand should be consistant though.

[Hub]

Rack of lights across the top or down the right side?

Maybe the whole page is a spot-lit stage with the words at center stage?
Just some thoughts?

[lightnb]

Rack of lights across the top or down the right side?

Maybe the whole page is a spot-lit stage with the words at center stage?
Just some thoughts?

That would be cool, but I don't have the drawing ability to pull that off and make it look good.

But along similar lines, how about the profile of the outside of a theatre? Theatres have a distictive shape to them due to the fly tower (the place where scenery and curtains can be lifted up over the stage out of view)

I created two logo 'ideas' but I'm not sure how well they read:

Variation 1 (the 'trees' are a bit comical):

http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/7550/rvmlogovar1xm5.png





Varition 2 (less like a theatre):


http://img476.imageshack.us/img476/8755/rvmlogovar2hn3.png

[CurtisS]

Take what you have now (the text window and links) and put it over a background image. Maybe a nicely lit theatre or concert stage??

[lightnb]

How about:

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/927/rvar505aa3.png

[Seapony]

Utilizing the stock photography was a much better direction than what you originally presented. So far so good. What will the empty boxes be filled with?

:)

[lightnb]

Utilizing the stock photography was a much better direction than what you originally presented. So far so good. What will the empty boxes be filled with?

:)
I don't know- I was considering leaving them empty, or I could put images in them. Also, I still need either a login form for existing users (or at least a link to a page with a form).

I'm afraid of adding too much lest it become too busy for the viewer. I would like them to see:

1. 'welcome' line
2. The text
3. The three action links

Everything else is just to keep the layout from looking too barren.

The images are original pictures I took from shows I designed the lighting for. I don't know if the images are the right ones though. The scope of the site/software includes:

1. theatre
2. music
3. dance
4. community events
and possibly:
5. house of worship
6. sports

[lightnb]

931st Revision:

http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/9764/rvar505avc9.png

[CurtisS]

Just a suggestion... try moving the "Terms of Use" and "Contact Us" to the bottom left; lower the "user id" and "password" below that blue bar and put a nice logo in that spot.

[lightnb]

Revision# 1,045,321:

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/5919/rvar505biy7.png

[Exodus]

^^ I like that much better.

[beseech wanton]

its nice to see you are really evolving your design, its not quite there yet, but you are definitely making leaps and bounds in the right direction..good job!

[budafist]

That would be cool, but I don't have the drawing ability to pull that off and make it look good.

But along similar lines, how about the profile of the outside of a theatre? Theatres have a distictive shape to them due to the fly tower (the place where scenery and curtains can be lifted up over the stage out of view)

I created two logo 'ideas' but I'm not sure how well they read:

Variation 1 (the 'trees' are a bit comical):

http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/7550/rvmlogovar1xm5.png







Varition 2 (less like a theatre):


http://img476.imageshack.us/img476/8755/rvmlogovar2hn3.png

I realise these are just concept sketches, but I don't think they are strong or striking enouh for this logo.

[budafist]

Revision# 1,045,321:

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/5919/rvar505biy7.png

Much better. Have you tried making monotone/duotones of the images? That way they are there, but they will compliment the rest of the interface a bit better.

[lightnb]

Thank you everyone for your feedback.

Here's a version with monochromatic images, and changes to some of the text color:

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/1594/602greyblueea3.png


its nice to see you are really evolving your design, its not quite there yet, but you are definitely making leaps and bounds in the right direction..good job!

Is it the layout or the colors that still need work? (or both?)


Thanks again,

Nick

[lightnb]

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/4937/drawing9jo1.png

[CurtisS]

This last one is a bit of a departure drom what your were working on. I like the color mix of the first one better.