Critique my new header graphic for my website

[wienerdog]

I posted this originally in the Web Design forum, but it may be better suited here.

I am in the early stages of redesigning my portfolio site this week and got a lot of good constructive feedback from all of you a few weeks back when I started illustrating my header graphic.

Well, I took a lot of the suggestions and revised it from these early versions:

Original flat design that I didn't like the perspective of:
http://evanwienerdesign.com/home-page.gif
Revised design in early stage:
http://evanwienerdesign.com/home-page-new.jpg

Latest update:
http://www.evanwienerdesign.com/Home-Page-for-Flash.jpg
On the site:
http://www.evanwienerdesign.com/

Feel free to make any recommendations you have on the header.

I plan on tying the repeated background graphic (vertical bars) better into the header visually. I'd also like incorporate little deco graphic elements around the paragraphs with CSS, as well as some screen photos of carnivals into the background of other pages as texture to repeat the theme.

I think I'm going to use it as an image map until I can make some time to take it into Flash. I'm a novice with that program, so I'll need some time to figure out how to animate elements of the graphic as buttons.

My goals are:
1) Have the roller coaster cars moving on the track.
2) When you click on the Graphic Design booth, the bottles will fall down.
3) When you click on the Web Design booth, the wheel will spin.
4) When you click on the Illustration booth, a few balloons will pop.
5) Rotate the ferris wheel, which is difficult because if I rotate it, the little passenger carts turn sideways. I need to figure out how to rotate the wheel and then separately rotate each cart so they stay vertically aligned as if gravity is pulling on them. I should be able to figure it out, but if anyone has any suggestions, feel free to give me any tips on how to do this.

[SpugNothuson]

I like it, the only thing I'd say is to give the booths a little structural individuality. And the teddy bears could do with being a little different from each other.

But that's me being really finickity.

I like your ideas about animating the elements. Can't help you there though, never used Flash myself. I'd have thought the easiest way to animate the ferris wheel though would be to have the wheel and the carts as seperate elements, that way the wheel can rotate freely and the carts will just move in the x and y dimensions without rotating, thus giving the illusion of being attached to the wheel.

[wienerdog]

I like it, the only thing I'd say is to give the booths a little structural individuality. And the teddy bears could do with being a little different from each other.

But that's me being really finickity.

I like your ideas about animating the elements. Can't help you there though, never used Flash myself. I'd have thought the easiest way to animate the ferris wheel though would be to have the wheel and the carts as seperate elements, that way the wheel can rotate freely and the carts will just move in the x and y dimensions without rotating, thus giving the illusion of being attached to the wheel.

Thankfully, the carts are separate from the big wheel, so I probably can do that. I just haven't had time to try it yet. Thanks!

I was considering changing up the colors of the bears and in looking at it hours later, it feels like the hot dog cart and all the booths need to be shifted to the left a bit.

[1ooScreamingTrees]

I'm not feeling the glow surrounding your logo.

The colorful balloons are the first elements in your visual hierarchy. Whether this is what you intended or not - that's how it appears. This makes no sense, so it needs some refinement.

I'm not sure the brown/orange roller coaster background is working. Unfortunately, this looks like a carnival/amusement park. This is exactly what you were going for, obviously. I say unfortunately because I have rarely in my life seen a carnival or amusement park of this nature that has outstanding design work. It's tacky because it's supposed to be tacky. Meh. I give up.

[wienerdog]

I'm not feeling the glow surrounding your logo.

The colorful balloons are the first elements in your visual hierarchy. Whether this is what you intended or not - that's how it appears. This makes no sense, so it needs some refinement.

I'm not sure the brown/orange roller coaster background is working. Unfortunately, this looks like a carnival/amusement park. This is exactly what you were going for, obviously. I say unfortunately because I have rarely in my life seen a carnival or amusement park of this nature that has outstanding design work. It's tacky because it's supposed to be tacky. Meh. I give up.

I see what you're saying, it could be implied that my work is tacky because of the theme I've chosen for the design. But there's no reason why the site design can't be interesting or nicely illustrated/designed.

I've seen a lot of patriotic designs, apparel, etc. and they look tacky as hell. Does that intrinsically mean patriotic designs are tacky?

I plan on using some washed out, single-color stock photos of amusement park elements like a sign for ticket booth, cotton candy, etc. as background images. I think it could look neat. I guess for some tastes, the graphic may be a little too much. I still like it for now, with some tweaks, but I think the overall theme can still be used for a nice site design.

[Ned]

The main thing that bothers me is the outer glow on the logo. Not good.

Other than that, it's mostly the the over-duplication of elements. The teddy bears, as Spug pointed out, as well as the balloons. You should mix 'n 'match them a bit.

[PrintDriver]

What sort of clientele are you looking for?

While simplification, replication, and 'busy' may appeal to some, be sure you have a real focus on your target market while you are pleasing yourself. You are not the target audience.

I think the concept could be construed as kind of insulting to the intelligence of your prospective client.
Tipping bottles? Spinning wheels?
Kiddy-stuff. Go here and scroll right.
http://www.sanrio.com/main/games/ktworld/ktworld.html

[wienerdog]

What sort of clientele are you looking for?

While simplification, replication, and 'busy' may appeal to some, be sure you have a real focus on your target market while you are pleasing yourself. You are not the target audience.

I think the concept could be construed as kind of insulting to the intelligence of your prospective client.
Tipping bottles? Spinning wheels?
Kiddy-stuff. Go here and scroll right.
http://www.sanrio.com/main/games/ktworld/ktworld.html

Thankfully, my goal with this site is to gain new freelance clients in preferably markets for children's products (such as apparel). Ideally, I'd like to do illustration and design work in that area, so I think the graphic style works, but it does need some tweaks for variety. I'll make some revisions so the bear prizes look a little different, and maybe tone down the balloon colors so they're not so prominent.

[Botchup]

I think you've done a good job wienerdog. Keep us posted. :)

[PrintDriver]

My opinion seems to be a lone one. Maybe it's because I'm not particularly in the 'children's' industry - except when working on a children's museum exhibit.

Your target market is the adults hiring you to do kids work. Not the kids themselves. If I was looking for an illustrator or even an interactive flash programmer, I'm not sure I'd want to be involved in a piece of work on the opening page.

All I can say is, if you do this, be sure it loads FAST. A 5 to 10 count and most busy people are gone.

[Tea]

I'm mixed on this one. At first glance I am not thrilled. I would question what kind of work the designer/illustrator (obviously, you) is capable of creating. However, that being said...I would venture in because it aroused my curiousity. It's a risk. You have to decide if it's worth taking.